Last checked: October 2026. Import rules change — confirm the current position with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) before you buy.
Zimbabwe has banned the import of older second-hand passenger cars since 2024. In 2026 the government widened that ban to double cabs, twin cabs and light cargo trucks — the pick-ups many Zimbabwean buyers used to import at 12 or 15 years old. If you are looking at a Hilux, Ranger, NP300 or similar from Japan, this change decides which cars you can bring in.
What SI 59 of 2026 says
Statutory Instrument 59 of 2026, the Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, was gazetted on 25 March 2026. It prohibits the import of second-hand vehicles aged ten years and above from the date of manufacture in these categories:
- Passenger cars
- Buses and minibuses (vehicles for ten or more passengers)
- Double cabs (diesel) and twin cabs (petrol)
- Light cargo vehicles with a payload of up to 1,400 kg, and other goods vehicles of up to 5 tonnes gross vehicle weight listed in the schedule
The earlier rule, SI 54 of 2024, introduced the ten-year ban on passenger cars. SI 59 of 2026 widens it to cover double cabs, twin cabs and light cargo vehicles explicitly.
How the age is counted
Zimbabwe counts age from the date of manufacture, not the date of first registration. A vehicle becomes ineligible once it reaches ten years from manufacture.
So when you compare cars, look at the manufacture date on the Japanese documents, and allow for the time the car will spend being shipped and cleared. A vehicle that is nine years and ten months old when you buy it may already be over the limit by the time it reaches the border.
Will my car be allowed into Zimbabwe?
What happens to a vehicle that breaks the rule
No import licence is issued for a prohibited vehicle. Under SI 59, a vehicle imported in breach of the ban must be re-exported by the owner at their own expense. If it is not re-exported within 60 days, it is forfeited to the State.
That makes the age check a before-you-pay step, not something to sort out on arrival.
Who is exempt
SI 59 of 2026 lists these exceptions:
- vehicles from deceased estates (inherited vehicles)
- vehicles belonging to immigrants, as defined in Zimbabwe’s customs regulations
- vehicles of diplomats returning from a posting
- vintage vehicles as defined in Zimbabwe’s vehicle registration law
Returning residents were previously exempt under a separate instrument, SI 172 of 2024 (ZIMRA Public Notice 84 of 2024), but they are not in the list in SI 59 of 2026. If you are a returning resident, confirm with ZIMRA whether the exemption still applies to you.
Each exemption has its own conditions. If you think one applies to you, confirm it with ZIMRA and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce before you buy.
Inspection: the CBCA Certificate of Conformity
Used vehicles imported into Zimbabwe also need a Certificate of Conformity under the Consignment Based Conformity Assessment (CBCA) programme, run on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. In Japan, the inspection is carried out by EAA Co., Ltd.; Bureau Veritas holds a CBCA contract.
The exporter applies for the certificate before shipping, and the inspection checks the vehicle’s documents and identity. The certificate is presented for customs clearance; a vehicle shipped without one faces a penalty and an inspection on arrival.
What this means if you want a pick-up
- Look at newer double cabs. A double cab that is under ten years from manufacture — with time to spare for shipping — is now the only kind you can import, unless an exemption applies.
- Check the manufacture date, not the model year. Adverts often show the model year; the documents show the date that counts.
- Check a light truck’s classification. The ban covers light cargo vehicles up to 1,400 kg payload and other goods vehicles of up to 5 tonnes gross vehicle weight listed in the schedule. If you are looking at a larger commercial truck, check how it is classified before you buy.
- Ask for a written age check. Before you pay, ask the seller to confirm the manufacture date in writing and to show you the Japanese registration details. Pay only to a verified exporter — see how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan.
How we can help
Autocom Japan has two offices in Harare, where our staff can go through a car’s documents with you before you commit. See Autocom Japan in Zimbabwe for addresses and contacts, or browse cars first registered in 2018 or later and ask us to check the manufacture date of any car against the ten-year rule.
For the full process — inspection, documents, customs clearance and registration — read our Zimbabwe import guide, or see all our guides on the Zimbabwe import rules page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import a 12-year-old double cab into Zimbabwe?
No, not since SI 59 of 2026. Double cabs, twin cabs and light cargo vehicles up to 1,400 kg payload now fall under the same ten-year limit as passenger cars, unless an exemption applies.
Is the ten years counted from manufacture or registration?
From the date of manufacture.
What if my vehicle arrives and is over the limit?
It must be re-exported at your own expense. If it is not re-exported within 60 days, it is forfeited to the State.
Does the ban apply to vehicles for my own use?
Yes. The ban applies to all second-hand vehicles in the listed categories, whether for personal or business use, unless one of the specific exemptions applies.
Where can I check the rules?
ZIMRA publishes notices on vehicle imports, and the full text of SI 54 of 2024 and SI 59 of 2026 is available from official and legal-information sources in Zimbabwe.
Sources
- Government of Zimbabwe (via Veritas): SI 59 of 2026, Control of Goods (Import and Export) (Commerce) (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (gazetted 25 March 2026)
- ZIMRA: public notices on vehicle imports, including SI 172 of 2024 and Public Notice 84 of 2024 (checked 1 October 2026)
- Bureau Veritas: Zimbabwe CBCA data sheet, used vehicles and spare parts, Rev. 3 (April 2024)
- EAA Co., Ltd.: inspection services (countries include Zimbabwe) (checked 1 October 2026)
