How do you import a car from Japan to Ukraine, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Ukraine charges 10% import duty (Japan has no FTA with Ukraine), an excise (акциз) computed as €50 per 1000cc per year of age for petrol cars up to 3000cc (€100 above; diesel higher), and 20% VAT on the customs value + duty + excise. For a typical 7-8-year-old small/mid petrol car the excise adds a few percent of CIF, putting the total around 35-40%. A separate 3-5% Pension Fund levy applies at first registration.
Car import duty calculator for Ukraine
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Ukraine 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.
Ukraine has a significant used-car import culture and Japan's auction system is a well-established source for Ukrainian buyers. The standard import duty is approximately 10% of the customs value, with 20% VAT, and an excise tax assessed at registration that depends on engine type, fuel type and vehicle age. Ukraine drives on the right and requires left-hand-drive vehicles for registration. The key caveat for Ukraine is logistics: ongoing war conditions mean that the standard entry via the Black Sea ports of Chornomorsk or Odesa may face restrictions, and alternative routing via Romanian Constanta as a feeder port is used where necessary.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Ukraine?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No age cap, but the excise grows with age: base rate × (engine cc / 1000) × age in full years (min 1, max 15). War conditions may affect ports and routing (commonly via EU ports).
- Inspection
- Customs declaration, certification, registration; route may be via EU ports
- Restrictions
- Wartime logistics/customs volatility; the 2022 duty/VAT/excise exemption ended mid-2022 — full charges apply.
- Special rules
- A Pension Fund levy of 3-5% of value applies at first registration (separate from the import taxes shown).
- Entry ports
- Chornomorsk/Odesa or Constanta feeder
How do you import a car from Japan to Ukraine, step by step?
Check the import rules
No age cap, but the excise grows with age: base rate × (engine cc / 1000) × age in full years (min 1, max 15). War conditions may affect ports and routing (commonly via EU ports). Ukraine 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 Ukraine.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Ukraine: Customs declaration, certification, registration; route may be via EU ports.
Ship to Chornomorsk/Odesa or Constanta feeder
Cars from Japan arrive at Chornomorsk/Odesa or Constanta feeder. Sea transit is about 40–70 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 Import duty, Excise 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 Ukraine's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Ukraine charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty | 10% | CIF value |
| Excise (акциз, cc×age approx) | 5% | CIF value |
| VAT (20%) | 20% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty
Rate: 10%. Charged on: CIF value.
Excise (акциз, cc×age approx)
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF value.
VAT (20%)
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Ukraine charges approximately 10% import duty on passenger cars, plus 20% VAT on the imported value. An excise tax is assessed at registration, calculated based on engine displacement, fuel type and vehicle age — the rates vary and must be confirmed for your specific car. War conditions may also introduce logistical surcharges and route changes. Current import duty suspension or preferential rules may apply in some cases, but these are subject to change.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Ukraine?
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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chornomorsk/Odesa or Constanta feeder | RoRo or container | 40–70 | US$1,950 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Ukraine?
- 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 Ukraine?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odesa | odesa | US$100 | US$120 | 1 |
| Kyiv | odesa | US$330 | US$410 | 3 |
| Kharkiv | odesa | US$390 | US$490 | 3 |
| Lviv | odesa | US$420 | US$520 | 3 |
| Dnipro | odesa | US$300 | US$380 | 3 |
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 still import a car to Ukraine given current conditions?
- Yes — imports to Ukraine continue, but logistics routes depend on current port availability.
- What duty and VAT do I pay at the Ukrainian customs stage?
- Standard import duty is approximately 10% of the customs value, plus 20% VAT. An excise tax based on engine size, fuel type and vehicle age is assessed at registration. Preferential or suspended duty rules may apply in some cases.
- Does Ukraine accept right-hand-drive Japanese cars?
- Ukraine drives on the right and requires LHD vehicles for registration.
- Where does the car arrive in Ukraine?
- The standard entry point is Chornomorsk or Odesa on the Black Sea coast, or Constanta (Romania) as a feeder option depending on current conditions.
Car import duty calculator for Ukraine
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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.