🇬🇭 How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car to Ghana?
Combined import taxes in Ghana run about 28%–58% of a vehicle's CIF value. On a $10,000 (CIF) car that is roughly $2,800–$5,800 in duties and taxes — before ocean freight and local clearance. Below is the full 2026 breakdown, then a free calculator for your exact car.
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Key import facts for Ghana
- Combined import taxes (petrol/diesel): ~28%–58% of CIF
- Electric vehicles: ~44%–50% of CIF
- Maximum vehicle age: no hard limit, but escalating over-age penalties
- Used-car imports: allowed (within the age rule)
- Driving side: left-hand drive (LHD)
- Local currency: GHS
Ocean freight to Ghana
| Destination port | RoRo (1 car ≈ 12.5 CBM) | 40HQ container (2–3 cars) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tema | $1,438–$1,688 | $3,150–$3,650 | 35–42 days |
RoRo cost shown for a midsize car (~12.5 CBM). A 40-foot high-cube container is shared across multiple cars. Figures marked * are estimates — confirm live rates with your forwarder.
Before you buy: entry rules for Ghana
These decide whether a vehicle can enter at all. Getting them wrong costs a container, not a margin.
- Age limit: no hard cap — counted from the year of manufacture
- Pre-shipment inspection: PVoC (Ghana Standards Authority), in force from 2026-10-01 — Used vehicles must be inspected in the country of export against Ghanaian safety, technical and environmental standards.
Worked example: a $10,000 car, step by step
Every figure below is derived, not asserted — this is the same arithmetic our calculator runs. Base: $10,000 CIF (vehicle + freight + insurance at the destination port), a mid-size petrol car, new.
| Line | Rate | Charged on | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customs duty | 10% | CIF | $1,000 |
| Excise | 5% | CIF + duty | $550 |
| VAT | 15% | CIF + duty + excise | $1,733 |
| Para-fiscal levies | 5.7% | CIF — statistical, community and shipper-council levies | $568 |
| Duties and taxes | 38.5% | of CIF | $3,850 |
| Terminal charges | — | per 40HQ | $700 |
| Customs broker | — | per entry | $350 |
| Landed cost | — | CIF + taxes + port + clearance | $14,900 |
Excludes inland delivery, registration and any age-penalty tax. An older vehicle pays the age penalty on top — see the age table above. Change the vehicle, engine size or year in the calculator to re-derive this for your own unit.
Port charges and clearance in Ghana
On top of duties and taxes you pay the terminal and your broker. These are not part of the tax figures above.
| Charge | Typical range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal / carrier charges (THC, DO, security) | $550–$850 | per 40HQ |
| Customs broker / clearance fee | $250–$450 | per entry |
| Combined | $1,050 typical | per container |
Paperwork you must have
- ICUMS single-window declaration
- GCNet / GPHA port levies
Important: Over-age cars are not only taxed — ICUMS can refuse to raise the entry at all. Clearing agents report 15-year-plus and salvage/flood units getting locked at VIN validation, so the overage penalty is not a guaranteed way in.
Ask your carrier for 14–21 days of destination free time (demurrage/detention) at booking — congested ports and high inspection rates make this the cheapest insurance you can buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much are import duties and taxes on a car in Ghana?
Combined import taxes (duty, excise and VAT) run about 28%–58% of the car's CIF value. On a $10,000 (CIF) car that is roughly $2,800–$5,800 in duties and taxes, before ocean freight and local port/clearance fees.
Is there an age limit for importing a car into Ghana?
Ghana has no hard age cut-off, but older cars carry an escalating over-age penalty on top of normal duties (10–12 yrs: +5%; 12–15 yrs: +20%; 15–25 yrs: +50%; 25–35 yrs: +70%; 35–99 yrs: +100%).
How long does it take to ship a car to Tema, Ghana?
Ocean transit to Tema is typically 35–42 days, depending on the origin port and sailing schedule.
Can I import a used car into Ghana?
Yes. Used vehicles can be imported into Ghana subject to the age rule and standard duties and taxes above.
Does Ghana require left-hand or right-hand drive vehicles?
Ghana drives on the right, so left-hand-drive (LHD) vehicles are the standard.
Compare with nearby markets
Duty, VAT and age rules change sharply across a border — the same car can land 20 points cheaper one country over.
- Benin — combined import tax 4%–46% of CIF
- Burkina Faso — combined import tax 44%–63% of CIF
- Côte d'Ivoire — combined import tax 40%–60% of CIF
- Nigeria — combined import tax 36.5%–48% of CIF
- Senegal — combined import tax 49%–75.5% of CIF
- Togo — combined import tax 8%–53% of CIF
Related guides
- Used-car age limits by country
- How import taxes are calculated (CIF, duty, VAT, excise)
- RoRo vs container: which is cheaper for cars
- Cheapest African countries to import into
Estimate your exact cost
Tax rates, car age and engine size all change the final number. Use the free AutoLanded calculator to get a line-by-line landed cost for your specific vehicle and destination port.