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Import requirements for South Africa

1 Motor Cars (New or Used)

Returning residents are cautioned not to assume that import permits will be issued automatically as long as they undertake to pay the applicable duties For the necessary application forms, see 'Documents Required'

a) Import Duty and Tax

* Customs duty = 36% (motor cars more than 20 years old are subject to 20% customs duty)
* Ad valorem customs duty (based on a sliding scale depending on the value of the vehicle, with a minimum of 075% and a maximum of 20%)
* Value-added tax (VAT) = 14%

As an example, the cumulative duties and taxes payable on a car with a value of approximately R200 000 are ±70% of the market value All vehicles with a value for ad valorem customs duty purposes of less than R130 000 do not pay ad valorem customs duty on importation into South Africa

If the original purchase invoice is not available, three written valuations must be obtained from motorcar dealers in the country of export to assist the customs clearance process in South Africa

b) Import Permit

All used motor vehicles are subject to the production of an Import Permit that must be obtained prior to the vehicle being shipped to South Africa

No concession exists for returning South African Nationals/Permanent Resident holders (including persons normally resident in the Republic who go abroad to work or study) to import a motor vehicle without payment of Customs duty

The vehicle (if second-hand) will also be subject to an import permit form the Directorate: Import & Export Control, Pretoria and a Letter of Authority (LoA) from the South African Bureau of Standards

Contact us for more info and Rates for Shipping to South Africa