How do you import a car from Japan to Poland, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Poland's missing tax is akcyza (excise): 3.1% of value for engines ≤2000cc and 18.6% for >2000cc, on top of 23% VAT (0% EU–Japan EPA duty with origin proof, 10% MFN fallback). VAT compounds on value + akcyza, so total is ~27% of CIF for a small car and ~46% for a >2000cc SUV. The big-engine 18.6% step is what a duty+VAT-only model missed.
Car import duty calculator for Poland
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Poland 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.
Poland is an EU member, so the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement applies and import duty on Japan-origin cars can be 0% with valid origin proof. Polish VAT is 23% on the imported value. The port of Gdansk on the Baltic coast is the main vehicle entry point, with excellent road and rail connections to Warsaw, Krakow, Lodz and Wroclaw. Poland has a growing appetite for quality used cars and the EU-Japan EPA makes it one of the more cost-efficient European destinations for a Japanese import at the customs stage.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Poland?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Poland drives on the RIGHT (LHD). RHD imports need individual approval and are enthusiast-only in practice. Japan is a third country: customs duty + excise (akcyza) + VAT, then conformity/roadworthiness and registration.
- Inspection
- Customs declaration; conformity/roadworthiness; akcyza (AKC-US) filing; local registration.
- Special rules
- Akcyza is filed and paid within 30 days of import.
- Entry ports
- Gdansk
How do you import a car from Japan to Poland, step by step?
Check the import rules
Poland drives on the RIGHT (LHD). RHD imports need individual approval and are enthusiast-only in practice. Japan is a third country: customs duty + excise (akcyza) + VAT, then conformity/roadworthiness and registration. Poland 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 Poland.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Poland: Customs declaration; conformity/roadworthiness; akcyza (AKC-US) filing; local registration.
Ship to Gdansk
Cars from Japan arrive at Gdansk. Sea transit is about 33–40 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, Excise duty and VAT; 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 Poland's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Poland charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty (EU–Japan EPA) | 0% | CIF value |
| Excise duty (akcyza, engine cc) | 3.1%–18.6% by engine size | CIF value |
| VAT (23%) | 23% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty (EU–Japan EPA)
Rate: 0%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise duty (akcyza, engine cc)
Rate: 3.1% up to 2,000 cc; 18.6% above 2,000 cc. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT (23%)
Rate: 23%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Under the EU-Japan EPA, import duty on a Japan-origin car can be 0% with valid origin proof; without it, standard TARIC/MFN passenger-car duty may apply. Polish VAT is 23% on the imported value (customs value plus any duty). A national excise tax may apply for certain engine types at registration, and Polish emissions standards must be met for registration.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Poland?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gdansk | RoRo or container | 33–40 | US$1,800 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Poland?
- 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 Poland?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gdansk | Gdansk | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Gdynia | Gdansk | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Warsaw | Gdansk | US$250 | US$310 | 2 |
| Krakow | Gdansk | US$350 | US$440 | 3 |
| Lodz | Gdansk | US$260 | US$320 | 2 |
| Wroclaw | Gdansk | US$290 | US$360 | 2 |
| Poznan | Gdansk | US$230 | US$290 | 2 |
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 import duty 0% for a Japanese car in Poland?
- Under the EU-Japan EPA, duty can be 0% when valid Japan-origin proof accompanies the shipment. Without that documentation, standard TARIC/MFN duty applies.
- Is there an age limit to import a car to Poland from Japan?
- No — there is no EU or Polish age cap on private car imports. The car must meet Polish emissions standards and pass registration inspection, but age alone does not bar it.
- Where does the car arrive in Poland?
- The main vehicle-import port is Gdansk on the Baltic coast. Delivery to Warsaw adds roughly $250; to Krakow roughly $350; to Wroclaw roughly $290.
Car import duty calculator for Poland
Loading calculator…
Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.