The total cost of a car from Japan comes in three parts. The first is the exporter’s price for the car and shipping to your port. The second is your government’s duty and taxes. The third is the cost of clearing the car at your port. Only the first part is set in Japan; the other two depend on your country’s rules and the car you choose.
Key takeaways
- Part 1 is our price: the car, our service, transport inside Japan and shipping to your port.
- Part 2 is your government’s duty and taxes, usually based on the car’s value, engine size and age. Use your revenue authority’s official calculator.
- Part 3 is clearing at your port: clearing agent, port charges, then registration and plates.
Part 1: Our price (the car and shipping to your port)
This is what you pay the exporter. At Autocom Japan, you pay it in full by bank transfer to our company account in Japan before the car is shipped. It is made up of:
- The car: bought at a Japanese dealer auction or from stock.
- The exporter’s service: buying, paperwork, deregistration and the export certificate, and customs formalities in Japan.
- Transport inside Japan: trucking the car from the auction or yard to the port.
- Shipping: sea freight by Ro-Ro or container to your port. See Ro-Ro vs container shipping.
- Insurance, if your price is CIF.
Your quote tells you how far the price goes. FOB stops at the ship in Japan, C&F includes freight to your port and CIF also includes marine insurance. Our guide to FOB, C&F and CIF explains each term.
If your country needs a pre-export inspection in Japan, ask whether it is in the quote.
To see how prices differ by model, year and mileage, browse our current stock. Ask our office for a price delivered to your port.
What makes the car price go up or down
The car is usually the biggest piece of Part 1. Its price in Japan depends on:
- Model and demand: popular export models are wanted by buyers in many countries at once.
- Age and mileage: newer, lower-mileage cars cost more. Age rules also push demand towards newer cars; Kenya’s 2019-and-newer rule is one example.
- Condition and auction grade: a grade 4.5 car usually costs more than a 3.5 of the same model. See auction grade 3.5 vs 4 vs 4.5.
- Specification: hybrid or petrol, 2WD or 4WD, trim level and extras.
- Exchange rate: cars are bought in Japanese yen, so the yen’s value against your currency or the US dollar changes the price you see.
- Shipping to your port: freight depends on your port, the vessel and the car’s size.
Part 2: Your government’s duty and taxes
Once the car arrives, your government charges import duty and taxes. These are paid in your country, not to the exporter.
They usually depend on:
- the car’s customs value, which many countries take from an official price list rather than your invoice
- engine size and fuel type
- the car’s age, where older cars may pay extra charges
Rates change and differ from country to country, so we do not quote them. Use the official calculator for your country. The landed cost checklist links to them.
For example, Tanzania’s revenue authority (TRA) has a used-vehicle valuation calculator. Uganda’s (URA) has a motor vehicle tax calculator. In Kenya, KRA’s current retail selling price list (CRSP) is the basis for valuation.
Check your country’s age rule before you choose a car, because the wrong year can mean refusal, not just higher tax. See our country guides in import rules.
Part 3: Clearing at your port
These are the local costs to get the car out of the port and onto the road:
- Clearing agent: a licensed agent lodges your customs entry and handles the port process.
- Port and handling charges at the arrival port.
- Storage: if the car is not cleared promptly, storage charges can build up. Have your documents and money ready before the ship arrives.
- Onward transport from the port to your town or border, if you live inland or in a neighbouring country.
- Registration, number plates and insurance.
For the documents your agent needs, see the documents to clear a car at Mombasa and Dar es Salaam and the documents checklist.
How to get a reliable total before you buy
- Get a quote to your port (C&F or CIF) from the exporter.
- Estimate Part 2 with your revenue authority’s official calculator, or ask a licensed clearing agent.
- Ask your clearing agent for their fee and the usual port charges.
- Add a margin for exchange-rate changes and a first service when the car arrives.
Compare quotes like with like. A low FOB price is not comparable with a CIF price to your port.
Paying safely
Pay Part 1 only by bank transfer to the exporter’s company account in Japan. At Autocom Japan the beneficiary is always “Autocom Japan Inc”, and our official accounts are on our bank account page.
We sell for full payment only, with no instalments or financing. Our offices and agents never accept cash or any payment. Read how to avoid scams before you pay any invoice.
Frequently asked questions
Does your price include duty in my country?
No. Our price covers the car and getting it to your port. Duty and taxes are paid to your government when the car arrives.
Why is the landed cost higher than the price on the website?
The website price is Part 1 only. Your government’s duty and taxes and the clearing costs at your port come on top.
How can I estimate the duty for a specific car?
Use your revenue authority’s official calculator with the car’s make, model, year and engine size, or ask a licensed clearing agent.
Can I pay part now and the rest later?
No. Autocom Japan sells for full payment only, by bank transfer to our company account in Japan.
Sources
- Tanzania Revenue Authority: Used motor vehicle valuation calculator (checked 1 Oct 2026)
- Uganda Revenue Authority (motor vehicle tax calculator)
- Kenya Revenue Authority (current retail selling price list)
