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

Rwanda is predominantly a left-hand-drive market, and RHD vehicles face restrictions.

Is there an age limit to import a car from Japan to Rwanda?

No fixed age cap is commonly reported for Rwanda. However, customs valuation and registration requirements still apply.

How much does it cost in total to import a car from Japan to Rwanda?

Import duty, VAT, withholding tax and overland transit fees all apply, but the exact total depends on your vehicle.

How do you import a car from Japan to Rwanda, and what does it cost? (2026)

Last reviewed 1 July 2026 by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)

This page explains the rules, documents, import taxes, shipping and typical landed cost for a used car imported from Japan to Rwanda.

Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Rwanda 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.

Rwanda is a notable market for Japanese vehicles, though it differs from most of its East African neighbours in one important respect: Rwanda is predominantly a left-hand-drive country, which means RHD Japanese imports face restrictions and LHD vehicles are the standard. There is no fixed age cap commonly applied to private imports, and the country is landlocked — cars arrive overland via Dar es Salaam or Mombasa after clearing Tanzanian or Kenyan borders. Import duty, VAT and withholding taxes apply, and registration checks are required before a car can be driven.

Can you import a used car from Japan to Rwanda?

Steering: Left-hand drive only

How do you import a car from Japan to Rwanda, step by step?

Check the import rules
Rwanda 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 Rwanda.
Ship the car
The car ships to Dar es Salaam or Mombasa, then travels overland through Tanzania or Kenya to Rwanda.
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 duty and taxes on the declared value.
Register the car
After customs release and payment of port charges, the car is registered and plated by Rwanda's vehicle registration authority.

What import duties and taxes does Rwanda charge?

Rwanda applies import duty, VAT and withholding tax to vehicle imports, alongside customs valuation and registration checks. The exact rates depend on the vehicle category, engine type and current Rwandan Revenue Authority schedules.

Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Rwanda?

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.
Models and prices

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 Rwanda?: Rwanda is predominantly a left-hand-drive market, and RHD vehicles face restrictions.
Is there an age limit to import a car from Japan to Rwanda?: No fixed age cap is commonly reported for Rwanda. However, customs valuation and registration requirements still apply.
How much does it cost in total to import a car from Japan to Rwanda?: Import duty, VAT, withholding tax and overland transit fees all apply, but the exact total depends on your vehicle.

Car import duty calculator for Rwanda

There is no instant calculator for Rwanda yet, because its tax model or freight route is not in the dataset. The rules and steps above still apply. Contact