How do you import a car from Japan to Yemen, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
Yemen is an active-conflict market with two parallel customs administrations (Aden vs Houthi-held ports) and Red Sea war-risk shipping disruption. Any tax figure is indicative only — a realistic total is an unpredictable stack of a ~5% base duty plus assorted wartime levies.
Car import duty calculator for Yemen
Japan's auction stock is right-hand drive. We do not convert steering. For Yemen 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.
Yemen has historically been one of the Middle East's most active used-Japanese-car import markets, with Toyota pickups and Land Cruisers essential transport across the country's challenging terrain from Sana'a to Aden. The appetite for durable, easy-to-maintain Japanese vehicles remains strong. However, Yemen's ongoing conflict and political situation mean that normal commercial import channels are severely disrupted — port access, banking, logistics routes and customs operations are highly volatile and depend on the specific destination and current ground conditions.
Can you import a used car from Japan to Yemen?
- Steering
- Left-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No reliably published age limit. Yemen drives on the right (LHD). Rules are effectively set by whichever authority controls the port of entry.
- Inspection
- Ad hoc; no reliable national inspection regime during the conflict.
- Permits
- Country is split between the internationally recognised government (Aden) and Houthi authorities (Hodeidah/Sanaa); customs treatment differs by controlling authority and is unpredictable.
- Restrictions
- Active conflict. Red Sea / Gulf of Aden shipping faces war-risk and Houthi-attack disruption; insurance and routing are unstable. Hodeidah is under Houthi control.
- Special rules
- Two parallel customs administrations. Figures below are indicative only and cannot be relied upon.
- Entry ports
- Port of Aden
How do you import a car from Japan to Yemen, step by step?
Check the import rules
No reliably published age limit. Yemen drives on the right (LHD). Rules are effectively set by whichever authority controls the port of entry. Yemen requires left-hand-drive vehicles, so ordinary right-hand-drive Japanese stock cannot be registered there.
Obtain the import permit
Country is split between the internationally recognised government (Aden) and Houthi authorities (Hodeidah/Sanaa); customs treatment differs by controlling authority and is unpredictable.
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 Yemen.
Complete the required inspection
Required for Yemen: Ad hoc; no reliable national inspection regime during the conflict.
Ship to Port of Aden
Cars from Japan arrive at Port of Aden. Sea transit is about 28–45 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 and Additional wartime levies & fees; 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 Yemen's vehicle registration authority.
What import duties and taxes does Yemen charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty | 5% | CIF value |
| Additional wartime levies & fees | 20% | CIF + import duty |
Customs Duty
Rate: 5%. Charged on: CIF value.
Additional wartime levies & fees
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF + import duty.
Yemen's customs duties on imported vehicles vary by category and engine size, but the country's current conflict situation means that standard customs frameworks are inconsistently applied depending on the port of entry and the controlling authority in the destination area.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to Yemen?
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 Aden | RoRo or container | 28–45 | US$1,300 |
Which cars from Japanese auctions can be registered in Yemen?
- 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 Yemen?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aden | Port of Aden | US$120 | US$160 | 1 |
| Taiz | Port of Aden | US$300 | US$380 | 2 |
| Sanaa | Port of Aden | US$450 | US$560 | 3 |
| Al Hudaydah | Port of Aden | US$400 | US$500 | 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
- Is it currently possible to import a car from Japan to Yemen?
- It is possible in some cases, but not through standard commercial channels. Yemen's conflict means port access, logistics routes and customs handling vary significantly by destination and change over time.
- Which Japanese cars work best in Yemen?
- Toyota dominates for good reason — Land Cruiser, Hilux and Prado are the most trusted vehicles across Yemen's difficult terrain. Their mechanical reliability, parts availability and familiarity to local mechanics make them the safe choices for a market with limited workshop infrastructure.
Car import duty calculator for Yemen
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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.