Key takeaways
- To import a car to Ghana you must ship it, clear it through customs on the ICUMS platform at Tema or Takoradi, pay all duties and levies, then register it with the DVLA.
- From 1 October 2026 the Ghana Standards Authority bans the import of used vehicles more than 15 years old, so confirm your car's age before buying abroad.
- Total duties combine import duty, VAT, several levies and, for older cars, an overage penalty, so budget well beyond the purchase price.
- RoRo shipping is cheaper and suits running vehicles, while a container costs more but protects high-value or non-running cars.
- A clearing agent or freight forwarder handles the ICUMS declaration, valuation and payment, which is the fastest way to avoid demurrage and errors.
To import a car to Ghana, you ship the vehicle to Tema or Takoradi port, clear it through customs on the ICUMS platform while paying import duty plus VAT and levies, then register it with the DVLA. The process is predictable once you understand the age rules, the documents required and the duty structure, which is what this guide walks through step by step.
Importing a car remains one of the most common ways Ghanaians buy quality used and new vehicles, but the rules changed in 2026. Getting the sequence right, and knowing the cost before you buy abroad, is what separates a smooth import from an expensive one.
Steps to Import a Car into Ghana
The import journey follows a clear order. Skipping a step, or getting the paperwork wrong, is the most common cause of delay and extra cost at the port.
- Confirm eligibility before you buy. Check the vehicle's age and condition against current rules (covered below) and make sure it is left-hand drive.
- Obtain an Import Declaration Form. This is submitted through the Ministry of Trade and is needed before shipment.
- Choose a shipping method and book. Decide between RoRo and container shipping, then book space to Tema or Takoradi.
- Arrange pre-shipment inspection. Used vehicles must be inspected in the country of origin by an approved body and issued a Certificate of Conformity.
- Submit the customs declaration. A clearing agent lodges your documents on the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
- Pay duties and taxes. ICUMS generates a tax bill, which you settle through approved banks or the government payment platform.
- Clear the vehicle. Customs assigns a risk channel, green for release, yellow for a scan, or red for a physical examination, before the car leaves the port.
- Register with the DVLA. Complete roadworthy inspection, insurance and registration to receive your plates and title.
If you have never cleared cargo before, the port side of this process involves the same risk channels and declarations used for any shipment arriving at Tema.
Duties, Age Penalties and Levies Explained
The single biggest surprise for first-time importers is the gap between a car's purchase price and its landed cost. Ghana applies several charges on top of the vehicle value, and customs values the car using its own database rather than simply accepting your invoice.
Your total tax bill is built from a few layers:
- Import duty, charged as a percentage of the vehicle's customs (CIF) value, with the rate tied to engine size and type.
- VAT and health and education levies, applied on the value plus the import duty.
- Statutory levies, including ECOWAS, EXIM and African Union levies, each a small percentage of the CIF value.
- Processing and examination fees charged during clearance.
Added together, these charges can push the total well above a third of the car's assessed value, and the figure climbs steeply for older vehicles because of the overage penalty. That penalty is an extra duty applied to cars beyond a certain age, rising on a sliding scale the older the vehicle is. This is why a cheap older car abroad is not always the bargain it appears to be once it lands in Ghana.
Because the exact figures shift with budget updates and depend on your specific vehicle, it is worth running the numbers before you commit. Our detailed breakdown of import duty calculation in Ghana explains how each layer stacks up.
The 2026 Age Rule You Cannot Ignore
From 1 October 2026, the Ghana Standards Authority prohibits the importation of used vehicles more than 15 years old under its National Vehicle Homologation and Conformity Assessment Programme. The rule, set out in a GSA public notice, replaced an earlier proposal that would have barred vehicles over 10 years old. It also blocks vehicles damaged by flood or fire, cars with cracked or bent chassis, vehicles assembled from spare parts, and cars whose speedometers do not display speed in kilometres per hour, according to Citi Newsroom.
