How do you import a car from Japan to Peru, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Peru applies a low ad valorem customs duty (around 0-6%), a selective consumption tax (ISC) that runs roughly 5-10% of the value-plus-duty by engine size for used cars, and a combined sales tax of 18% (16% IGV plus 2% municipal promotion tax).
Car import duty calculator for Peru
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Peru 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.
Peru is a market that looks accessible on paper — a low 6% ad valorem duty, 0% selective consumption tax for free-zone reconditioned vehicles, and an 18% combined sales tax — but carries an important practical barrier: the standard import regime requires vehicles to have been left-hand drive from manufacture. Japan's domestic stock is right-hand drive, so a direct used-car import under the regular route is not possible without a CETICOS or ZOFRATACNA free-zone step that involves reconditioning and converting the car to LHD before it can circulate on Peruvian roads. The five-year age cap is a further constraint: in 2026 that means a 2021 model or newer. Under the regular LHD regime, the duty route is approximately 6% ad valorem on CIF, 0% ISC (selective consumption tax) and 18% combined IGV and municipal promotion tax on CIF plus duty plus ISC. When you enquire about importing a car from Japan to Peru, AskJapanCars confirms the routing upfront. A buyer who needs a standard road-registered vehicle must source an LHD-configured car, which Japan's domestic auction market does not commonly list. For buyers exploring the CETICOS free-zone route with LHD conversion, the added reconditioning cost and regulatory steps change the economics significantly.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Peru?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Used passenger cars must be LEFT-HAND-DRIVE from the factory and no more than 2 years old (2026 SUNAT/MTC rules). Right-hand-drive is banned and conversion is no longer accepted, so Japanese domestic RHD auction stock cannot be imported. Port: Callao.
- Inspection
- Pre-shipment/technical inspection; SOAT (mandatory traffic accident insurance) required to circulate after registration.
- Permits
- SUNAT customs declaration; LHD-from-factory required (no RHD conversion route).
- Restrictions
- RHD Japanese cars are NOT importable to Peru (2026): used passenger cars must be LHD-original from the factory, RHD is banned, conversion is no longer accepted, and the old CETICOS/ZOFRATACNA reconditioning route has been discontinued. Ordinary Japanese RHD used-car imports are impossible.
- Special rules
- The CETICOS/ZOFRATACNA vehicle-reconditioning regime that previously allowed RHD entry and 0% ISC has been closed — it is no longer a route for used-car imports.
- Entry ports
- Matarani
How do you import a car from Japan to Peru, step by step?
Check the import rules
Used passenger cars must be LEFT-HAND-DRIVE from the factory and no more than 2 years old (2026 SUNAT/MTC rules). Right-hand-drive is banned and conversion is no longer accepted, so Japanese domestic RHD auction stock cannot be imported. Port: Callao. Peru requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Obtain the import permit
SUNAT customs declaration; LHD-from-factory required (no RHD conversion route).
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 Peru.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Peru: Pre-shipment/technical inspection; SOAT (mandatory traffic accident insurance) required to circulate after registration.
Ship to Matarani
Cars from Japan arrive at Matarani. Sea transit is about 24–36 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 Ad Valorem Customs Duty, Selective Consumption Tax and IGV + Municipal Promotion Tax; 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 Peru's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Peru charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Ad Valorem Customs Duty | 6% | CIF value |
| Selective Consumption Tax (ISC, engine cc) | 5%–10% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| IGV (VAT) + Municipal Promotion Tax | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Ad Valorem Customs Duty
Rate: 6%. Charged on: CIF value.
Selective Consumption Tax (ISC, engine cc)
Rate: 5% up to 1,400 cc; 7.5% up to 1,500 cc; 10% above 1,500 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
IGV (VAT) + Municipal Promotion Tax
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Peru's tariff structure is relatively low: approximately 6% ad valorem customs duty on the CIF value, a selective consumption tax (ISC) of 0% for vehicles reconditioned in a CETICOS free zone (rates vary for other cases), and a combined sales tax of 18% made up of 16% IGV and 2% municipal promotion tax, applied to CIF plus duty plus ISC. The practical complication is the LHD requirement: standard imports must be LHD from manufacture, and Japan's RHD stock must go through a free-zone conversion step that adds cost.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Peru?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matarani | RoRo or container | 24–36 | US$2,100 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Peru?
- 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 Peru?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matarani | Matarani | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Callao | Matarani | US$640 | US$800 | 3 |
| Lima | Matarani | US$640 | US$800 | 3 |
| Arequipa | Matarani | US$200 | US$250 | 2 |
| Trujillo | Matarani | US$950 | US$1,190 | 5 |
| Chiclayo | Matarani | US$1,060 | US$1,320 | 5 |
| Cusco | Matarani | US$390 | US$490 | 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
- Can I import a right-hand-drive Japanese car to Peru?
- Not through the standard import route — Peru requires vehicles to have been LHD from manufacture for regular national circulation. RHD cars can enter through the CETICOS or ZOFRATACNA free zones but must be converted to LHD before they can be registered and driven on Peruvian roads, adding significant cost and complexity.
- What is the age limit for importing a car to Peru?
- Used passenger vehicles are limited to five years old under the standard import regime (some categories are stricter). In 2026 that means a 2021 model or newer.
- How much import duty is charged in Peru?
- Approximately 6% ad valorem duty on CIF, plus 0% ISC for CETICOS reconditioned vehicles, plus 18% combined IGV and municipal promotion tax on CIF plus duty plus ISC.
Car import duty calculator for Peru
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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.