How do you import a car from Japan to Togo, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Togo (WAEMU) charges 20% customs duty, ~2.5% in community levies and 18% VAT — roughly 50% of CIF all-in (the quoted ~53.5% is the aggregate). No enforced age limit; it drives on the right (RHD restriction).
Car import duty calculator for Togo
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Togo 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.
Togo's Port of Lomé is one of the deepest natural harbours in West Africa and handles a significant volume of Japanese vehicle imports — both for Togolese buyers and as a transit point for landlocked Burkina Faso. Import duty, VAT and local registration rules require broker confirmation for precise figures.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Togo?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No enforced age limit currently (a limit has been proposed). Togo drives on the right (LHD); RHD Japanese cars face a steering restriction. Lomé is a major RoRo transit hub.
- Restrictions
- Togo drives on the right; RHD Japanese cars may not be registrable.
- Entry ports
- Port of Lomé
How do you import a car from Japan to Togo, step by step?
Check the import rules
No enforced age limit currently (a limit has been proposed). Togo drives on the right (LHD); RHD Japanese cars face a steering restriction. Lomé is a major RoRo transit hub. Togo 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 Togo.
Ship to Port of Lomé
Cars from Japan arrive at Port of Lomé. Sea transit is about 30–45 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 Customs duty, Statistical & community levies 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 Togo's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Togo charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs duty (WAEMU CET) | 20% | CIF value |
| Statistical & community levies | 2.5% | CIF value |
| VAT (TVA) | 18% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs duty (WAEMU CET)
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF value.
Statistical & community levies
Rate: 2.5%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT (TVA)
Rate: 18%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Togo (WAEMU) charges 20% customs duty, ~2.5% in community levies and 18% VAT — roughly 50% of CIF all-in (the quoted ~53.5% is the aggregate). No enforced age limit; it drives on the right (RHD restriction).
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Togo?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Lomé | RoRo or container | 30–45 | US$1,700 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Togo?
- 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 Togo?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lomé | Port of Lomé | US$60 | US$90 | 1 |
| Sokodé | Port of Lomé | US$400 | US$500 | 2 |
| Kara | Port of Lomé | US$450 | US$560 | 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 the Port of Lomé a good entry point for Japanese cars?
- Yes. Lomé has one of the deepest natural harbours in West Africa and handles a high volume of vehicle imports from Japan. It is also a transit port for Burkina Faso.
- What duty and tax will I pay to import a car to Togo?
- Duty, VAT and levy rates at Lomé vary by vehicle category, engine and age, and require broker confirmation for a precise figure.
- Does Togo use left- or right-hand-drive vehicles?
- Togo is a left-hand-drive market, consistent with francophone West Africa.
Car import duty calculator for Togo
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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.