How do you import a car from Japan to Mauritius, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Mauritius charges no customs duty on cars but levies excise by engine size on conventional cars: 45% up to 1,000 cc, 55% to 1,600 cc, 75% to 2,000 cc and 100% above, plus 15% VAT, adding about 67–130% to CIF. A car must be 18 months to 4 years from first registration, right-hand drive, inspected before shipment and covered by an import permit.
Worked example: a 2023 Suzuki Swift 1.2 L costs about 1,120,000 to 1,140,000 MUR (US$23,500 to US$24,100) delivered to Port Louis, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Mauritius
Mauritius drives on the left, and its import conditions require a second-hand car to be right-hand drive, so Japanese domestic stock is the main source. The binding limits are age and paperwork. Under the Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) Regulations, a second-hand motor car must be between 18 months and 4 years from the date of first registration on the date of shipment, must have been first registered no later than the year after it was built, and must keep its original chassis. An import permit from the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection is needed before the car is shipped. Applications go through the TradeNet system, normally via a customs broker. An individual or firm other than an authorised dealer or taxi operator may import one second-hand car every 5 years. The car must carry an inspection certificate issued no earlier than 2 months before shipment and be consigned to the permit holder by name. Excise, not customs duty, is the main tax. The Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) values a used car from the FOB price of identical imported cars, depreciated by age, rather than from the invoice alone, and engine size sets the excise band.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Mauritius?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Second-hand vehicle rules depend on category and import permit. Many concessions refer to cars not more than 4 years old.
- Inspection
- MRA valuation and permit process
- Entry ports
- Port Louis
How do you import a car from Japan to Mauritius, step by step?
Confirm eligibility
The car must be 18 months to 4 years from first registration on the shipping date, right-hand drive, on its original chassis and without a bull bar. In late 2026 that means cars first registered from about late 2022 to early 2025.
Agree the purchase and obtain a pro-forma invoice
The permit application needs a pro-forma invoice and, for a car from Japan, the auction sheet certified in English and Japanese.
Apply for the import permit
Apply to the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection through TradeNet before shipment. The file includes the pro-forma invoice, export certificate, a declaration, the certified auction sheet, your National Identity Card and TAN certificate.
Pass the pre-shipment inspection
An inspection certificate must be issued no more than 2 months before shipment by Bureau Veritas, SGS or an authority Mauritius recognises in Japan. JEVIC states that its inspection is accredited by Mauritius.
Ship to Port Louis
The car must be consigned to the permit holder, whose name appears as consignee on the bill of lading and the ship's manifest.
Lodge the customs declaration and pay excise and VAT
A customs broker lodges the declaration. MRA assesses the value, using its Online Second-Hand Vehicle Valuation System for Japanese cars, and charges excise and VAT.
Register with the National Transport Authority
The car is registered with the National Transport Authority in the importer's name.
Documents checklist
- Pro-forma invoice
- Japanese export certificate
- Declaration required for the import permit
- Auction sheet certified in English and Japanese
- National Identity Card (or Certificate of Incorporation/BRN for a company) and TAN certificate
- Import permit from the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate issued within 2 months of shipment
- Bill of lading naming the permit holder as consignee
- Customs declaration lodged by a customs broker
- National Transport Authority registration application
What import duties and taxes does Mauritius charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 0% | CIF value |
| Excise duty (petrol, engine cc)Applies to petrol vehicles only | 45%–100% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| Excise duty (diesel, engine cc)Applies to diesel vehicles only | 45%–100% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| Excise duty (hybrid, engine cc)Applies to hybrid vehicles only | 0%–75% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| Excise duty (electric)Applies to ev vehicles only | 25% | CIF + import duty |
| VAT | 15% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs duty
Rate: 0%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise duty (petrol, engine cc)
Rate: 45% up to 1,000 cc; 55% up to 1,600 cc; 75% up to 2,000 cc; 100% above 2,000 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty. Applies to petrol vehicles only. Source: MRA — Motor vehicles.
Excise duty (diesel, engine cc)
Rate: 45% up to 1,000 cc; 55% up to 1,600 cc; 75% up to 2,000 cc; 100% above 2,000 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty. Applies to diesel vehicles only. Source: MRA — Motor vehicles.
Excise duty (hybrid, engine cc)
Rate: 0% up to 550 cc; 25% up to 1,000 cc; 35% up to 1,600 cc; 55% up to 2,000 cc; 75% above 2,000 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty. Applies to hybrid vehicles only. Source: MRA — Motor vehicles.
Excise duty (electric)
Rate: 25%. Charged on: CIF + import duty. Applies to ev vehicles only. Source: MRA — Motor vehicles.
