How to bring your car to Vanuatu

Member since 01 June 2015

BhavnaTeam09 May 2017 09:54:07

43034

Hello everybody,

If you exported your car to Vanuatu, were there any formalities that needed to be completed beforehand? What were they?

What is the best way to export your car? Is there a limit on the number of vehicles, or perhaps the age of the vehicle? Are there limits on emissions or emission controls in Vanuatu?

What are the expected costs of exporting a car? In your opinion, is it worth it?

Once you arrived in Vanuatu, what were the applicable taxes? What was the customs process like?

How do you go about registering an imported car in Vanuatu?

Is it best to buy a car once you have arrived or to bring your car with you, in your opinion?

We look forward to hearing from you!

Bhavna

See also

Living in Vanuatu: the expat guide - Guide
Moving to Vanuatu - 0 Reply
Builders in Vanuatu - 29 Replies
How to start and properly register a business in Vanuatu. - 4 Replies
Vanuatu - the way it used to be... - 1 Reply
Moving to Vanuatu - 2 Replies
Registering a birth in Vanuatu - 1 Reply

HOTRS Member

Member since 23 October 2015

HOTRSMember11 May 2017 21:49:39

we already owned 2 LHD cars, so popping them into a container was not a big deal. We then imported one from the US, again no big deal. Friends asked for dispensation, to bring in a RHD, the hassle of it was not worth the exercise, apparently.
If you don't own a LHS car, in your home country, it's very easy to buy one here in Vanuatu.

allan&maggs Member

Member since 22 May 2012

allan&maggsMember14 May 2017 20:34:45

Hi
Bringing your own vehicle into Vanuatu is no big deal. It must be LHD and you have owned it for 12 months. RHD vehicles are now banned.
Goods restricted from importation
(k) Right-hand drive motor vehicles - (Import of Motor Vehicles (Control) Act [CAP 221])
There is No duty or excise on your own vehicle imported, normally within first 6 months of residency

If you do not bring in as YOUR private vehicle, then importing used vehicles, there is normal import duty, plus extra duty and excise eg: plus 20% of car value or 200,000vt, which ever is greater.
Car value is CIF = Cost of item+Insurance+freight
Getting your vehicle inspected and reregistered each year (2017) is now a lot harder, so consider if spare parts maybe issue

allan