Import a Japanese used car to Tanzania
We bid at the auction in Japan, arrange the inspection Tanzania requires, ship the car to Dar es Salaam and send your clearing agent the documents. You approve the auction sheet before we buy.
- Ships to
- Dar es Salaam
- Rules checked
- 2026-11-07
- Key rule
- No age ban, but older cars pay more excise
Import rules (November 2026)
No age ban, but older cars pay more excise
Tanzania does not ban old cars. Instead, the Finance Act 2026 raised excise on older cars from 1 July 2026: 18% for cars 8 to 10 years old, 35% for 10 to 20 years and 40% for over 20 years. Cars of 1,000cc or less, which used to be exempt, now pay a new 5% excise. The reports we read do not give the rate for cars under 8 years old, or say whether the age excise replaces the engine-size excise or comes on top of it.
Inspection in Japan (TBS)
Every used car needs a Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) roadworthiness inspection in Japan before it ships. TBS notices name EAA Company Ltd as the inspection agent for Japan. Some exporter guides still list other agencies, which looks out of date, so we confirm the current agent before we book the inspection.
Duty and taxes
Exporter guides list 25% import duty, 18% VAT and a 1.5% Railway Development Levy, worked out on the CIF value (car price, freight and insurance), plus excise. Guides disagree on the engine-size excise bands. TRA has an online used-car calculator; your clearing agent can run your car through it.
Who clears the car
Your clearing agent in Dar es Salaam files the customs entry and pays duty and taxes to TRA. We ship the car and send the export certificate, bill of lading, invoice and inspection certificate to your agent.
This is our reading of news reports and exporter guides as of 7 November 2026. We have not yet checked these rates against the TRA calculator, so this page shows how the tax is worked out, not totals. Tanzania changes tax rules every July with the Finance Act. Always confirm with your clearing agent before you pay a deposit.
What it costs (how it is worked out)
Every quote is per car. We show how the cost is built rather than a total, because Tanzania tax depends on the car's age, engine size and value, and some of the July 2026 rates are still unclear. Duty and taxes are paid in Tanzania through your clearing agent.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Car price | FOB price in your quote | Our price for the car in Japan, including auction purchase and inland transport to the port. |
| Ocean freight to Dar es Salaam (RoRo) | About USD 1,100 – 2,000 | Broker estimates for a sedan, undated and low confidence; trucks about USD 1,300 – 2,000. We quote the current rate for your car. |
| TBS inspection in Japan | In your quote | Required before loading. We arrange it. |
| Import duty | 25% of CIF | CIF is the car price plus freight and insurance. |
| Excise by age | 18% / 35% / 40% | For cars 8 to 10, 10 to 20 and over 20 years old, from 1 July 2026. The rate for younger cars and the value it is charged on are not clear: confirm with your clearing agent. |
| Excise by engine size | Bands disputed | Guides give different engine-size bands, and cars of 1,000cc or less now pay 5%. Confirm with your clearing agent. |
| VAT | 18% | Paid to TRA at clearing. |
| Railway Development Levy | 1.5% | Paid to TRA at clearing. |
| Port charges in Dar es Salaam | About TZS 1.5 – 3 million | One exporter guide's figure (single source). Ask your clearing agent. |
Rates and ranges come from news reports, exporter guides and broker sites read on 7 November 2026, not from TRA directly. Your written quote and your clearing agent's figures are what count.
How long it takes
Sourcing
1–2 weeks to find and win the right car at auction once you approve a target.
Inspection and loading
1–2 weeks for inland transport, the TBS inspection and the next sailing.
Sailing to Dar es Salaam
4–6 weeks at sea, according to exporter guides.
Clearing and registration
Your agent's side, at Dar es Salaam port and TRA.
Exporter guides put auction to registration at 8–12 weeks.
Shipping on to Uganda, Zambia or Malawi
Dar es Salaam port also serves the landlocked countries around it. We ship to Dar es Salaam; your transit or clearing agent takes the car on by road and handles your country's import rules.
Uganda
Cars reach Kampala by road from Dar es Salaam or Mombasa; guides put the whole trip at 8–12 weeks. Uganda's import age limit has been 15 years since 2018. A 2026 bill to cut it to 13 years was reported rejected in April 2026, so confirm the current rule with your agent.
Zambia
4–6 weeks at sea to Dar es Salaam, then 3–7 days by road to Lusaka. Zambia has no age ban, but cars over 5 years old pay a 20% surtax, and duty is a fixed amount set by vehicle type, engine size and age.
Malawi
Dar es Salaam serves Malawi too. We have not checked Malawi's import rules yet, so ask your clearing agent before you choose a car.
Models that sell in Tanzania
Dar es Salaam dealers and exporter guides name small Toyotas such as the IST, Vitz and Passo, plus the Corolla Axio / Fielder, Harrier, Noah / Voxy and Subaru Forester. These lists are dealer opinion: nobody publishes import counts by model.
