How to Import to Tanzania

This is a process overview. For current year rules, taxes, and documents, use the Tanzania import regulation page — that page is reviewed against TRA sources.

Age rule (not a hard ban)

Tanzania is a right-hand-drive market. Age is counted from the year of manufacture, not first registration. Vehicles up to 8 years old are assessed at standard TRA rates. Older cars can still be imported, but they attract extra excise (an age penalty). Confirm the live band on TRA’s Used Motor Vehicle Valuation System (UMVVS) before you bid.

What you pay

TRA taxes stack: import duty on CIF (commonly 25% EAC CET for passenger cars), then excise, then 18% VAT on CIF + duty + excise. Port and TASAC charges are extra. Do not use a “2× FOB” rule of thumb — UMVVS value and engine/age change the bill.

Typical steps

1. Confirm manufacture year and RHD on the Japanese export certificate.
2. Run UMVVS (TRA gateway) for a valuation estimate.
3. Buy, pay FOB, and arrange pre-shipment inspection / Certificate of Conformity.
4. Export deregistration and bill of lading; RoRo to Dar es Salaam.
5. Appoint a licensed clearing agent. Lodge TANCIS at least 7 days before arrival.
6. Pay TRA duty, excise, and VAT, then register with MVRA.

Official starting points: TRA import procedures and UMVVS on the TRA gateway.