🇹🇬 How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car to Togo?
Combined import taxes in Togo run about 8%–53% of a vehicle's CIF value. On a $10,000 (CIF) car that is roughly $800–$5,300 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 Togo
- Combined import taxes (petrol/diesel): ~8%–53% of CIF
- Electric vehicles: ~0.5%–2% of CIF (EV incentives apply)
- 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: XOF
Ocean freight to Togo
| Destination port | RoRo (1 car ≈ 12.5 CBM) | 40HQ container (2–3 cars) | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lomé | $1,438–$1,725 | $3,150–$3,700 | 33–42 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 Togo
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. No hard cap, but the 2026 customs-value abatement only reaches vehicles up to 5 years old.
- Pre-shipment inspection: AEVO valuation (OTR), in force from 2022-02-01 — Not a safety inspection — a VIN-keyed valuation database. It also applies to vehicles in transit, so routing through Lomé does not escape it.
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 | 4% | CIF | $400 |
| VAT | 3.6% | CIF + duty + excise | $374 |
| Para-fiscal levies | 2.3% | CIF — statistical, community and shipper-council levies | $226 |
| Duties and taxes | 10% | of CIF | $1,000 |
| Terminal charges | — | per 40HQ | $650 |
| Customs broker | — | per entry | $275 |
| Landed cost | — | CIF + taxes + port + clearance | $11,925 |
Excludes inland delivery, registration and any age-penalty tax. Change the vehicle, engine size or year in the calculator to re-derive this for your own unit.
Port charges and clearance in Togo
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) | $500–$800 | per 40HQ |
| Customs broker / clearance fee | $200–$350 | per entry |
| Combined | $925 typical | per container |
Paperwork you must have
- BESC / CTN cargo tracking note
- OTR abatement filing (for the new-vehicle break)
- AEVO valuation reference (used vehicles, keyed on the VIN)
- GUCE single-window payment receipt (customs + port dues)
Important: The BESC/CTN must be issued BEFORE the bill of lading. The new-vehicle abatement is not automatic — it must be claimed and accepted by OTR. ⚠ Used units are priced by AEVO, the OTR valuation system live since 1 Feb 2022: it looks the VIN up in a reference database, so a low invoice does not lower the assessment. Note also that OTR applies its used-vehicle measures to cars in TRANSIT as well, not only to those cleared for Togolese consumption.
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 Togo?
Combined import taxes (duty, excise and VAT) run about 8%–53% of the car's CIF value. On a $10,000 (CIF) car that is roughly $800–$5,300 in duties and taxes, before ocean freight and local port/clearance fees.
How long does it take to ship a car to Lomé, Togo?
Ocean transit to Lomé is typically 33–42 days, depending on the origin port and sailing schedule.
Can I import a used car into Togo?
Yes. Used vehicles can be imported into Togo subject to the age rule and standard duties and taxes above.
Does Togo require left-hand or right-hand drive vehicles?
Togo 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
- Ghana — combined import tax 28%–58% of CIF
- Nigeria — combined import tax 36.5%–48% of CIF
- Senegal — combined import tax 49%–75.5% of CIF
Related guides
- Importing Chinese EVs: incentives and traps
- 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.