How do you import a car from Japan to Maldives, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
The Maldives charges import duty only: 200% of CIF on a used petrol car, 150% on a used hybrid and 0% on an electric car, with no VAT or excise added at import. Since April 2025 cars must be no more than 5 years old from manufacture, and since 13 July 2025 every four-wheeled vehicle needs a transport ministry import permit and a verified garage.
Worked example: a 2022 Suzuki Swift 1.2 L costs about 597,000 to 610,000 MVR (US$38,600 to US$39,500) delivered to Hulhumale, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Maldives
The Maldives drives on the left, and its road vehicles are mostly right-hand-drive Japanese cars. Roads are short and Malé is crowded, and the government has tightened imports to limit congestion. An April 2025 amendment to the vehicle registration rules capped the age of imported cars and vans at 5 years from manufacture, and required importers of four-wheeled vehicles to hold a verified garage, showroom or warehouse permit. From 13 July 2025, vehicles other than two-wheelers may only be imported with permission from the Ministry of Transport, and that permission is needed again at registration. Tax is simple but heavy. A used petrol car pays 200% import duty on CIF, so duty alone is twice the landed value of the car. Used hybrids pay 150%, and electric cars pay no import duty. Small cars and hybrids suit Maldivian conditions best. Short distances favour low running costs, and the fuel type changes the duty more than any other choice.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Maldives?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No maximum age restriction on imported used vehicles. Maldives Customs Service does not impose an age cap.
- Special rules
- EVs attract 0% import duty — strong policy incentive for electric vehicles. Used hybrids: 150%. New cars (petrol/diesel/hybrid): 100%. Used petrol/diesel: 200%. No SAFTA preference for vehicles — rate same as MFN.
- Entry ports
- Port of Malé
How do you import a car from Japan to Maldives, step by step?
Check age, fuel type and parking
Cars must be no more than 5 years old from manufacture. Fuel type sets the duty rate, and four-wheeled vehicles need a verified garage, showroom or warehouse permit.
Obtain the transport ministry import permit
Apply online to the Ministry of Transport for permission to import. Since 13 July 2025 vehicles other than two-wheelers cannot be imported without it.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the registration is cancelled and an export or de-registration certificate is issued. A used car needs this de-registration certificate for the import file.
Ship to Malé
Cars from Japan are shipped to the Port of Malé. The bill of lading is needed for the customs declaration.
Declare the car to Maldives Customs and pay the duty
The importer or a clearing agent files the vehicle declaration with Maldives Customs Service, which assesses import duty on CIF by fuel type.
Register the vehicle
Register the car with the transport authority, presenting the import permit and garage documents with the customs release.
Documents checklist
- Ministry of Transport import permit
- Garage, showroom or warehouse permit (four-wheeled vehicles)
- National ID card, or company registration certificate for a company
- Commercial invoice
- Japanese export or de-registration certificate with English translation
- Bill of lading
- Maldives Customs vehicle declaration
- Vehicle registration application
What import duties and taxes does Maldives charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import Duty — used petrol/diesel passenger carApplies to petrol vehicles only | 200% | CIF value |
| Import Duty — used hybrid passenger carApplies to hybrid vehicles only | 150% | CIF value |
| Import Duty — electric vehicle (EV)Applies to ev vehicles only | 0% | CIF value |
| Import Duty — used diesel passenger carApplies to diesel vehicles only | 200% | CIF value |
Import Duty — used petrol/diesel passenger car
Rate: 200%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to petrol vehicles only.
Import Duty — used hybrid passenger car
Rate: 150%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to hybrid vehicles only.
Import Duty — electric vehicle (EV)
Rate: 0%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to ev vehicles only.
Import Duty — used diesel passenger car
Rate: 200%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to diesel vehicles only.
Maldives Customs charges a single import duty on the CIF value of a car, with the rate set by condition and fuel type. A used petrol passenger car pays 200% of CIF whatever its engine size. A used hybrid pays 150%. An electric car pays 0%. No VAT or excise is added at import in the dataset behind the table, so the duty line is the whole tax on the car. Port handling, clearing and registration fees are separate and much smaller. Because the duty is a percentage of CIF, the purchase price and the freight both raise the tax: every extra dollar of CIF adds two dollars of duty on a used petrol car. Choosing a hybrid instead of a petrol car cuts the rate by 50 percentage points, and an electric car removes the duty altogether.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Maldives?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Port of Malé | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Suzuki Swift 1.2 L | US$11,600 | US$12,800 | US$25,600200% of CIF | MVR 597,000 – 610,000US$38,600 – US$39,500 |
| 2022 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid | US$14,200 | US$15,400 | US$23,100150% of CIF | MVR 598,000 – 612,000US$38,700 – US$39,600 |
| 2022 Honda Vezel 1.5 L hybrid | US$24,100 | US$25,800 | US$38,600150% of CIF | MVR 998,000 – 1,010,000US$64,500 – US$65,500 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Hulhumale. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Malé | RoRo or container | 21–30 | US$1,200 |
Which Japanese cars are popular in Maldives?
- Models and prices
Toyota Aqua
A 1.5-litre hybrid, so it pays 150% duty instead of 200%. Its small size suits Malé's narrow streets.
- Models and prices
Suzuki Swift
A 1.2-litre petrol hatchback with a low purchase price, which keeps the 200% duty amount down.
- Models and prices
Honda Vezel
A compact crossover sold as a hybrid, which pays the lower 150% rate.
- Models and prices
Nissan Note
A small hatchback sold as a series hybrid (e-Power), which qualifies for the hybrid rate.
- Models and prices
Nissan Leaf
A fully electric hatchback. Electric cars pay no import duty, and island distances are well within its range.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Maldives?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hulhumale | Port of Malé | US$60 | US$80 | 1 |
| Addu City | Port of Malé | US$400 | US$550 | 5 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- How much is import duty on a used car in the Maldives?
- 200% of CIF for a used petrol car, 150% for a used hybrid and 0% for an electric car. No VAT or excise is added at import.
- Is there an age limit for imported cars in the Maldives?
- Yes. Since April 2025 cars and vans must be no more than 5 years old from manufacture. The Ministry of Transport can grant exceptions in limited cases.
- Do I need a permit to import a car to the Maldives?
- Yes. Since 13 July 2025 vehicles other than two-wheelers need an import permit from the Ministry of Transport, applied for online. It is also needed for registration.
- Do I need a garage to import a car to the Maldives?
- Yes. Importers of four-wheeled vehicles must submit a verified garage, showroom or warehouse permit before the car is brought in.
- Are hybrid cars cheaper to import to the Maldives?
- Yes. A used hybrid pays 150% duty on CIF, against 200% for a used petrol car.
- Do electric cars pay import duty in the Maldives?
- No. Electric cars pay 0% import duty, which makes them the cheapest category to import.
- Can I import a left-hand-drive car to the Maldives?
- The calculator treats the Maldives as a right-hand-drive market, because it drives on the left. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive and fit that rule.
- How long does shipping from Japan to Malé take?
- Around 21 to 30 days at sea, depending on the vessel and its stops. Customs clearance and registration add more time.
Sources
- Maldives Customs Service — checked 15 October 2026
- Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, Maldives — checked 15 October 2026
- The Maldives Standard — Garage permits and vehicle age caps (April 2025) — checked 15 October 2026
- Atoll Times — Import permit required from 13 July 2025 — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Maldives
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.