How do you import a car from Japan to Tanzania, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Tanzania charges 25% import duty on the CIF value of a used car, excise by engine size on CIF plus duty, an extra age excise once the car passes 8 years, a railway levy, and 18% VAT on the duty-inclusive value. There is no age ban, but older cars pay more. Cars must be right-hand drive and pass a TBS pre-shipment roadworthiness inspection.
Worked example: a 2019 Toyota Vitz 1.3 L costs about 41,330,000 to 43,230,000 TZS (US$15,600 to US$16,300) delivered to Arusha, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for Tanzania
Tanzania drives on the left and imports right-hand-drive cars, so Japanese domestic stock fits without modification. Almost every car from Japan enters through the Port of Dar es Salaam, and cars for Arusha, Mwanza, Dodoma or Mbeya continue by road. There is no age limit for importing a used car, but the tax law pushes buyers towards younger stock. The Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) adds an age-based excise duty on passenger cars older than 8 years from the year of manufacture, and a higher rate above 10 years, on top of the normal import duty, engine excise and VAT. Before shipping, a used vehicle must be inspected under the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) pre-export verification of conformity (PVoC) programme by a TBS-contracted agent. Consignments that arrive without a certificate of conformity can be refused or fined. The largest cost drivers after the car itself are engine size, age and the customs value TRA accepts.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Tanzania?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No hard ban; punitive age excise for 8+ years.
- Inspection
- JEVIC/JAAI
- Entry ports
- Port of Dar es Salaam
How do you import a car from Japan to Tanzania, step by step?
Check the car's age, engine size and steering
Tanzania has no age ban, but cars older than 8 years from manufacture pay an extra age excise. Check the engine cc (it sets the excise band) and that the car is right-hand drive.
Register for a TRA TIN
Customs entries in Tanzania need the importer's Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by TRA. Register before the car ships.
Buy the car and get the Japanese export certificate
After purchase the Japanese registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Its English translation is needed for customs and for registration in Tanzania.
Pass the TBS pre-shipment inspection in Japan
A TBS-contracted PVoC agent inspects the car for roadworthiness before shipping and issues the certificate of conformity. Without it the car is inspected on arrival and a penalty applies.
Ship the car from Japan to Dar es Salaam
Most cars travel on RoRo vessels to the Port of Dar es Salaam. The shipping line issues the bill of lading, which the clearing agent needs to lodge the entry.
Lodge the customs entry and pay the taxes
A licensed clearing agent lodges the declaration with TRA. TRA assesses import duty, engine and age excise, VAT and the railway levy on the customs value, plus a customs processing fee.
Clear the port and register the car with TRA
After taxes and port charges are paid the car is released from Dar es Salaam. Motor vehicle registration in mainland Tanzania is handled by TRA, which issues the number plates and registration card.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice from the seller in Japan
- Japanese export certificate with English translation
- Original bill of lading
- TBS certificate of conformity (pre-shipment roadworthiness inspection)
- Importer's TRA Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)
- Customs declaration lodged by a licensed clearing agent
- Motor vehicle registration application to TRA
What import duties and taxes does Tanzania charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import Duty | 25% | CIF value |
| Excise Duty (engine) | 0%–10% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| Excise Duty (petrol up to 1,000 cc)Applies to petrol vehicles only, engines up to 1,000 cc | 5% | CIF + import duty |
| Age surcharge (8–10 yr)Applies to vehicles 8–10 years old | 18% | CIF value |
| Age surcharge (10–20 yr)Applies to vehicles 11–20 years old | 35% | CIF value |
| Age surcharge (>20 yr)Applies to vehicles 21+ years old | 40% | CIF value |
| VAT | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
| Railway Development Levy | 2% | CIF value |
Import Duty
Rate: 25%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise Duty (engine)
Rate: 0% up to 1,000 cc; 5% up to 2,000 cc; 10% above 2,000 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
Excise Duty (petrol up to 1,000 cc)
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF + import duty. Applies to petrol vehicles only, engines up to 1,000 cc. Source: Tanzania Finance Act 2026 (No. 2 of 2026).
Age surcharge (8–10 yr)
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to vehicles 8–10 years old. Source: Tanzania Finance Act 2026 (No. 2 of 2026).
Age surcharge (10–20 yr)
Rate: 35%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to vehicles 11–20 years old. Source: Tanzania Finance Act 2026 (No. 2 of 2026).
Age surcharge (>20 yr)
Rate: 40%. Charged on: CIF value. Applies to vehicles 21+ years old. Source: Tanzania Finance Act 2026 (No. 2 of 2026).
VAT
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Railway Development Levy
Rate: 2%. Charged on: CIF value. Source: TRA — Taxes and Duties at a Glance 2025/2026.
