How do you import a car from Japan to Tunisia, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Tunisia charges ~10% customs duty plus a steeply engine-banded droit de consommation (consumption tax) — for petrol cars roughly 50% at ≤1000cc, 55% at 1000–1300cc, 100% at 1300–1500cc, 125% at 1500–1700cc, 170% at 1700–2000cc and 200–295%+ above 2000cc — plus 19% VAT. A mid-size petrol used car easily totals 150–250%+ of CIF, not the ~19% a flat model implies. Decisively, Tunisia is left-hand-drive and used import is privilege-only, so RHD Japanese cars generally cannot be imported for road use.
Car import duty calculator for Tunisia
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Tunisia 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.
Tunisia operates one of the most controlled used-car import regimes in North Africa — personal vehicle imports are tightly regulated, permit-based and depend heavily on the importer's category and eligibility. The country drives on the right so only left-hand-drive vehicles can be registered, and many guides reference a maximum age of five years for eligible cases, though the specific rules vary by importer category and are subject to change. Vehicles enter through the Port of Rades, near Tunis, and must pass a visite technique (technical inspection) and complete the homologation process before registration.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Tunisia?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- Private used-car import is privilege-only: the FCR/RS returning-resident scheme (one car) or the 2026 Finance-Law family-car scheme (one per family, ≤8 years, income- and engine-capped: petrol ≤1400cc / diesel ≤1700cc). Outside those schemes a car imported for resale pays the full duty + consumption tax below.
- Inspection
- Customs valuation, technical inspection (visite technique), registration.
- Permits
- Highly controlled — import privilege (FCR/RS) or the family-car scheme; ordinary commercial used import pays full tax.
- Restrictions
- Tunisia is left-hand-drive: right-hand-drive Japanese used cars are effectively unregisterable. Combined with the privilege-only regime, RHD used imports are impractical.
- Special rules
- Family-car scheme: reduced 10% consumption tax + 7% VAT. Authorized concessionaires get reduced consumption-tax rates (~67% petrol / 88% diesel). The bands below are the private-import base rates.
- Entry ports
- Rades / Tunis
How do you import a car from Japan to Tunisia, step by step?
Check the import rules
Private used-car import is privilege-only: the FCR/RS returning-resident scheme (one car) or the 2026 Finance-Law family-car scheme (one per family, ≤8 years, income- and engine-capped: petrol ≤1400cc / diesel ≤1700cc). Outside those schemes a car imported for resale pays the full duty + consumption tax below. Tunisia requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Obtain the import permit
Highly controlled — import privilege (FCR/RS) or the family-car scheme; ordinary commercial used import pays full tax.
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 Tunisia.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Tunisia: Customs valuation, technical inspection (visite technique), registration.
Ship to Rades / Tunis
Cars from Japan arrive at Rades / Tunis. Sea transit is about 30–42 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, Droit de consommation 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 Tunisia's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Tunisia charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty | 10% | CIF value |
| Droit de consommation (by engine cc, petrol) | 50%–295% by engine size | CIF + import duty |
| VAT (TVA) | 19% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Customs Duty
Rate: 10%. Charged on: CIF value.
Droit de consommation (by engine cc, petrol)
Rate: 50% up to 1,000 cc; 55% up to 1,300 cc; 100% up to 1,500 cc; 125% up to 1,700 cc; 170% up to 2,000 cc; 200% up to 2,200 cc; 275% up to 2,400 cc; 295% above 2,400 cc. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
VAT (TVA)
Rate: 19%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Tunisia's import duty on eligible used cars is indicated at approximately 0% under some routes, but a 19% VAT and a consumption tax (varying by fiscal power / engine size) apply and can be substantial. The combination of permit restrictions, eligibility categories, consumption tax and VAT means the total cost of importing a car to Tunisia is highly buyer-specific. Do not rely on any flat indicative rate.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Tunisia?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rades / Tunis | RoRo or container | 30–42 | US$1,550 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Tunisia?
- 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 Tunisia?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tunis | tunis | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Sfax | tunis | US$220 | US$280 | 2 |
| Sousse | tunis | US$160 | US$200 | 2 |
| Kairouan | tunis | US$170 | US$210 | 2 |
| Bizerte | tunis | US$130 | US$160 | 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
- Can I import a right-hand-drive Japanese car to Tunisia?
- No — Tunisia drives on the right and only left-hand-drive vehicles can be registered.
- Who is eligible to import a used car into Tunisia?
- Tunisia's personal import scheme is controlled and permit-based — eligibility depends on your importer category, residency status and currency arrangements.
- How much does it cost to import a car to Tunisia?
- The import duty rate on some routes is approximately 0%, but 19% VAT and a consumption tax scaled by engine fiscal power also apply and can be significant. Total cost is highly buyer-specific.
Car import duty calculator for Tunisia
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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.