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Regulations for Importing Japanese
Used Cars to Malta

Considering importing a car from Japan to Malta? Understand the essential rules, duties, and required documentation to ensure a smooth import process

Key Import Guidelines

Vehicle Age Restrictions

Vehicle Age Restrictions

There is no age limit.

Steering Position

Steering Position

Both right-hand drive and left-hand drive cars are accepted.

Vehicles Accepted

Vehicles Accepted

Passenger cars and buses are accepted. Cars 30 years old or more on arrival must be unmodified.

Shipping and Port Details

Shipping and Port Details

Primary Ports: Marsaxlokk and Valletta Seaport

Shipping Method

Shipping Method

RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)

Duties and Taxes

Duties and Taxes

Duties and taxes are worked out on the CIF value, which is the car's price plus sea freight. Customs duty is 10% of the CIF value, but cars made in Japan pay none. Import VAT is 18% of the CIF value plus customs duty.

Registration and Local Charges

Registration and Local Charges

The fixed fees are €15 for admin, €55 for the Technical Unit inspection, €70 for number plates and €30.27 for the roadworthiness test. Registration tax depends on the car's CO2 emissions, registration value, age and length, but electric and plug-in hybrid cars pay none unless they are vintage cars. The circulation licence is €100 to €1,125, depending on the car's CO2 emissions and age. A vintage car is one 30 years old or more and unmodified.

Required Documents for Customs Clearance

Registration Certificate (Country of Origin)

Registration Certificate (Country of Origin)

Confirms car registration status

Export Certificate

Export Certificate

Issued by Japanese authorities, required for customs

Original Invoice

Original Invoice

Provided by Carbarn.

04

SVA Certificate (issued in Malta after arrival)

05

JEVIC Odometer Certificate

Bill of Lading

Bill of Lading

Issued by the shipping company detailing shipment specifics

Condition Report

Condition Report

Detailed description of vehicle condition, including exterior, interior, and mechanical status

Buyers are responsible for paying all duties and taxes due to the Customs Department and to Transport Malta, which assesses vehicle registration tax through its Land Transport Directorate.

Import Rules and Regulations

Thinking about importing a car from Japan to Malta? This page covers which cars can be imported, the inspections and certificates a car needs, how it is shipped, and the duty, VAT and registration tax paid when it arrives.

Which Cars Can Be Imported

Vehicle Age

Malta sets no age limit on imported cars. A car 30 years old or more when it arrives must be unmodified.

Steering Position

Both right-hand drive and left-hand drive cars can be imported. Most Japanese cars are right-hand drive, the same as cars sold in Malta.

Vehicle Type

Passenger cars and buses.

Inspections and Certificates

  • In Japan, before loading: a JEVIC certificate from the Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center confirming the car's odometer reading.
  • In Malta, after arrival: a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) inspection by a technical service recognised by Transport Malta, confirming the car can be registered in the EU and recording its CO2 emissions.
  • In Malta: once the car has cleared customs, it is inspected by Transport Malta's Technical Unit and given a roadworthiness test before it is registered.
  • Time limit: the inspections and registration must be completed within 30 days of the car's arrival in Malta.

Shipping

  • Arrival ports: Marsaxlokk or Valletta
  • Shipping method: RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
  • Shipping line: K-Line
  • Time at sea: 40-45 days

Duties and Taxes

Customs duty and VAT are worked out on the CIF value: the price of the car plus the sea freight to Malta.

  • Customs duty: 0% for cars made in Japan, and 10% of the CIF value for cars made elsewhere. The 0% rate comes from the EU–Japan trade agreement.
  • Import VAT: 18% of the CIF value plus customs duty.

Registration Tax

  • Most cars: worked out from the car's registration value, its CO2 emissions and its length. Hybrid cars are taxed on 70% of their CO2 figure. Cars 5 years old or more pay at least a minimum set by CO2 and age, starting at €800.
  • Electric and plug-in hybrid cars: no registration tax.
  • Cars 30 years old or more and unmodified: 25.5% to 37.5% of the registration value, depending on engine size.
  • Vehicles with more than 9 seats: worked out from weight and engine size, reduced for age and kilometres on the odometer.

Transport Malta sets the registration value when the car is registered. Until then, the registration tax shown on this site is an estimate.

Registration also carries fixed fees: an admin fee of €15, the Technical Unit inspection at €55, number plates at €70 and the roadworthiness test at €30.27.

After Registration

Circulation licence: paid yearly, from €100 to €1,125, set by CO2 emissions and the car's age.

Step by Step

  1. Choose a car and confirm the quote.
  2. Carbarn arranges the JEVIC odometer certificate in Japan.
  3. The car is shipped on a RoRo sailing to Malta.
  4. Your clearing agent lodges the customs entry, and duty and VAT are paid.
  5. A technical service recognised by Transport Malta carries out the SVA inspection.
  6. Transport Malta inspects the car, sets the registration tax, registers it and issues plates.