How is EAEU customs duty calculated for a Japanese car in Russia?

EAEU duty is roughly 30% of the car's customs value, subject to a per-cc floor in EUR. If the per-cc minimum exceeds 30% of value, the floor rate applies. This is why a smaller engine often means lower customs cost. Our team calculates both and confirms the higher applies before you commit.

What is the recycling fee and how much is it?

The recycling fee (утилизационный сбор) is mandatory on all imported vehicles in Russia. The personal-import rate is substantially lower than the commercial rate. The exact amount depends on engine size and vehicle category — our team confirms the figure for your car.

Can I import a right-hand-drive Japanese car to Russia?

Yes — both RHD and LHD are permitted in Russia. The Russian Far East has a strong RHD culture due to proximity to Japan. Western Russian cities like Moscow generally prefer LHD for convenience, and Japan also produces LHD export-spec cars available at auction.

What is SBKTS and do I need it?

SBKTS is the Russian vehicle safety approval (Одобрение типа транспортного средства) required for Russian registration of individually imported cars. It is separate from the EPTS electronic passport. Our team arranges both as part of the import process.

How far is Vladivostok from Moscow by road?

Vladivostok is roughly 9,000 km from Moscow by road — inland transport for a car to the capital adds approximately $1,900 for a sedan. We quote the full door-to-door cost including inland delivery before you commit.

Cost to import a car from Japan to Russia

Rates & rules last reviewed 1 July 2026

Russia has a long history of importing used Japanese cars, and the Far Eastern port city of Vladivostok has historically been the primary entry point — Japanese auction stock can reach the port in a matter of days by sea, and the Russian Far East has a strong culture of right-hand-drive Japanese cars as a result. The wider Russian market, including Moscow and Saint Petersburg, receives cars transported overland from Vladivostok after they clear customs. Both RHD and LHD cars are importable, though Western Russia generally prefers LHD for comfort. The import cost structure is governed by EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) rules: customs duty is roughly 30% of the declared value (or a EUR-per-cc floor, whichever is higher), 20% VAT applies on the import value, and a recycling fee (утилизационный сбор) is levied — small for personal imports, substantially larger for commercial imports. An additional horsepower-based excise tax applies at registration. The full cost calculation is complex, and current logistics conditions make it essential that our team prices each car individually before you commit.

Main ports: Port of Vladivostok
Import age rule: No hard age cap; duty tiers by age/engine; recycling fee applies.
Steering: both
Duties & taxes: EAEU customs duty (roughly 30% of value, or a EUR-per-cc floor — whichever is higher) + 20% VAT + a recycling fee (small for personal import, large for commercial).

Loading calculator…

Estimate only — duties, freight and last-mile delivery vary and policies change. Our team confirms exact, current figures on WhatsApp before any bid.

How to import a car from Japan to Russia

Discuss your requirements with our team
Given the complexity of EAEU customs, the recycling fee, the horsepower excise and current logistics considerations, we start with a detailed consultation to confirm the right car, the exact cost and the current best route into Russia.
We source at USS auction
With licensed USS auction access our team finds the car, reads the auction sheet and grade, and verifies condition before any commitment. We confirm the car's engine size and power output upfront as these directly affect the excise calculation.
Pre-shipment documentation
We prepare the full EAEU import declaration, value declaration and supporting documents. Accurate declared value is critical — EAEU customs applies a per-cc floor that can exceed the purchase price on some cars.
Ocean freight to Vladivostok
The car sails to the Port of Vladivostok, the main Japanese-car entry point for Russia. Transit from Japan is short — often under a week by sea. We send tracking and the sailing schedule.
EAEU customs clearance and recycling fee
We handle customs clearance at Vladivostok, paying EAEU duty (~30% of value or cc-floor), 20% VAT and the recycling fee. Our team confirms each figure before the car arrives.
SBKTS/EPTS compliance and inland delivery
The car requires SBKTS vehicle safety approval and an EPTS electronic passport before Russian registration. We coordinate this and arrange inland delivery — to Moscow, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Khabarovsk or your city.

Import duties & taxes in Russia explained

Russia applies EAEU customs duty of roughly 30% of the car's customs value, subject to a minimum floor calculated in EUR per cc of engine displacement — if the per-cc floor exceeds 30% of value, the floor applies. On top of duty you pay 20% VAT on the import value. A recycling fee (утилизационный сбор) is also mandatory — the personal-import rate is much lower than the commercial rate, so the import basis matters. At registration, a horsepower-based excise duty is assessed. All of these figures depend on the car's age, engine size, declared value and import basis, making manual calculation essential — our team confirms the exact, current figure for your car.

Popular Japanese cars for Russia

Toyota Corolla Axio
One of the most popular Japanese imports into Russia's Far East — right-hand drive, reliable and with a small engine that keeps the EAEU per-cc duty and horsepower excise at a manageable level.
See prices
Honda Fit
A compact, fuel-efficient car with a small engine — the low cc count keeps the EAEU duty floor lower, making it one of the more cost-effective Japanese imports for Russian buyers.
See prices
Toyota Probox
A practical Japanese domestic wagon that works hard in Russian conditions. Low running costs and a durable build suit the long distances between cities in the Russian Far East and Siberia.
See prices
Mazda Demio
A small engine keeps EAEU customs costs in check, and the Demio's compact size suits urban driving in Vladivostok, Khabarovsk and other Far East cities.
See prices
Suzuki Swift
Light, economical and cheap to run — the Swift's small engine limits the per-cc duty floor and keeps the horsepower excise low, making it a sensible budget choice for Russian buyers.
See prices

Shipping cost to major cities in Russia

Vladivostok — You are at the port — inland delivery for a sedan runs only about $80.
Khabarovsk — Delivery from Vladivostok to Khabarovsk adds roughly $430 for a sedan.
Novosibirsk — Delivery from Vladivostok to Novosibirsk adds roughly $1,950 for a sedan.
Yekaterinburg — Delivery from Vladivostok to Yekaterinburg adds roughly $2,620 for a sedan.
Moscow — Delivery from Vladivostok to Moscow adds roughly $1,900 for a sedan.
Saint Petersburg — Delivery from Vladivostok to Saint Petersburg adds roughly $3,350 for a sedan.

Frequently asked questions

How is EAEU customs duty calculated for a Japanese car in Russia?: EAEU duty is roughly 30% of the car's customs value, subject to a per-cc floor in EUR. If the per-cc minimum exceeds 30% of value, the floor rate applies. This is why a smaller engine often means lower customs cost. Our team calculates both and confirms the higher applies before you commit.
What is the recycling fee and how much is it?: The recycling fee (утилизационный сбор) is mandatory on all imported vehicles in Russia. The personal-import rate is substantially lower than the commercial rate. The exact amount depends on engine size and vehicle category — our team confirms the figure for your car.
Can I import a right-hand-drive Japanese car to Russia?: Yes — both RHD and LHD are permitted in Russia. The Russian Far East has a strong RHD culture due to proximity to Japan. Western Russian cities like Moscow generally prefer LHD for convenience, and Japan also produces LHD export-spec cars available at auction.
What is SBKTS and do I need it?: SBKTS is the Russian vehicle safety approval (Одобрение типа транспортного средства) required for Russian registration of individually imported cars. It is separate from the EPTS electronic passport. Our team arranges both as part of the import process.
How far is Vladivostok from Moscow by road?: Vladivostok is roughly 9,000 km from Moscow by road — inland transport for a car to the capital adds approximately $1,900 for a sedan. We quote the full door-to-door cost including inland delivery before you commit.