How do you import a car from Japan to Mongolia, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Mongolia charges 5% customs duty and 10% VAT plus a flat US-dollar excise set by engine size and age, from US$500 for a small car up to 3 years old to US$13,000 for a large engine over 10 years old. There is no maximum age, but the excise rises steeply at 7 and 10 years.
Car import duty calculator for Mongolia
Mongolia is one of the most committed used-Japanese-car markets in Asia — right-hand-drive cars are accepted, the country has no categorical age ban, and Japanese makes dominate the roads. The cost picture, however, is more complex than a simple percentage rate. Mongolia applies a 5% customs duty on the invoice value and 10% VAT on the CIF-plus-duty total, but the largest and most variable charge is a flat-rate USD excise that depends on engine displacement and vehicle age: newer, smaller-engined cars attract as little as around USD 500 in excise, while older vehicles with large engines can face USD 13,000 or more in excise alone — which means age and engine size are the two numbers to nail down before sourcing. Every Japan-origin vehicle also undergoes a mandatory radiation check at the Mongolian border, a legacy of Fukushima-era caution that is now routine. Because Mongolia is landlocked, there is no direct sea route. Cars leave Japan by ocean freight and transit through Tianjin port in China, then travel overland into Mongolia. This transit adds weeks and meaningful inland freight cost compared with a coastal destination.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Mongolia?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No maximum age limit. However, the flat USD excise increases steeply for vehicles 10+ years old and/or large engine size — acting as a significant financial disincentive. No age-based categorical ban.
- Inspection
- Radiation check mandatory for all Japan-origin vehicles at the Mongolian border crossing.
- Permits
- Import licence required for right-hand-drive vehicles (Mongolia is officially LHD country). Customs declaration at Ulaanbaatar ICD or border crossing. Chinese transit permit required for the overland leg through China.
- Special rules
- Vehicles shipped RoRo to Tianjin, China, then transported by rail or truck through the Mongolian border (Zamiin-Uud / Erlian crossing). Chinese transit permit and border-crossing fees add to total landed cost.
- Entry ports
- Ulaanbaatar (via Tianjin, China)
How do you import a car from Japan to Mongolia, step by step?
Check the import rules
No maximum age limit. However, the flat USD excise increases steeply for vehicles 10+ years old and/or large engine size — acting as a significant financial disincentive. No age-based categorical ban. Mongolia registers right-hand-drive vehicles, so Japanese domestic stock meets the steering rule.
Obtain the import permit
Import licence required for right-hand-drive vehicles (Mongolia is officially LHD country). Customs declaration at Ulaanbaatar ICD or border crossing. Chinese transit permit required for the overland leg through China.
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 Mongolia.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Mongolia: Radiation check mandatory for all Japan-origin vehicles at the Mongolian border crossing.
Ship to Ulaanbaatar (via Tianjin, China)
Cars from Japan arrive at Ulaanbaatar (via Tianjin, China) and Xingang/Tianjin + inland to Ulaanbaatar. Sea transit is about 18–45 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 Customs Duty, VAT, Excise Duty — 0–3 yr, Excise Duty — 4–6 yr, Excise Duty — 7–9 yr and Excise Duty — 10+ yr; 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 Mongolia's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Mongolia charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty | 5% | CIF value |
| VAT (Нэмэгдсэн өртгийн татвар) | 10% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
| Excise Duty — 0–3 yr (flat USD by CC)Applies to vehicles up to 3 years old | US$500–US$7,000 by engine size | Engine size (fixed amount) |
| Excise Duty — 4–6 yr (flat USD by CC)Applies to vehicles 4–6 years old | US$1,000–US$7,500 by engine size | Engine size (fixed amount) |
| Excise Duty — 7–9 yr (flat USD by CC)Applies to vehicles 7–9 years old | US$2,000–US$9,000 by engine size | Engine size (fixed amount) |
| Excise Duty — 10+ yr (flat USD by CC)Applies to vehicles 10+ years old | US$6,000–US$13,000 by engine size | Engine size (fixed amount) |
Customs Duty
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT (Нэмэгдсэн өртгийн татвар)
Rate: 10%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Excise Duty — 0–3 yr (flat USD by CC)
Rate: US$500 up to 1,500 cc; US$1,500 up to 2,500 cc; US$2,000 up to 3,500 cc; US$4,500 up to 4,500 cc; US$7,000 above 4,500 cc. Charged on: Engine size (fixed amount). Applies to vehicles up to 3 years old.
