Import a Subaru Forester from Japan to Tanzania
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.
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Updated 7 November 2026
Why the Forester sells in Tanzania
In May 2026 a Dar es Salaam dealer told The Citizen that Subaru has become extremely popular, partly because of resale value and the availability of spare parts.
An exporter guide (TokyoCarZ, March 2026) says the Forester combines capable suspension with fuel efficiency, which makes it suit mixed terrain.
It is second in BE FORWARD's list of popular cars in Tanzania under USD 1,600, and Tanzanian buyers search by generation code ("sj5") and for the turbo "xt".
Years, engines and grades in Japanese stock
| 2011 | SHJ, 2.0L. |
|---|---|
| 2012 – 2016 | SJ5 and SJG (SJG is the 2.0L turbo XT). |
| 2019 – 2021 | SK9 2.5L; SKE 2.0L e-Boxer hybrid. |
| Grades seen | 2.0i-L, 2.0i-L EyeSight, 2.0i-S EyeSight, 2.0XT EyeSight, X-Break, Premium, Advance. |
| Mileage seen | About 17,000 – 107,000 km. |
| Stock in Japan | 1,130 Foresters on TCV on 7 November 2026. |
What exporters in Japan ask for a Forester
USD 3,407 – 13,123 FOB
Dealer asking prices in Japan, checked 7 November 2026
Seven listings from six different exporters on TCV: a 2011 2.0L at the low end, a 2020 SK9 Premium 2.5L at the top.
Some marketplace listings are mislabelled: in our sample a car with a Toyota RAV4 chassis code was listed as a Forester. We check the chassis code on every car.
Indicative only. This is not a price offer from us. The real price depends on the exact car, its grade, mileage and condition, and on the day it is bought.
How the landed cost is worked out
This is how the cost of a Subaru Forester landed in Dar es Salaam is built. We do not show a total: the TRA used-car calculator could not be reached when we checked on 7 November 2026, and some of the July 2026 excise rules are still unclear.
| Car price (FOB) | Our price for the car in Japan in your quote, including the auction purchase and transport to the port. |
|---|---|
| Freight to Dar es Salaam (RoRo) | Broker estimates for a sedan are about USD 1,100 – 2,000 (undated, low confidence). We quote the current rate for your car. |
| TBS inspection in Japan | Required before the car is loaded. We arrange it and it is in your quote. |
| Import duty | 25% of the customs value. Exporter guides work it out on the CIF value: car price plus freight and insurance. |
| Excise by age | About 18% for 2016 – 2018 cars and 35% for 2011 – 2015 cars. 2019 – 2021: no rate found under 8 years. From 1 July 2026. |
| Excise by engine size | 2.0L: 5% or 10% depending on the guide. 2.5L: 10% under both guides we read. Confirm with your clearing agent. |
| VAT | 18%, paid to TRA at clearing (exporter guides). |
| Railway Development Levy | 1.5% of the customs value. |
| Port and clearing charges | One exporter guide gives about TZS 1.5 – 3 million for port charges (single source). Ask your clearing agent. |
Rates come from news reports, a law-firm summary and exporter guides read on 7 November 2026, not from TRA. Which years fall in which age band is our own rough reading, because how TRA counts age is not published in what we read. Confirm the total with your clearing agent or the TRA calculator before you pay a deposit.
Tanzania rules that matter for the Forester
Age excise by year
From 1 July 2026 Tanzania charges excise of 18% on cars more than 8 and up to 10 years old, 35% on more than 10 and up to 20 years, and 40% on cars over 20 years. Roughly, 2016 – 2018 cars fall in the 18% band and 2011 – 2015 cars in the 35% band. 2019 – 2021 SK cars are about 7 years old or less, where the reports we read give no rate. Age is counted from the year of manufacture, and exporters usually list the registration year, so we ask for the manufacture date before you choose.
Engine-size excise: 5% or 10%
The guides disagree for 2.0L engines: one gives 10% for 1,501 – 2,500cc, another 5% up to 2,000cc. The 2.5L SK9 pays 10% under both. Confirm with your clearing agent.
Updated 7 November 2026
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.
Subaru Forester to Tanzania: questions buyers ask
What is the Subaru Forester price in Tanzania?
We cannot give one price, because it depends on the car's year, grade and condition and on Tanzanian tax. In Japan, exporters were asking USD 3,407 – 13,123 FOB for the Foresters we checked on 7 November 2026. Freight, inspection, import duty, excise, VAT and clearing come on top. Send us your budget and we tell you which years fit.
SJ5 or SK: which Forester should I import to Tanzania?
The SJ5 (2012 – 2016) is older: a 2016 car is roughly in the 18% age band and earlier ones pay 35%. The SK (2019 – 2021) is under 8 years old, where the reports we read give no age rate, but the 2.5L SK9 pays 10% engine excise under both guides. Tell us your budget and we compare them.
Can you find a Forester XT?
Yes, the 2.0L turbo XT (SJG) was in Japanese stock in November 2026. Tell us the year and mileage you want and we look for it at auction.
Can you ship a Forester to Dar es Salaam for me?
Yes. We bid at the auction in Japan, arrange the TBS inspection, ship the car to Dar es Salaam and send your clearing agent the documents. You approve the auction sheet and photos before we buy, and you pay a company account only.
Other models we help with here
Read our full Tanzania import guide
Sources
- TCV, used Subaru Forester stock listings from Japanese exporters (read 7 Nov 2026)
- The Citizen (Tanzania), "Subaru, IST dominate as Tanzania vehicle imports hit Sh352 billion in first quarter of 2026", 14 May 2026
- BE FORWARD blog, "Most popular used cars in Tanzania under $1,600"
- The Citizen (Tanzania), "Importing a used car now costs more as Finance Act takes effect", 1 Jul 2026
- Clyde & Co, "Tanzania Tax Update: Finance Act 2026 Highlights", 3 Jul 2026
- TokyoCarZ, "How to import cars from Japan to Tanzania: full guide 2026", Mar 2026
- logi-net, Import regulations in Tanzania for Japan used cars (undated)