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Toyota IST
The IST is a small 1.3L or 1.5L hatchback that Dar es Salaam dealers say sells on fuel cost, resale value and spare parts. Here is what is in stock in Japan, what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota IST pagePhoto: DY5W-sport, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Toyota Vitz / Yaris
The Vitz is a small 1.0L or 1.3L city car. Japanese stock runs up to 2019, so you can choose a younger car than with most models. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Vitz / Yaris pagePhoto: LuvsMG481, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Toyota Passo
The Passo is the cheapest of the ten models we researched to buy in Japan, and every one is 1,000cc or less. Since July 2026 that means a new 5% excise in Tanzania. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Passo pagePhoto: Mr.choppers, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Toyota Harrier
The Harrier is a mid-size SUV with 2.0L, 2.4L and hybrid versions. It costs more in Japan than a small car, so the gap between the 18% and 35% age excise bands matters. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Harrier pagePhoto: オーバードライブ83, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Toyota Noah / Voxy
The Noah and Voxy are twin 7 – 8 seat minivans with a 2.0L petrol or 1.8L hybrid engine. Here is what is in Japanese stock, what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Noah / Voxy pagePhoto: Jared Cabot, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Toyota Premio / Allion
The Premio and Allion are twin sedans with 1.5L, 1.8L and 2.0L engines. Japanese stock runs from 2002 to 2020, but there are fewer of them than most models. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Premio / Allion pagePhoto: Shadman Samee from Dhaka, Bangladesh, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Toyota Corolla Axio / Fielder
The Corolla Fielder and Axio are mostly 1.5L, with hybrid versions. Japanese stock runs to 2022, so younger cars are available. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Corolla Axio / Fielder pagePhoto: Oq10pass, CC0
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Subaru Forester
The Forester is a 2.0L or 2.5L SUV, with a turbo XT and an e-Boxer hybrid in some years. Here is what is in Japanese stock, what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Subaru Forester pagePhoto: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Toyota Corolla Spacio / Rumion
The Corolla Rumion replaced the Corolla Spacio. Every one in Japanese stock is now over 10 years old, so age excise is the big cost. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Corolla Spacio / Rumion pagePhoto: Mytho88, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Toyota Wish
The Wish is a 6 – 7 seat compact MPV with a 1.8L or 2.0L engine, built until 2017. Here is what exporters ask and how TRA tax is worked out.
See the Toyota Wish pagePhoto: MoCars, CC0
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Toyota Probox / Succeed
The Probox is a small 1.3L or 1.5L Toyota van, also sold as the Succeed and as a 1.5L hybrid. Here is what is in stock in Japan, what exporters ask and the tax questions to settle with your clearing agent.
See the Toyota Probox / Succeed pagePhoto: Benespit, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Toyota Hiace
The Hiace comes as a goods van and as the Commuter minibus, with petrol and diesel engines from 2.0L to 3.0L. Here is what is in stock in Japan, what exporters ask and the tax questions to settle with your clearing agent.
See the Toyota Hiace pagePhoto: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Mitsubishi Fuso Canter
The Canter is a 2 – 3 tonne light truck, sold in Japan with flat, tipper, crane and box bodies. Here is what is in stock in Japan, what exporters ask and the tax questions to settle with your clearing agent.
See the Mitsubishi Fuso Canter pagePhoto: MarcelX42, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Isuzu Elf
The Elf is a 1.5 – 3 tonne light truck, sold in Japan with flat, box, freezer, dump and crane bodies. Here is what is in stock in Japan, what exporters ask and the tax questions to settle with your clearing agent.
See the Isuzu Elf pagePhoto: TTTNIS, CC0
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Toyota Dyna / Toyoace
The Dyna and Toyoace are 1.5 – 2 tonne Toyota light trucks with petrol or diesel engines. Here is what is in stock in Japan, what exporters ask and the tax questions to settle with your clearing agent.
See the Toyota Dyna / Toyoace pagePhoto: crash71100, CC0
Paying safely and avoiding scams
Pay a company account, never a personal one
Buyers in Tanzania and Kenya have lost money to fake Japanese exporters. Pay only into the exporter's company bank account, in the company's name. If anyone asks you to pay a personal account or a different name, stop and ask us on WhatsApp.
Approve the car before you pay
We send you the auction sheet and photos before we bid. You approve the car and the price before any deposit.
Check the inspection certificate
Your car needs a TBS roadworthiness inspection in Japan, and TBS names EAA Company Ltd as the agent for Japan. Ask for the certificate and check it before the car sails.
Watch for copied websites
Some scammers copy a real exporter's website or listings and give their own bank details. Check the web address carefully, and talk to the exporter on a number you already know before you send money.
Ready to import to Tanzania?
Tell us the model, year and budget. We reply on WhatsApp with the auction options and a written quote.
