When you import a used car into mainland Tanzania, the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) charges import duty, excise duty, VAT, a customs processing fee and a railway development levy when the car is cleared at Dar es Salaam, and then registration charges when it gets its number plates. The amounts depend on the value TRA gives the car, its engine size and its age, so check them with TRA’s online calculator or a clearing agent before you pay for a car.
Key takeaways
- At the port, TRA charges import duty, excise duty, VAT, a customs processing fee and the railway development levy.
- Excise duty depends on engine size. Older used vehicles also pay an extra age-based excise duty, in age bands that the Finance Act 2026 reorganised from 1 July 2026.
- Registration adds a fixed registration tax, plus a first licence fee and an HIV response levy that depend on engine size (hybrids and electric cars have their own classes).
- Don’t assume duty is worked out on the price on your invoice. Use TRA’s Used Motor Vehicle Valuation System or ask a licensed clearing agent first.
How TRA values a used car
TRA assesses the value of the car itself. Duty and taxes are calculated from TRA’s value, which may not match the price you paid.
TRA runs an online Used Motor Vehicle Valuation System (UMVVS). You select the car’s details (such as make, model, year and engine) or enter a TRA reference code, and it shows the value TRA uses (CIF) and the duties, taxes and fees to be paid. The details must match the car exactly, so get them from the seller before you search: make, model and model code, engine capacity, fuel type, and the dates of manufacture and first registration.
If the car is not listed, or the estimate looks wrong, ask a licensed clearing agent in Dar es Salaam how TRA will value it. The agent lodges the import declaration in TRA’s customs system (TANCIS) and sees the final assessment.
Taxes TRA charges when the car is cleared
Five charges are collected at clearance. We list what each one is based on, but not the rates, because they are set by law and change with each Finance Act.
- Import duty. Tanzania applies the East African Community Common External Tariff. Duty is calculated on the customs value.
- Excise duty. For cars this depends on engine size: up to about 1,000 cc, above 1,000 up to 2,000 cc, and above 2,000 cc. TRA’s schedule says these bands include hybrid vehicles. The Finance Act 2026 changed the charge on the smallest engines, so check the current position with TRA.
- Extra excise duty on older used vehicles. Used cars and other small passenger vehicles above a certain age pay an additional excise duty. The Finance Act 2026, in force from 1 July 2026, set three age bands: more than 8 and up to 10 years, more than 10 and up to 20 years, and more than 20 years. The older the band, the higher the charge.
- VAT on importation. Charged on imported goods coming into mainland Tanzania, including cars.
- Customs processing fee and railway development levy. The processing fee is based on the FOB value of the car. The railway development levy is based on the customs value.
Tanzania has no age ban on used cars, so the age-based excise is how age affects your cost. The texts we checked do not say exactly how the age is counted. If a car is close to a band boundary, ask TRA or your clearing agent before you pay.
When you compare cars in our stock, ask our team for the engine size and the dates of manufacture and first registration of any car you like. These details decide which bands it falls into.
Charges when you register the car
After clearance, TRA registers the car and gives it a registration number and card. The plates themselves are made by approved plate makers. Three charges apply on first registration:
- Motor vehicle registration tax, a fixed charge for every motor vehicle.
- Motor vehicle licence fee on first registration, which depends on engine size.
- HIV response levy on first registration, which also depends on engine size.
Personalised or special registration numbers cost extra. Electric and hybrid vehicles have their own fee classes. Check TRA’s motor vehicle registration page for the current list. Our guide on registering a Japanese import car in Africa explains the steps.
Costs that are not TRA taxes
Some costs at Dar es Salaam are not taxes, so they won’t appear in TRA’s calculator. Budget for them separately:
- Port handling and storage charges.
- Shipping-line charges at the destination.
- Your clearing agent’s fee.
- Transport from the port to your home, and motor insurance.
Also check what our price includes. A C&F or CIF price already covers sea freight to Dar es Salaam, while FOB does not. See FOB, C&F and CIF explained. Our landed cost checklist lists every item to ask about.
How to estimate the total before you pay
Work out the total landed cost of each car you are considering, not just its price in Japan.
- Get the car’s exact details from the seller: model code, engine capacity, fuel type, and the dates of manufacture and first registration.
- Look the car up in TRA’s UMVVS calculator and note the value and estimated taxes.
- Ask a licensed clearing agent to confirm the estimate and quote their fee and the port charges.
- Add registration charges and transport home.
- Compare the totals. A younger car with a smaller engine can cost less to clear, even if its price in Japan is higher.
Pay for the car only after you are happy with the total. Pay by bank transfer to an account in Japan in the name of “Autocom Japan Inc.” and never to an agent or a local account. See how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan.
Documents TRA will ask for
Your clearing agent needs the documents before the car arrives: the original bill of lading, the commercial invoice, the Japanese Export Certificate with an English translation, the TBS roadworthiness inspection certificate (issued in Japan by EAA), and your TRA TIN.
Documents checklist
For a full explanation of each paper, read documents to clear a Japanese car at Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. For every step from choosing a car to registration, see how to import a car from Japan to Tanzania, and for all Tanzania rules in one place, visit the Tanzania import rules hub.
Help from our Dar es Salaam office
Our sales office and document centre in Dar es Salaam can give you the details of any car for your tax estimate and tell you when your original documents will arrive. They don’t calculate duty and never accept cash or any payment. Contact details are on our Tanzania page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Tanzania charge duty on the price I paid for the car?
Not necessarily. TRA assesses the value itself, and its UMVVS calculator shows the value it uses for a given vehicle. Check the car there or ask a clearing agent before you pay.
Is there an age limit for cars imported into Tanzania?
No, there is no age ban. Older used vehicles pay an extra excise duty, in age bands set by the Finance Act 2026: more than 8 up to 10 years, more than 10 up to 20 years, and more than 20 years.
Does a bigger engine mean more tax?
Yes. Excise duty, the first licence fee and the HIV response levy all depend on engine size (hybrids pay the licence fee by power class), so a smaller engine usually costs less to clear and register.
Can Autocom tell me how much duty I will pay?
No. Duty is set and collected by TRA. We can give you the exact details of a car so you can check it in TRA’s calculator or with your clearing agent.
Can I pay the duty to your Dar es Salaam office?
No. Duty and taxes are paid to TRA through your clearing agent. Our offices never accept cash or any payment.
Sources
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Taxes and Duties at a Glance 2025/2026 (July 2025, before the Finance Act 2026)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Motor Vehicle Registration (accessed 12 October 2026)
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Used Motor Vehicle Valuation System and its user guide (accessed 12 October 2026)
- Clyde & Co: Tanzania tax update, Finance Act 2026 highlights (3 July 2026)
- EY: Tanzanian Finance Act 2026 analysis (2026)
- EAA Co., Ltd.: Inspection services (accessed 12 October 2026)
