Since Decree No. 26/01 of 24 January 2026, the DR Congo accepts used cars and light utility vehicles only up to 15 years old (the limit used to be 20). Your car also needs an Attestation de Vérification (AV) under the OCC pre-export verification programme, and customs clearance is done by the DGDA.
Key takeaways
- The maximum age for imported used vehicles is now 15 years for cars, light utility vehicles, trucks and ambulances; 20 years for agricultural, forestry and mining tractors.
- Vehicles that do not comply can be re-exported or destroyed. How age is counted in practice: check with the DGDA or your clearing agent.
- The decree requires a technical inspection certificate from the country of origin, the registration document and a legalised deed of sale.
- Goods of USD 2,500 FOB or more need an AV from Bureau Veritas (BIVAC) under the OCC programme. Shipments through Matadi or Boma also need a FERI cargo tracking note.
1. Check the 15-year age rule
Decree No. 26/01, signed on 24 January 2026, replaced the earlier rules from 2012 and 2017. It sets these maximum ages for imported used vehicles:
- 15 years: passenger cars, light utility vehicles, heavy trucks, ambulances, hearses and tanker trucks
- 20 years: agricultural, forestry and mining tractors
- 30 years or more: vehicles kept for their historical value can be treated as collector vehicles
Under the old 2017 decree the limit was 20 years. A 16- to 20-year-old car that used to be allowed is now refused.
The decree gives a six-month transition period from its official publication. We could not confirm the publication date, so ask the DGDA or your clearing agent whether the transition has ended before you buy an older car.
The decree refers to the vehicle’s “real age”. Reports differ on whether that means the date of manufacture or the date the car first entered service. If there is doubt, customs can order an expert assessment at the importer’s cost. To be safe, choose a car that is well under 15 years from its date of manufacture, and allow for shipping and clearing time.
Vehicles that do not comply can be re-exported or destroyed.
Will my car be allowed into DR Congo?
To start with cars inside the limit, browse cars first registered in Japan in 2012 or later, then ask us to confirm the date of manufacture before you pay.
2. Gather the documents the decree requires
Decree 26/01 says an imported used vehicle must come with:
- a technical inspection certificate from the country of origin
- the registration document, or a legalised copy
- a legalised deed of sale
For a car from Japan, the registration record is the export certificate issued when the car is deregistered for export. Read our export certificate guide to see what it shows.
Ask your clearing agent exactly which inspection certificate DGDA accepts and how the documents must be legalised. Tell us before shipping, so the papers can be prepared in Japan.
3. Get the Attestation de Vérification (AV)
The DR Congo runs a pre-export verification programme through the OCC (Office Congolais de Contrôle), with Bureau Veritas (BIVAC) as the contracted verification company.
According to the Bureau Veritas data sheet:
- It applies to goods of USD 2,500 FOB or more.
- The importer files an import declaration (DIB, Déclaration d’Importation des Biens) through the single window (GUICE) before shipping.
- Motor vehicles must come with papers proving ownership and age.
- After verification, an AV is issued and sent to the OCC for clearance. If verification is refused (an ARA), the goods must not be shipped to the DR Congo.
- Import cargo insurance must be taken with an insurance company based in the DR Congo.
Start the DIB early and send us the reference, so the verification can be done before the car is loaded.
4. Get a FERI for Matadi or Boma
If the car is shipped to Matadi or Boma in the west, a FERI (electronic cargo tracking note) is generally required. Ask your clearing agent to confirm what is needed for your shipment before it leaves Japan.
5. Choose your route
Buyers in the west, including Kinshasa, usually use Matadi. Buyers in the south-east, such as Lubumbashi, often ship through Dar es Salaam or Durban and bring the car in by road.
The right route depends on where you live and on current schedules. Ask our team for the current options and schedule for your destination. 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 the DR Congo, 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. Clear customs with the DGDA
Customs clearance is handled by the Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA), usually through a licensed clearing agent. Have these ready:
- Bill of lading and commercial invoice
- AV from the OCC programme
- FERI, if shipped via Matadi or Boma
- The documents required by Decree 26/01 (inspection certificate, export certificate, legalised deed of sale)
Duty and taxes are set by the government, not by the exporter. They depend on the vehicle’s value and type, and the rates change, so we do not quote them. Ask the DGDA or your clearing agent for the current charges. Our landed cost checklist lists every part of the final cost.
After release, register the car and get number plates. Our guide on registering a Japanese import car in Africa explains the general process.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum age for a car imported into the DR Congo?
15 years under Decree 26/01 of 24 January 2026. The previous limit was 20 years.
Is the age counted from manufacture or first registration?
The decree refers to the vehicle’s real age, and reports differ. Check with the DGDA or your clearing agent, and choose a car with a safe margin.
What happens if my car is over the limit?
Non-compliant vehicles can be re-exported or destroyed. Check the age before you pay, not after the car arrives.
Who applies for the AV?
The importer files the import declaration (DIB) through the single window. Bureau Veritas then verifies the shipment and issues the AV.
Do I need a FERI?
Yes, generally, for cars shipped through Matadi or Boma. Ask your clearing agent to confirm for your shipment.
Sources
- Agence Ecofin: Importation de véhicules, la RDC abaisse de 20 à 15 ans l’âge maximal autorisé (Decree 26/01) (March 2026)
- Bureau Veritas: DR Congo pre-export verification data sheet, Rev. 26 (June 2024)
- Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA) (checked 1 October 2026)
- Office Congolais de Contrôle (OCC) (checked 1 October 2026)
- SEGUCE RDC: single window for foreign trade (checked 1 October 2026)