VAT
Rate: 15%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Mauritius levies no customs duty on motor cars, so the table shows it as 0%. Excise is charged on the value by engine size: 45% up to 1,000 cc, 55% from 1,001 to 1,600 cc, 75% from 1,601 to 2,000 cc and 100% above 2,000 cc. These are the MRA rates for cars with only an internal combustion engine; Hybrids pay a lower MRA scale: 25% from 551 to 1,000 cc, 35% to 1,600 cc, 55% to 2,000 cc and 75% above. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars have lower rates again. VAT of 15% is then charged on value plus excise. For a used car, MRA computes the value from the FOB price of previously imported identical vehicles, reduced by 9% for the first month of use and 1% for each further month up to 50%, plus insurance and freight. Cars from Japan can be checked in the MRA online valuation system. Excise rates are set under the Excise Act and were revised in the 2025–26 budget.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Mauritius?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Port Louis | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Suzuki Swift 1.2 L | US$11,600 | US$12,700 | US$9,97078% of CIF | MUR 1,120,000 – 1,140,000US$23,500 – US$24,100 |
| 2023 Toyota Yaris 1.0 L | US$14,200 | US$15,300 | US$10,20067% of CIF | MUR 1,250,000 – 1,280,000US$26,300 – US$26,900 |
| 2023 Honda Vezel 1.5 L | US$24,100 | US$25,600 | US$20,00078% of CIF | MUR 2,200,000 – 2,230,000US$46,300 – US$46,900 |
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 Port Louis. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
This market taxes by engine size, age or fuel. Enter all three for a tighter figure.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Louis | RoRo or container | 30–35 | US$1,150 |
The car must be consigned to the import permit holder, who is named on the bill of lading and the ship's manifest.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Mauritius?
- Models and prices
Suzuki Swift
A 1.2-litre petrol hatchback in the 1,001–1,600 cc excise band. Only cars first registered within the last 4 years qualify.
- Models and prices
Toyota Yaris
Sold in Japan with 1.0 and 1.5 engines; the 1.0 falls in the lowest excise band for conventional cars.
- Models and prices
Toyota Aqua
A 1.5-litre hybrid hatchback. Hybrids are charged on the lower MRA hybrid excise scale rather than the conventional one.
- Models and prices
Honda Vezel
A small SUV sold in Japan as a 1.5 petrol or e:HEV hybrid, both in the 1,001–1,600 cc band.
- Models and prices
Toyota Raize
A small SUV with a 1.0-litre turbo engine, which keeps it in the lowest excise band for conventional cars.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Mauritius?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Louis | Port Louis | US$110 | US$140 | 1 |
| Quatre Bornes | Port Louis | US$110 | US$140 | 1 |
| Curepipe | Port Louis | US$110 | US$140 | 1 |
| Vacoas | Port Louis | US$110 | US$140 | 1 |
| Mahebourg | Port Louis | US$120 | US$150 | 1 |
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 old can a used car be to import into Mauritius?
- Between 18 months and 4 years from the date of first registration, measured on the date of shipment. It must also have been first registered no later than the year after it was built.
- Do I need an import permit for a used car in Mauritius?
- Yes. Apply to the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection before the car is shipped, through the TradeNet system, usually via a customs broker.
- How much is excise on a car imported to Mauritius?
- For conventional petrol and diesel cars: 45% up to 1,000 cc, 55% to 1,600 cc, 75% to 2,000 cc and 100% above, plus 15% VAT. Hybrids and electric cars have a lower MRA scale.
- How does the MRA value an imported used car?
- From the FOB value of previously imported identical cars, reduced by 9% for the first month of use and 1% per month after, up to 50%, plus insurance and freight. Japanese cars can be checked in the MRA online valuation system.
- How many used cars can I import into Mauritius?
- One every 5 years for an individual or firm, unless you are an authorised dealer or a taxi owner or driver.
- Does a car from Japan need an inspection for Mauritius?
- Yes. An inspection certificate issued no earlier than 2 months before shipment is required, from Bureau Veritas, SGS or a recognised authority in Japan. JEVIC states that its inspection is accredited by Mauritius.
- Does Mauritius allow left-hand-drive cars?
- No. The import conditions for second-hand motor cars require them to be right-hand drive, which Japanese domestic cars are.
- Why is an auction sheet needed for a Mauritius import permit?
- For cars from Japan, the permit application lists an auction sheet certified in English and Japanese among the documents, alongside the pro-forma invoice, export certificate, declaration, NIC and TAN certificate.
- How long does shipping from Japan to Port Louis take?
- About 30 to 35 days at sea. Customs clearance and registration with the National Transport Authority follow arrival.
Sources
- Mauritius Revenue Authority — Motor vehicles (excise rates and valuation) — checked 15 October 2026
- Mauritius Trade Easy — Import permit for second-hand motor vehicles (Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) Regulations) — checked 15 October 2026
- Mauritius Revenue Authority — Customs FAQ: conditions for importing a second-hand car — checked 15 October 2026
- Mauritius Trade Easy — Restrictions on controlled goods — checked 15 October 2026
- JEVIC — Vehicle inspection — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Mauritius
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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.