Excise Duty — 4–6 yr (flat USD by CC)
Rate: US$1,000 up to 1,500 cc; US$2,000 up to 2,500 cc; US$2,500 up to 3,500 cc; US$5,000 up to 4,500 cc; US$7,500 above 4,500 cc. Charged on: Engine size (fixed amount). Applies to vehicles 4–6 years old.
Excise Duty — 7–9 yr (flat USD by CC)
Rate: US$2,000 up to 1,500 cc; US$3,000 up to 2,500 cc; US$4,000 up to 3,500 cc; US$6,500 up to 4,500 cc; US$9,000 above 4,500 cc. Charged on: Engine size (fixed amount). Applies to vehicles 7–9 years old.
Excise Duty — 10+ yr (flat USD by CC)
Rate: US$6,000 up to 1,500 cc; US$7,000 up to 2,500 cc; US$8,000 up to 3,500 cc; US$10,500 up to 4,500 cc; US$13,000 above 4,500 cc. Charged on: Engine size (fixed amount). Applies to vehicles 10+ years old.
Mongolia's import costs have three components. First, a 5% customs duty on the invoice value. Second, a flat-rate USD excise that varies by engine displacement and vehicle age — vehicles under 3 years old with a small engine pay around USD 500 in excise, while older, large-engine cars can face USD 13,000 or more; this is the single biggest variable in your landed cost. Third, 10% VAT calculated on CIF plus duty. On top of that, the landlocked transit through Tianjin adds meaningful overland freight to the overall cost. Because the excise table has multiple age and displacement bands, the precise figures shift with your specific car.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Mongolia?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulaanbaatar (via Tianjin, China) | RoRo or container | 25–45 | US$1,800 |
| Xingang/Tianjin + inland to Ulaanbaatar | RoRo or container | 18–35 | US$1,550 |
Which Japanese cars are popular in Mongolia?
- Models and prices
Toyota Corolla Axio
The most practical choice for Mongolia's excise structure: a right-hand-drive compact sedan with a small, proven engine that keeps the flat-rate excise at its lower end and runs well on Mongolian roads.
- Models and prices
Honda Fit
Compact, fuel-efficient and easy to service — the Fit's petrol and hybrid variants both have modest engine sizes that avoid the steeper excise bands, making them cost-effective to import.
- Models and prices
Mazda Demio
A well-finished small hatchback with a fuel-efficient engine; its compact displacement keeps excise costs low and its reliability suits Mongolia's long distances between service centres.
- Models and prices
Suzuki Swift
Light and economical with a small engine that sits in the lowest excise bands — a sensible budget import for buyers in Ulaanbaatar or smaller cities.
- Models and prices
Toyota Probox
A rugged right-hand-drive wagon built for commercial durability; popular with traders and fleet buyers who need cargo space and reliability across Mongolia's varied road conditions.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Mongolia?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darkhan | xingang-tianjin | US$1,210 | US$1,510 | 12 |
| Erdenet | xingang-tianjin | US$1,240 | US$1,550 | 12 |
| Ulaanbaatar | xingang-tianjin | US$1,100 | US$1,380 | 10 |
| Choibalsan | xingang-tianjin | US$930 | US$1,160 | 10 |
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 Mongolia landlocked — how does the car actually get there?
- Yes, Mongolia has no coastline. Cars leave Japan by ocean freight and arrive at Tianjin port in China, then travel overland by truck or rail across the Chinese border into Mongolia.
- How does Mongolia's excise duty work?
- Mongolia charges a flat USD excise that depends on your car's engine displacement and age. Newer cars with small engines pay as little as around USD 500; older or large-engined vehicles can face USD 13,000 or more. Choosing the right age and engine size before sourcing is the single biggest way to control your landed cost.
- Does Mongolia allow right-hand-drive cars from Japan?
- Yes. Right-hand-drive cars are accepted in Mongolia. Most Japanese domestic-market vehicles are eligible, subject to the radiation check at the border.
- What is the radiation check at the Mongolian border?
- All vehicles originating from Japan must pass a radiation check when entering Mongolia — a standard procedure since 2011. It is routine for cars sourced from areas unaffected by the Fukushima event and adds only a short delay at the border crossing.
- How long does it take to import a car from Japan to Mongolia?
- The ocean leg from Japan to Tianjin takes approximately two to three weeks, and overland transit from Tianjin to Ulaanbaatar adds another week or two depending on the season and customs queue.
Sources
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Mongolia, other taxes — checked 15 October 2026
- Invest Mongolia — Taxation — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Mongolia
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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.