You can import a used Japanese car into Mozambique, but it must pass a mandatory pre-shipment inspection before it leaves Japan, and you need a NUIT tax number to clear it. We found no general age ban, and right-hand drive is the standard.
Key takeaways
- All used vehicles need a pre-shipment inspection (Ministerial Diploma 244/2011), done by an appointed inspection company, currently Intertek.
- Right-hand drive is standard. Left-hand-drive vehicles may not be imported for commercial purposes.
- You need a NUIT (tax number) to clear the car through the Autoridade Tributária (AT).
- Cars can be shipped to Maputo, Beira or Nacala. Choose the port closest to you.
1. Check the age position
We found no general age ban on used cars imported into Mozambique. This is based on the information available to us, not on a single official statement, so confirm it with the Autoridade Tributária (AT) or a licensed clearing agent before you buy an older car.
Even without a ban, a newer car in good condition is easier to inspect, clear and register. Ask us for the exact date of manufacture and first registration of any car you like.
2. Choose a right-hand-drive car
Mozambique drives on the left, and right-hand drive is the standard. Mozambique’s Road Code (Decree-Law 1/2011) does not allow left-hand-drive vehicles to be imported for commercial purposes.
Almost every car sold in Japan is right-hand drive, so a Japanese car meets this rule. You can browse our stock of Japanese used cars and read the auction sheet to check a car’s grade and history.
3. Pass the pre-shipment inspection
Under Ministerial Diploma 244/2011, all used vehicles imported into Mozambique need a pre-shipment inspection before they are shipped.
The inspection is carried out by an appointed inspection company, currently Intertek, according to Intertek. The exporter arranges it before the car is shipped, and the inspection certificate is needed for customs clearance. Ask our office how the inspection is booked for your car.
A car that has not been inspected can run into problems at clearance. Make sure the seller confirms the inspection is done before the car is loaded.
4. Get your NUIT tax number
To clear a car through customs in Mozambique you need a NUIT (Número Único de Identificação Tributária), your tax identification number from the AT.
Apply early. Customs cannot process your declaration without it, and storage charges at the port can build up while you wait.
5. Choose your port: Maputo, Beira or Nacala
Cars from Japan can be shipped to Maputo in the south, Beira in the centre, or Nacala in the north. Pick the port closest to where the car will be registered to keep road transport short.
Schedules differ by port. Ask our team for the current schedule for your port. Our guide to Ro-Ro versus container shipping explains the two ways a car can travel.
6. Pay safely
Autocom Japan sells for full payment by bank transfer (T/T) to our accounts in Japan. The beneficiary is always “Autocom Japan Inc.” We have no office in Mozambique, and no local agent can take payment for us.
If anyone asks you to pay a different account, it is fraud. Read how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan and check our official bank account list.
7. Prepare your documents
A licensed clearing agent lodges the customs declaration with the AT. Have these documents ready:
- Japanese export certificate, with a translation (see our export certificate guide)
- Bill of lading from the shipping line
- Commercial invoice showing what you paid
- Pre-shipment inspection certificate
- Your NUIT and ID
Our import documents checklist helps you tick off each paper before the car arrives.
8. Understand duty and the landed cost
Duty and taxes are set by the government, not by the exporter. They depend on the car’s value and specification, and the rates change, so we do not quote them.
Ask the AT or your clearing agent for the current charges before you choose a car. Our landed cost checklist lists every part of the final cost, and FOB, C&F and CIF explained shows what a quoted price includes.
9. Register the car
After customs releases the car, you register it and get number plates. Your clearing agent can tell you what the registration office needs.
Our guide on registering a Japanese import car in Africa explains the general process.
Before you pay: a quick checklist
Run through these points before you send any money. They take a few minutes and prevent the most common problems.
- Right-hand drive? Confirm the steering side on the listing and in the photos.
- Inspection planned? Ask the seller to confirm in writing that the pre-shipment inspection will be done before loading.
- NUIT ready? Make sure you have your NUIT, or have applied for it, before the car is shipped.
- Port agreed? Confirm whether the car goes to Maputo, Beira or Nacala, and that the invoice shows the same port.
- Costs checked? Ask your clearing agent for an estimate of duty and clearing charges based on the exact car.
- Right bank account? Check that the beneficiary on the invoice is “Autocom Japan Inc.” and that the account appears on our official list.
If anything is unclear, ask our team before you pay. A question answered early is easier than a problem at the port.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for used cars in Mozambique?
We found no general age ban. Confirm with the AT or your clearing agent before you buy an older car.
Who does the pre-shipment inspection for Mozambique?
An appointed inspection company, currently Intertek. The exporter arranges it before the car is shipped.
Can I import a left-hand-drive car?
Not for commercial purposes. Right-hand drive is the standard, and almost all Japanese cars are right-hand drive.
What is a NUIT and do I need one?
The NUIT is your tax identification number from the AT. You need it to clear the car through customs.
Which port should I choose?
Maputo, Beira or Nacala, whichever is closest to where you live. Ask our team for the current schedule for that port.
Sources
- Intertek: Pre-shipment inspection for Mozambique (used vehicles, Ministerial Diploma 244/2011) (checked 1 October 2026)
- Autoridade Tributária de Moçambique (AT) (checked 1 October 2026)
- Government of Mozambique: Road Code, Decree-Law 1/2011, article 117(6)