Import duty is 25% of the CIF value (cost, insurance and freight to Dar es Salaam). Excise duty by engine size is charged on CIF plus import duty: 5% from 1,001 to 2,000 cc and 10% above 2,000 cc; since the Finance Act 2026 petrol cars up to 1,000 cc also pay 5%. A separate age excise is charged on CIF for passenger cars older than 8 years from the year of manufacture: 18% at 8 to 10 years, 35% from 10 to 20 years and 40% above 20 years. The Railway Development Levy is 2% of CIF, and a customs processing fee is charged on the FOB value. VAT of 18% is charged on the value including duty and excise. These rates follow the Finance Act 2026, in force from 1 July 2026; TRA also publishes the schedule in its yearly Taxes and Duties at a Glance booklet.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Tanzania?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Dar es Salaam | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Toyota Vitz 1.3 L | US$8,260 | US$9,680 | US$5,51057% of CIF | TZS 41,330,000 – 43,230,000US$15,600 – US$16,300 |
| 2019 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid | US$8,740 | US$10,200 | US$5,78057% of CIF | TZS 43,300,000 – 45,200,000US$16,400 – US$17,100 |
| 2019 Toyota Harrier 2.0 L | US$20,300 | US$22,100 | US$12,60057% of CIF | TZS 92,860,000 – 94,980,000US$35,100 – US$35,900 |
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 Arusha. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dar es Salaam | RoRo or container | 24–36 | US$1,400 |
Cars for inland cities and Zanzibar are cleared at Dar es Salaam and then moved by road or ferry.
Which Japanese cars are popular in Tanzania?
- Models and prices
Toyota Vitz
A 1.0 or 1.3-litre hatchback that sits in the lowest engine excise bands. Parts are easy to find in Dar es Salaam and Arusha.
- Models and prices
Toyota IST
A compact 1.3 or 1.5-litre hatchback widely used as a first car. It stays in the 1,001 to 2,000 cc excise band.
- Models and prices
Toyota Harrier
A mid-size SUV with a 2.0 or 2.4-litre petrol engine or a hybrid. Engines above 2,000 cc move into the highest excise band.
- Models and prices
Toyota Noah
An eight-seat minivan used by families and for hire. Being under 10 seats it is taxed as a passenger car, including the age excise.
- Models and prices
Subaru Forester
A 2.0-litre all-wheel-drive SUV suited to unpaved roads. The 2.0-litre engine stays just inside the middle excise band.
How much is inland delivery to cities in Tanzania?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arusha | Dar es Salaam | US$400 | US$500 | 3 |
| Mwanza | Dar es Salaam | US$600 | US$750 | 5 |
| Dar es Salaam | Dar es Salaam | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Dodoma | Dar es Salaam | US$350 | US$440 | 3 |
| Mbeya | Dar es Salaam | US$510 | US$640 | 3 |
| Zanzibar | Dar es Salaam | US$170 | US$210 | 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
- How do I import cars from Japan to Tanzania?
- Buy a right-hand-drive car, have it inspected in Japan by a TBS-contracted agent, ship it to Dar es Salaam, and have a licensed clearing agent lodge the entry with TRA. After the taxes are paid, TRA registers the car.
- Is there an age limit for importing a car to Tanzania?
- No. Tanzania does not ban older cars, but passenger cars older than 8 years pay an extra age excise on CIF: 18% at 8 to 10 years, 35% up to 20 years and 40% above.
- How much is duty on a car from Japan to Tanzania?
- Import duty is 25% of CIF. Engine excise, age excise for cars over 8 years, a railway levy and 18% VAT are added, so the total depends on engine size and age. The table shows each line.
- Does engine size change the tax on a car in Tanzania?
- Yes. Excise is charged in three engine bands: up to 1,000 cc, 1,001 to 2,000 cc and above 2,000 cc. A 1.3-litre car pays less excise than a 2.5-litre SUV.
- Can I import a left-hand-drive car to Tanzania?
- Ordinary private imports are expected to be right-hand drive, because Tanzania drives on the left. Japanese domestic cars are right-hand drive, so they meet the rule as built.
- Who inspects cars in Japan for Tanzania?
- A pre-shipment inspection agent contracted by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards under its PVoC programme. It checks roadworthiness and issues the certificate of conformity that customs requires.
- How long does shipping from Japan to Dar es Salaam take?
- Around 24 to 36 days at sea, depending on the vessel and its stops. Port clearance and road delivery to inland cities add several days.
- How does TRA value an imported used car?
- Duty is charged on the customs value, which starts from the CIF price. TRA can adjust a declared value it considers too low, so the assessed value may differ from the invoice.
- How do I register an imported car in Tanzania?
- After customs release, TRA registers the car on the mainland and issues number plates and a registration card. The clearing agent usually files the application with the import documents.
- Where do Japanese used cars for sale in Tanzania come from?
- Most are bought at auctions in Japan and shipped to Dar es Salaam, by local dealers or by buyers importing directly. A buyer who imports directly pays the duty, engine and age excise, railway levy and VAT shown on this page.
- Is there a car import tax calculator for Tanzania?
- Yes. The calculator at the end of this page applies the TRA duty, engine and age excise, railway levy and VAT to the car, year, engine size and city you choose, using the same rates as the tables above.
Sources
- Tanzania Revenue Authority — The Finance Act, 2026 — checked 15 October 2026
- Tanzania Revenue Authority — Taxes and Duties at a Glance 2025/2026 — checked 15 October 2026
- Tanzania Bureau of Standards — Import and export control (PVoC) — checked 15 October 2026
- Tanzania Ports Authority — checked 15 October 2026
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Tanzania, Other taxes — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for Tanzania
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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.