Shipped from Japan, straight to your port.
RoRo or container, with typical sea times and the import rules for the markets our buyers use.
Plan your delivery date.
Choose your port to see a typical timeline, from buying the vehicle in Japan to clearing it through customs at your end.
Your exact dates depend on auction timing, the shipping line and its port calls. We confirm them with your quotation.
From purchase in Japan to clearance in Karachi, Pakistan, on a typical schedule.
Two ways to ship.
We book the right method for your vehicle, your port and your budget, from Japan’s main export ports.
RoRo (roll-on, roll-off)
- The vehicle is driven onto the ship
- Usually the lowest cost for single vehicles
- No personal items inside the vehicle
Container
- The vehicle is strapped inside a sealed box
- Extra protection for high-value vehicles
- Can share space with spare parts
Sea times, port by port.
Typical days at sea from Japan to the main ports our buyers use, on a scale of 0 to 60 days.
- Before sailing1–2 weeksPurchase, de-registration, inspection and delivery to the port in Japan
- At seaSee the chartDepends on your port, the shipping line and its port calls
- After arrivalAbout 1–2 weeksUnloading, customs clearance and registration at your end
Karachi times also apply to Port Qasim. Ships routed around the Cape of Good Hope instead of through Suez take about 1–2 weeks longer to the UK and Europe. Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana are reached through Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Durban or Walvis Bay, then by road. Sources: exporter and shipping-line schedules, 2025–26.
We check your country’s rules before you pay.
Age limits, steering side and inspections differ by market. This is a guide to the main ones.
| Market | Steering | Main rule | Inspection or note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | RHD | No age limit on commercial imports since 1 July 2026. Extra regulatory duty of 30% in 2026–27, falling each year to zero by 2029. | Safety and environmental standards apply |
| Kenya | RHD only | Up to 8 years from first registration (2019 or newer in 2026). | QISJ roadworthiness inspection before shipping |
| Tanzania | RHD | No age limit; extra excise duty on vehicles over 8 years old. | Pre-shipment inspection |
| Uganda | RHD | Up to 15 years; the government has proposed tighter limits for 2026–27. | Confirm before buying |
| Zambia | RHD | No age limit; older vehicles pay a surtax. | None listed |
| Mauritius | RHD | Used cars usually up to about 4 years old. | Confirmed per order |
| Seychelles | RHD | Used cars usually up to about 3 years old. | Confirmed per order |
| Nigeria | LHD only | Most Japanese cars are right-hand drive, so we source left-hand-drive models. | Checked per order |
| Ghana | LHD | Left-hand drive only, with a few special right-hand-drive exceptions. Penalties on vehicles over 10 years old. | Checked per order |
| Togo | LHD | Left-hand-drive vehicles accepted. | Checked per order |
| Senegal | Varies | Strict age limits apply to used cars. | Pre-shipment inspection |
| DR Congo | LHD | Left-hand-drive vehicles accepted. | Inspection needs checked per order |
| Ethiopia (via Djibouti) | LHD only | Electric vehicles only: petrol and diesel car imports are banned. Left-hand drive. | Rules checked per order |
| Guinea, Liberia | Varies | Used cars usually up to 10 years old. | Confirmed per order |
| Gabon | Varies | Used cars usually up to about 3 years old. | Confirmed per order |
| Guyana | RHD | No hard age limit since October 2020; duty depends on age. | ATJ pre-shipment inspection |
| Suriname | RHD only | Cars up to 8 years; buses up to 15; no limit on trucks. | No pre-shipment inspection |
| Chile (regional hub) | Varies | Iquique Free Zone (ZOFRI) serves Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru. | Rules of the final country apply |
| Bolivia, Paraguay | Varies | No sea port: vehicles land in Chile and continue by road. | Rules checked per order |
| UK, Ireland, Malta, Cyprus | RHD | No single EU-wide rule; national approval and registration apply. | Checked per order |
| Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Poland | LHD | National approval and registration apply. | Checked per order |
RHD means right-hand drive, as built for Japan’s roads. Rules change often: this table was checked in November 2026 and is a guide only. We confirm the current rules, duties and inspection needs for your country with every quotation.
Ready to ship to your port?
Tell us your port and the vehicle you want. We quote the full cost on FOB, C&F or CIF terms.