How do you import a car from Japan to Mauritania, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Approx. duty 20%, VAT 16% on the imported value. Indicative ECOWAS-style baseline only; must verify with broker.
Car import duty calculator for Mauritania
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Mauritania we can only source the limited left-hand-drive cars that come up at Japanese auctions, mostly European and American imports, so choice is narrow and prices are higher than for ordinary Japanese stock.
Mauritania is a left-hand-drive market with a single main port at Nouakchott, making it a straightforward entry point for Japanese export vehicles. The country has no simple confirmed age cap, so import eligibility is checked case by case through customs and local registration rules. Indicative duty runs around 20% with 16% VAT on the imported value, though the exact figure requires a broker quote because Mauritanian customs rules need direct confirmation.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Mauritania?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No reliable simple age cap confirmed; customs and registration rules must be verified before shipping.
- Inspection
- Customs clearance, technical inspection/registration
- Entry ports
- Nouakchott
How do you import a car from Japan to Mauritania, step by step?
Check the import rules
No reliable simple age cap confirmed; customs and registration rules must be verified before shipping. Mauritania requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the car's registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. An English translation of it is needed for customs and registration in Mauritania.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Mauritania: Customs clearance, technical inspection/registration.
Ship to Nouakchott
Cars from Japan arrive at Nouakchott. Sea transit is about 34–46 days. The shipping line issues the bill of lading, which customs needs for the entry.
Lodge the customs entry and pay the taxes
A licensed clearing agent lodges the import declaration with the invoice, bill of lading and export certificate. Customs assesses Import duty and VAT / GST; the rates are in the duty table on this page.
Register the car
After customs release and payment of port charges, the car is registered and plated by Mauritania's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Mauritania charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 20% | CIF value |
| VAT / GST | 16% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT / GST
Rate: 16%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Indicative rates for Mauritania are approximately 20% import duty and 16% VAT on the CIF value, in line with the ECOWAS baseline.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Mauritania?
Worked examples are not shown for this market. Use the calculator below with your own car.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nouakchott | RoRo or container | 34–46 | US$2,600 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Mauritania?
- Models and prices
Ford Explorer
Sold new in Japan with left-hand drive, so used Explorers turn up in Japanese stock from time to time.
- Models and prices
Porsche Cayenne
Some Cayennes were sold new in Japan with left-hand drive and resurface in Japanese used stock in small numbers.
- Models and prices
Cadillac SRX
An American SUV sold new in Japan with left-hand drive; examples appear in Japanese used stock occasionally.
- Models and prices
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Left-hand-drive S-Class cars sold new in Japan appear in Japanese used stock, mostly older examples.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Mauritania?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nouakchott | Nouakchott | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Nouadhibou | Nouakchott | US$280 | US$350 | 2 |
| Rosso | Nouakchott | US$190 | US$240 | 2 |
| Kiffa | Nouakchott | US$370 | US$460 | 3 |
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
- Is there an age limit for importing a car from Japan to Mauritania?
- No simple confirmed age cap exists for Mauritania.
- What duty and tax will I pay importing a car to Mauritania?
- Indicative rates are around 20% import duty and 16% VAT on the CIF value, consistent with the ECOWAS regional baseline. A local broker quote is required for a precise figure.
- Does Mauritania use left- or right-hand-drive vehicles?
- Mauritania is a left-hand-drive market, so Japanese domestic RHD vehicles are not ideal.
Car import duty calculator for Mauritania
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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.