Yes, you can import a car from Japan to Jamaica in 2026 if it is within the age limit for its type, passes a pre-shipment inspection by Auto Terminal Japan (ATJ) and has an import permit from the Jamaica Trade Board before it is shipped. Cars, station wagons and SUVs may be up to 6 years old by model year; some light commercial vehicles up to 10 years.
Key takeaways
- Age is counted by model year: 6 years for cars, station wagons and SUVs; 10 years for heavier pickups, panel vans, window vans and 9–14 seat buses.
- Every car from Japan needs an ATJ Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate. Without it there is no import permit.
- Apply for the Trade Board import permit on JSWIFT and get it before the car is shipped.
- Damaged or salvaged vehicles are prohibited.
- At Kingston you need a licensed customs broker and a TAJ Tax Compliance Certificate.
1. Check the age limit for your vehicle type
The limit depends on the type of vehicle, and age is counted by model year, not by the date the car was first registered in Japan.
These limits come from Jamaica’s Motor Vehicle Import Policy. The table was last changed on 6 November 2019, and Trade Board notices in January and November 2025 kept it the same.
| Vehicle type | Maximum age |
|---|---|
| Sedans (up to 5 seats), station wagons and SUVs (up to 8 seats) | 6 years |
| Buses up to 8 seats, pickups up to 1,500 kg unladen | 6 years |
| Pickups and small trucks 1,501–3,000 kg, panel vans, window vans, buses 9–14 seats | 10 years |
| Larger buses and trucks | Longer limits (see the Trade Board table) |
Returning residents have a 10-year limit.
For export models the model year is read from the VIN. For Japan-domestic models, which have a chassis number instead of a VIN, the model year is set by checking the chassis number against the Japanese age verification manual. This is why two cars first registered in the same year can be treated differently.
Year-end grace period: when a model year ages out, the Trade Board has allowed permit applications until 31 January and required the car to be cleared by 31 March, provided the supplier invoice is dated by 31 December of the previous year. These dates come from the Trade Board’s notice of November 2025, so check the current notice before you rely on them.
Will my car be allowed into Jamaica?
You can also use our import age checker or read the Jamaica import rules hub.
2. Choose the car and get a proper invoice
Pick a car that fits the age limit, then ask for a supplier invoice in your name. You need that invoice for the import permit.
A good starting point is our stock first registered in 2021 or later. The filter uses first registration in Japan, not model year, so ask us to confirm the model year of the exact car before you pay.
Read the auction sheet before you decide. Our auction sheet guide explains the grades and damage codes. If you are not sure which model to choose, see the popular cars in Jamaica.
Pay only by bank transfer to an account in Japan whose beneficiary is Autocom Japan Inc. Read how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan before you send money.
3. Get the ATJ pre-shipment inspection
Every vehicle shipped from Japan to Jamaica must be inspected in Japan by Auto Terminal Japan (ATJ). This has been mandatory since 1 February 2018.
ATJ issues a Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate (PSIC). The inspection checks, among other things, the model year, the odometer reading, the first registration, flood or structural damage, and contamination.
Without the PSIC the Trade Board will not issue a permit. Damaged or salvaged vehicles are prohibited, so a car with serious damage will not pass.
Tell our team at the start that the car is going to Jamaica, so the inspection is booked before loading.
4. Apply for the import permit on JSWIFT
You need an import permit from the Jamaica Trade Board Ltd for every car, pickup and SUV. Apply online through JSWIFT.
The Trade Board was renamed Jamaica Trade Board Ltd on 3 July 2025. Attach these documents to your application:
- Supplier invoice
- Japanese Export Certificate (or title)
- Your ID
- Your Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN)
- ATJ Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate
Individuals may import two vehicles in three years.
Get the permit before the car is shipped. Official sources differ slightly on the exact timing, but Jamaica Customs says to get it before you make shipping arrangements. That is the safe order.
The Export Certificate is issued when the car is deregistered in Japan. Our guide to the Japan Export Certificate explains what it shows.
5. Ship the car to Kingston
Cars for Jamaica arrive at Kingston (Kingston Wharves). Ask our office what they need from you, such as a copy of your approved permit, before the car is booked on a vessel.
Ro-Ro and container shipping each have pros and cons; see Ro-Ro vs container shipping. For the current schedule to Kingston, ask our office.
If you are comparing prices, check what each quote includes. Our guide to FOB, C&F and CIF prices explains the difference.
6. Clear the car at Kingston with a customs broker
A licensed customs broker makes the customs declaration for you at the port. Jamaica Customs Agency lists these documents for clearing a motor vehicle:
- Trade Board import permit (licence)
- Export certificate or title
- Bill of lading
- Supplier invoice
- Tax Compliance Certificate from Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ)
- Customs declaration by a licensed customs broker
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate
Duties and taxes are assessed by Jamaica Customs. Ask your broker or Jamaica Customs for an estimate before you buy, and use our landed cost checklist so nothing is missed. Our import documents checklist is a handy summary.
How Autocom serves Jamaica
We serve Jamaican buyers from our head office in Yokohama. You can reach the team on WhatsApp at +81 90 7180 6415.
We supply the invoice, the Export Certificate and the shipping documents, and we arrange the car for the ATJ inspection. The permit, the Tax Compliance Certificate and the clearance in Kingston are handled by you and your broker.
Not sure you are dealing with the real company? Read how to verify a Japanese car exporter before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import a 2019 station wagon to Jamaica in 2026?
No. Station wagons have a 6-year limit counted by model year, and a 2019 model year is older than that. A 2019 panel van or a pickup over 1,500 kg may still fit the 10-year limit.
Can I ship the car first and get the permit later?
Don’t. Jamaica Customs says to get the Trade Board permit before you arrange shipping, and the permit itself needs the ATJ certificate.
Can I import a car with accident damage?
No. Damaged or salvaged vehicles are prohibited, and the ATJ inspection checks for structural and flood damage.
Who does the pre-shipment inspection?
Auto Terminal Japan (ATJ), in Japan, before the car is loaded. It issues the Pre-Shipment Inspection Certificate you attach to your permit application.
Can Autocom clear the car for me in Kingston?
No. Clearance is done by a licensed customs broker you appoint in Jamaica. We send the export documents you and your broker need.
Sources
- Jamaica Trade Board: Motor vehicle age limits (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- Jamaica Trade Board: Notice on model year change (21 Nov 2025)
- Jamaica Trade Board: Pre-shipment inspection (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- Jamaica Customs Agency: Motor vehicle processing (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- JSWIFT: Jamaica Single Window for Trade (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- Auto Terminal Japan: Vehicle inspections (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- Embassy of Japan in Jamaica: Caution on used vehicle purchases (16 Dec 2025)