A grandfather clause protects vehicles shipped before 1 October 2026, even if they arrive later, and cars already in Ghana before that date. This age ban is a separate hurdle from customs duty: a car must first be eligible to enter, and only then does the duty and penalty math apply.
Required Documents and Registration
Clearance and registration both run on documents. Having every item ready before the vehicle arrives is the most reliable way to avoid demurrage charges while paperwork is chased.
For customs clearance, prepare:
- Original bill of lading
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Import Declaration Form
- Taxpayer Identification Number or Ghana Card PIN
- Vehicle title showing clear ownership
- Certificate of Conformity from the pre-shipment inspection
For DVLA registration, you will also need your Ghana Card, passport photographs, proof of insurance and a roadworthy inspection. Once customs releases the car, register it promptly to receive your number plates, title certificate and roadworthy sticker.
The document list for vehicles overlaps closely with general cargo, so our guide to the documents required to import goods into Ghana is a useful companion checklist.
Shipping Options: RoRo vs Container
How you ship the car affects both cost and risk. The two main methods are roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) and container shipping, and the right choice depends on the vehicle.
RoRo shipping is usually the cheaper option. The car is driven onto the vessel and secured on a deck with other vehicles, then driven off at Tema. Because handling is simple, port fees tend to be lower. RoRo suits running, standard vehicles, and it is often the practical choice for everyday saloons and SUVs. The trade-off is that the car sits in a shared, open deck space and cannot carry personal belongings inside.
Container shipping costs more but offers greater protection. The vehicle is sealed inside a container, shielded from the elements and handling, and you can often include some personal items. A container is the better pick for high-value, luxury or non-running vehicles that cannot be driven onto a RoRo deck. The premium over RoRo frequently pays for itself in security when the car is expensive.
The same cost-versus-protection logic that applies to freight choices in general applies here: pay more only where the value of the goods justifies it.
How BJH Handles Vehicle Imports and Clearance
The part of this process that trips up most first-time importers is the customs declaration and valuation. BJH Logistics manages that end to end. As a freight forwarder and clearing agent, BJH books your shipping, lodges the declaration on ICUMS, works through the customs valuation and risk channel, settles the duty bill and coordinates release from Tema or Takoradi.
That matters because ICUMS values vehicles against a reference database, not your invoice, so disputes over assessed value are a common source of delay. An experienced agent anticipates the valuation, prepares the documents to match and resolves queries quickly, which keeps the car moving and limits demurrage. BJH also carries the vehicle through to DVLA registration, so you collect a car that is cleared, plated and road-legal rather than a release order and a stack of forms.
A good forwarder does more than move the box: it manages valuation, payment and release so you are not learning customs procedure under demurrage pressure.
The most expensive mistake in a car import is buying the vehicle abroad before checking its age eligibility and estimated landed cost. Before you pay a seller overseas, send BJH Logistics the vehicle's make, model, year and engine size for a clearance and duty estimate, so you know the full cost in Ghana cedis before the car ever leaves the dock.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still import a car older than 15 years into Ghana?
No. From 1 October 2026 the Ghana Standards Authority prohibits importing used vehicles more than 15 years old. Vehicles shipped before that date are exempt under a grandfather clause.
Where are imported cars cleared in Ghana?
Most imported vehicles arrive at Tema Port, with some going through Takoradi. Clearance is processed digitally through the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS).
What documents do I need to import a car into Ghana?
You need the bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list, an Import Declaration Form, your TIN or Ghana Card PIN, the vehicle title and, from October 2026, a Certificate of Conformity.
Is RoRo or container shipping better for importing a car to Ghana?
RoRo is cheaper and works for running vehicles. A container costs more but protects high-value or non-running cars and allows some personal items inside.
How long does car clearance take at Tema Port?
With complete, accurate documents, clearance usually takes a few working days. Missing paperwork, valuation disputes or inspection delays can extend this to a week or more.
