Most countries that restrict used-vehicle imports set a maximum age — commonly somewhere between 3 and 15 years old — measured from the manufacture date on the vehicle's compliance plate, not the marketing model year. The rule, the exact cutoff, and the consequence for a car that doesn't qualify vary significantly by country, which is why each country page here is built with the actual current statute researched directly rather than a general assumption applied everywhere.
Most countries calculate it from the manufacture year on the vehicle’s compliance plate, not the model year used in marketing — the two can differ by a year. Some countries count from first registration instead. This detail alone can determine whether a borderline car qualifies.
Typically one of a few outcomes: refused entry and re-exported at the importer’s cost, seized and forfeited, or hit with a steep penalty duty on top of normal charges. The exact consequence depends on the destination country’s law.
Reviewed by Joshua Victor, Founder.