Cost to import a car from Japan to Tunisia

Rates & rules last reviewed

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. Because eligibility is the primary question, our team verifies your specific situation with a licensed Tunisian customs broker before we source anything from Japan's auctions.

Main ports
  • Rades / Tunis
Import age rule
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.
Steering
LHD
Duties & taxes
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.

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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 Tunisia

  1. Confirm eligibility with our team

    Tunisia's used-car import scheme is permit-based and category-specific. We verify whether you are eligible to import before any auction search begins — this step is not optional.

  2. Choose a left-hand-drive near-new Japanese car

    If eligible, we identify LHD export-spec Japanese vehicles within the age limit (typically under 5 years) from auction, read the auction sheet and confirm condition.

  3. Import authorisation and pre-shipment documents

    We prepare the export documentation and coordinate the import authorisation paperwork required for Tunisian customs and technical inspection.

  4. Ocean shipping to Rades / Tunis

    The car sails to the Port of Rades, near Tunis, Tunisia's main vehicle gateway. We share the vessel schedule and container tracking once on board.

  5. Clearing and visite technique

    Our local partner handles customs clearing at Rades, VAT payment, the visite technique and the homologation process needed for Tunisian registration.

Import duties & taxes in Tunisia explained

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 — our team confirms the exact, current figure for your car and your eligibility before any purchase.

Popular Japanese cars for Tunisia

  • Honda Fit

    A compact LHD petrol or hybrid hatchback that, if eligible, offers strong fuel economy and a small fiscal-power engine that minimises Tunisia's consumption tax.

    See prices

  • Toyota Corolla Axio

    A reliable family sedan with a 1,500cc engine — near-new LHD export availability must be confirmed, but it is a practical choice for eligible buyers seeking a daily driver.

    See prices

  • Mazda Demio

    A well-finished compact hatchback in a small engine class that keeps consumption tax lower — near-new LHD units can be sourced from Japan's export market when eligibility is confirmed.

    See prices

  • Suzuki Swift

    A lightweight petrol hatchback with low fiscal power — a sensible choice for buyers aiming to minimise the consumption tax component of Tunisia's import cost.

    See prices

Shipping cost to major cities in Tunisia

  • Tunis — You are at the port, so inland delivery for a sedan runs only about $100.
  • Bizerte — Delivery from Tunis to Bizerte adds roughly $130 for a sedan.
  • Sousse — Delivery from Tunis to Sousse adds roughly $160 for a sedan.
  • Kairouan — Delivery from Tunis to Kairouan adds roughly $170 for a sedan.
  • Sfax — Delivery from Tunis to Sfax adds roughly $220 for a sedan.

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. We source LHD export-spec Japanese cars for Tunisian buyers once eligibility is confirmed.
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. Contact our team first and we will confirm whether you can import before sourcing any vehicle.
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. Our team confirms the exact, current figure for your car and eligibility before any commitment.

Other import-cost guides