100% FreeRates: 2026 (post-VAT reform)Last verified: August 2026

Ghana Car Import
Duty Calculator

How much will it cost to clear that car at Tema or Takoradi port?

Free car import duty calculator for Ghana. Enter your FOB value, freight, engine size, and manufacture year to get a full breakdown — import duty, NHIL, GETFund, VAT, overage penalty, and total landed cost.

Estimate only. Final duty is assessed by GRA on the ICUMS/UNIPASS platform and can differ based on valuation and vehicle condition at physical examination. Always verify with a licensed clearing agent.

2026 update: VAT reform effective Jan 1, 2026 — standard rate 15%, the 1% COVID levy has been removed. Overage penalty enforcement continues post-amnesty (after Jul 31, 2026).
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Estimated Total Landed Cost

₵135,098

$11,646 equivalent

Total Duties & Taxes

₵36,684

Effective Rate

37.3%

CIF Value

FOB + Freight + Insurance × ₵11.60/USD

₵98,414

Import Duty — 10.0% of CIF

10.0% × ₵98,414

₵9,841

NHIL — 2.5% of CIF+Duty

2.5% × ₵108,256

₵2,706

GETFund Levy — 2.5% of CIF+Duty

2.5% × ₵108,256

₵2,706

AU Levy — 0.2% of CIF

0.2% × ₵98,414

₵197

ECOWAS Levy — 0.5% of CIF

0.5% × ₵98,414

₵492

EXIM Levy — 0.75% of CIF

0.75% × ₵98,414

₵738

Special Import Levy — 2% of CIF

2% × ₵98,414

₵1,968

Examination Fee — 1% of CIF (used)

1% × ₵98,414

₵984

VAT — 15% of (CIF+Duty+NHIL+GETFund)

15% × ₵113,669

₵17,050

Total Statutory Duties & Taxes

Sum of all levies

₵36,684

Estimated Total Landed Cost

CIF + Duties + Fees

₵135,098

Estimate only, based on published GRA rates and ECOWAS CET bands. Final assessment happens on GRA's ICUMS/UNIPASS system and may differ based on valuation, HS code classification, and vehicle condition at physical examination. Right-hand drive vehicles generally require ministerial dispensation; salvaged/flood-damaged vehicles are prohibited.

Current Ghana Car Import Duty Rates (2026)

Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) charges import duty under the ECOWAS Common External Tariff, plus several flat-rate levies on every vehicle cleared through Tema or Takoradi port.

Import Duty

5–20%

of CIF, by cc & fuel

NHIL + GETFund

5%

of CIF + Duty

VAT

15%

of CIF + Duty + NHIL + GETFund

Overage Penalty

0–50%

of CIF, by age & type

Also applied on CIF: AU Levy (0.2%), ECOWAS Levy (0.5%), EXIM Levy (0.75%), Special Import Levy (~2%), and a 1% Examination Fee on used vehicles.

Overage Penalty Bands by Vehicle Type

Vehicle AgeCars / SUVs / MotorcyclesPick-ups / Vans / BusesTrucks / Lorries
≤10 years0%0%0%
10–12 years5%2.5%5%
12–15 years20%20%10% (to 22y)
Over 15 / 22 years50%50%30%

Ambulances and agricultural tractors are exempt from the overage penalty. Age is measured from manufacture date, not registration date.

Right-Hand Drive & Prohibited Imports

Ghana generally prohibits right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles for import — left-hand drive is required, with limited ministerial dispensation available in some cases, often requiring conversion before registration.

Salvaged, flooded, or accident-damaged vehicles are prohibited outright, regardless of age or CIF value. Vehicle condition is checked against Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) DGS 4510:2022 at physical examination.

Step-by-Step: Clearing a Car in Ghana

  1. Purchase the vehicle and obtain title, invoice, and full specs (make, model, manufacture year).
  2. Ship the vehicle and secure the Bill of Lading, plus pre-shipment inspection where required.
  3. Run a pre-check on ICUMS/UNIPASS using VIN, make, model, and year to estimate duty.
  4. On arrival, submit documents to GRA Customs at the port (IDF, invoice, Bill of Lading).
  5. GRA classifies and values the vehicle — engine size, HS code, and age all affect the assessment.
  6. Pay duties and levies, then clear the physical examination at Tema or Takoradi.
  7. Register the vehicle with the DVLA to get plates and complete ownership transfer.

Using a licensed clearing agent is strongly recommended — most importers do not clear vehicles themselves.

Ghana vs Nigeria — Quick Comparison

🇬🇭 Ghana🇳🇬 Nigeria
Base import duty5–20% (by cc/fuel)20% flat
Age restrictionNo hard ban; penalty >10y12-year hard limit
RHD allowedGenerally noYes (Nigeria drives right)
Effective total~30–50%+ of CIF~42–49% of CIF

Importing to Nigeria instead? Use the Nigeria Import Duty Calculator.

Example: A 9-Year-Old Petrol Sedan

Kwame got an $8,000 FOB quote on a 9-year-old 1.8L petrol sedan, with freight and insurance adding about $1,000 — a CIF of $9,000. At 1.8L (in the 1,001–3,000cc bracket), duty is 10% (~$900). NHIL + GETFund at 5% of CIF + duty adds ~$495. VAT at 15% of that combined base adds ~$1,559. The smaller flat levies — AU, ECOWAS, EXIM, Special Import Levy, and the examination fee — add roughly $401 more. No overage penalty applies since the car is under 10 years old. Total: about $3,355, or 37% of CIF, before port handling and clearing agent fees. Knowing the age cutoff mattered here — one year older and the overage penalty would have added another 5% on top.

Reviewed by Joshua Victor, Founder. Duty structure and clearing steps checked against real vehicle sourcing and clearing experience.

Ghana Car Import Duty — FAQ

How much is car import duty in Ghana?

Import duty is 5–20% of CIF depending on engine size and fuel type, plus NHIL and GETFund (2.5% each), 15% VAT, several small flat levies, and an overage penalty of 5–50% for vehicles over 10 years old. Total effective cost is often 30–50%+ of CIF.

What is the overage penalty and how much is it?

A penalty on top of standard duty for vehicles over 10 years old (by manufacture date). For cars, SUVs and motorcycles: 5% (10–12y), 20% (12–15y), 50% (over 15y) of CIF.

Can I import a 15-year-old car into Ghana?

Yes, there's no hard age ban for most categories, but a vehicle over 15 years old attracts the maximum 50% overage penalty on CIF value — often the most expensive band to clear.

Is right-hand drive allowed in Ghana?

Generally no. Left-hand drive is required for standard import; RHD needs rare ministerial dispensation, often with a conversion requirement.

How do I check duty paid on ICUMS by VIN?

GRA's ICUMS/UNIPASS platform lets you check classification and duty status using the vehicle's VIN, make, model, and year. Buyers of used imports should verify this plus a physical chassis check before paying.

What's the total cost to clear a car at Tema port?

GRA duties and levies (roughly 30–50%+ of CIF) plus port handling and clearing agent fees on top. A licensed agent is recommended for accuracy.

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