How do you import a car from Japan to Namibia, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Namibia charges 25% customs duty and a 5% ad valorem excise on CIF, then 15% VAT on CIF plus both, which together add about 50% to the CIF value. A used car must be under 12 years old from manufacture (2015 or newer in 2026), right-hand drive, covered by a trade ministry import permit and landed at Walvis Bay.
Worked example: a 2016 Honda Fit 1.3 L costs about 147,000 to 157,000 NAD (US$8,910 to US$9,540) delivered to Walvis Bay, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Namibia
Namibia drives on the left, and its customs rules prohibit bringing left-hand-drive vehicles into the country, with an exception for diplomats only. Right-hand-drive Japanese cars meet the rule as they are. Since October 2025 the import of second-hand passenger and light commercial vehicles older than 12 years from the date of manufacture has been prohibited when they come from outside the Common Customs Area (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa). Walvis Bay is the official point of entry for all second-hand vehicles, and compliance inspections are carried out there. Every used car also needs an import permit from the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade, applied for through the online IMEX system. A permit is valid for 12 months. Taxes follow the Southern African Customs Union model: customs duty, an ad valorem excise and VAT, all based on the CIF value. Because Walvis Bay is on the coast, Namibia avoids the long road leg that Botswana and Eswatini need, which keeps delivery to Windhoek relatively cheap.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Namibia?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Vehicles must be under 12 years old from manufacture (rule tightened; imports from outside SACU). Namibia drives on the left (RHD) — Japanese stock is ideal. An imported car cannot be resold for 24 months.
- Restrictions
- Left-hand-drive vehicles are prohibited; RHD required.
- Entry ports
- Port of Walvis Bay
How do you import a car from Japan to Namibia, step by step?
Confirm age and steering
The car must be under 12 years old from the date of manufacture and right-hand drive. Check the manufacture date on the export certificate before buying.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. It must be translated into English by a sworn translator for the permit application.
Apply for the import permit
Register on the trade ministry's IMEX system and apply for a second-hand vehicle import permit. The ministry asks for ID or company documents, the invoice, the translated export certificate, the bill of lading and proof of payment.
Ship to Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay is the only official entry point for second-hand vehicles. The shipping line issues the bill of lading.
Pass the compliance inspection and lodge the customs entry
The car is inspected for compliance at Walvis Bay. A clearing agent lodges the SAD 500 declaration in NamRA's ASYCUDA system, and NamRA assesses duty, ad valorem excise and VAT.
Obtain the customs clearance certificate
After payment NamRA issues a customs motor vehicle clearance certificate, which confirms that duties, taxes and compliance requirements have been met.
Register with the Roads Authority
The car is registered on the NaTIS system, which the Roads Authority runs, using the customs clearance certificate and the import documents.
Documents checklist
- Invoice or pro-forma invoice with full details
- Japanese export (deregistration) certificate translated into English by a sworn translator
- Bill of lading
- Certified copy of ID, passport or permanent residence permit, or company registration documents
- Proof of payment or transfer of funds
- Import permit from the Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade
- SAD 500 customs declaration
- NamRA customs motor vehicle clearance certificate
- NaTIS registration application
What import duties and taxes does Namibia charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 25% | CIF value |
| Ad valorem excise | 5% | CIF value |
| VAT | 15% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs duty
Rate: 25%. Charged on: CIF value.
Ad valorem excise
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT
Rate: 15%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Customs duty is 25% of the CIF value, the Southern African Customs Union rate for light vehicles. The ad valorem excise is shown in the table as a flat 5% of CIF; in law it is a price-based SACU excise that is small on cheap cars and rises with value, so treat the 5% as an approximation. VAT of 15% is charged on CIF plus customs duty plus excise, which works out at about 19.5% of CIF. Together the three lines add roughly 50% to the CIF value. None of the rates depends on engine size or fuel type. NamRA calculates the taxes from the customs value declared on the SAD 500, and the car must be cleared and taxed before NamRA issues the clearance certificate needed for registration.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Namibia?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Port of Walvis Bay | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Honda Fit 1.3 L | US$4,140 | US$5,760 | US$2,85049% of CIF | NAD 147,000 – 157,000US$8,910 – US$9,540 |
| 2017 Toyota Corolla Fielder 1.5 L hybrid | US$7,550 | US$9,580 | US$4,74050% of CIF | NAD 241,000 – 253,000US$14,600 – US$15,300 |
| 2018 Toyota Hilux 2.4 L diesel | US$26,500 | US$28,900 | US$14,30050% of CIF | NAD 716,000 – 730,000US$43,400 – US$44,300 |
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 Walvis Bay. 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 of Walvis Bay | RoRo or container | 28–42 | US$1,600 |
Walvis Bay is the only official entry point for second-hand vehicles, so cars for Namibia are not landed at other ports.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Namibia?
- Models and prices
Toyota Corolla Fielder
A 1.5-litre petrol or hybrid estate. Examples built in 2015 or later meet the 12-year rule.
- Models and prices
Honda Fit
A compact hatchback with a low purchase price, which keeps the duty and VAT bill small because both are charged on value.
- Models and prices
Toyota Hilux
Pickups suit gravel roads and farm use. The Japanese-market Hilux double cab sold from 2017 has a 2.4-litre diesel engine.
- Models and prices
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
A body-on-frame SUV for long distances and rough roads. Its higher value means a larger tax bill in absolute terms.
- Models and prices
Nissan X-Trail
A mid-size SUV with four-wheel-drive versions, usually cheaper to buy than a Prado.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Namibia?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walvis Bay | Port of Walvis Bay | US$60 | US$90 | 1 |
| Windhoek | Port of Walvis Bay | US$320 | US$400 | 2 |
| Oshakati | Port of Walvis Bay | US$560 | US$700 | 7 |
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
- Can I import a car older than 12 years to Namibia?
- No. Second-hand passenger and light commercial vehicles older than 12 years from the date of manufacture may not be imported from outside the Common Customs Area. Special-purpose vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines are excluded from the ban.
- Does Namibia allow left-hand-drive cars?
- No. Namibian customs prohibit bringing left-hand-drive vehicles into the country, with an exception for diplomats only. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive, so they qualify.
- Do I need an import permit for a used car in Namibia?
- Yes. The Ministry of Industrialisation and Trade issues import permits for second-hand vehicles through its online IMEX system. A permit is valid for 12 months.
- How much is duty on a car from Japan to Namibia?
- 25% customs duty and about 5% ad valorem excise on CIF, then 15% VAT on CIF plus both. Together they add around 50% to the CIF value.
- Which port must used cars enter Namibia through?
- Walvis Bay. The government names it as the official point of entry for all second-hand vehicles, and compliance inspections take place there.
- How long does shipping from Japan to Walvis Bay take?
- Around 28 to 42 days at sea, depending on the vessel and transhipment. Clearance at Walvis Bay and the road trip to Windhoek add a few days.
- What documents does a Namibian import permit need?
- The invoice, the Japanese export or deregistration certificate translated into English by a sworn translator, the bill of lading, certified ID or company registration documents and proof of payment.
- How is an imported car registered in Namibia?
- On the NaTIS system run by the Roads Authority. NamRA first issues a customs motor vehicle clearance certificate confirming that duties, taxes and compliance requirements are met.
Sources
- Namibia Trade Information Portal — Application for import permit for importation of vehicles — checked 15 October 2026
- Namibia Trade Information Portal — Requirements for second-hand motor vehicles imported from abroad — checked 15 October 2026
- The Namibian — Namibia bans used vehicles older than 12 years — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Namibia
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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.