How to Import a Used Car from Korea to Ghana (2026 Guide)
Published Aug 27, 2026 · Updated Sep 5, 2026 · 4 min read
Illustrative opening - a composite scenario, not a real named buyer or transaction.
Kwame had been watching the same secondhand Kia Sorento listing at a Tema car lot for two weeks, waiting for the price to move. It didn't. What he didn't know - because nobody at the lot mentioned it - was that the rules about to change in a few weeks would make a car like his target harder to bring in at all. Timing, it turned out, mattered more than haggling.
Direct answer
From 1 October 2026, Ghana's Standards Authority enforces a hard rule barring imported used cars older than 15 years - revised up from an initial 10-year proposal after stakeholder pushback, replacing the previous system of rising penalty charges on older vehicles. Cars already shipped before 1 October 2026 aren't affected even if they arrive after that date. Right-hand-drive vehicles are prohibited except under a separately regulated conversion framework, so Korean cars - all built left-hand-drive - fit the market as-is. Expect import duty of roughly 5-20% depending on vehicle type and engine size, plus 15% VAT and NHIL/GETFund levies. Cars typically arrive via the Port of Tema.
Key facts
Updated September 2026- Age limit: from 1 October 2026, cars older than 15 years cannot be imported - GSA revised this up from an initially proposed 10-year cutoff after public/industry feedback, so don't rely on the older 10-year figure still circulating online. Cars shipped before 1 October 2026 are grandfathered in even if they arrive later. Vehicles with a bent/cracked chassis, assembled from spare parts, or without a km/h speedometer are barred regardless of age.
- Steering: right-hand-drive is prohibited except under a separately regulated conversion framework. Standard imports must be left-hand-drive, which every Korean domestic car already is.
- Duty/tax: roughly 5-20% import duty depending on vehicle type and engine size, plus 15% VAT and NHIL/GETFund levies, calculated on the customs value.
- Ports: Tema (primary) or Takoradi (secondary).
Why timing matters right now
Ghana's shift from a penalty-fee system to a hard 15-year ban is landing in a matter of weeks, not years - that's an unusually short runway for a regulatory change like this, even after GSA loosened the original 10-year proposal to 15. A car that would have cleared under the old penalty system in September may not qualify at all once the new rule takes effect. If you're shopping for an older car specifically, that clock is real - though the revision to 15 years does mean meaningfully more of Encar's stock stays eligible than the original proposal would have allowed.
The route: Tema or Takoradi
Tema, Ghana's main vehicle-import port, handles the large majority of shipments; Takoradi is a real secondary option. Both take container or RoRo shipping from Korea.
Right-hand-drive - the rule that doesn't affect Korean stock
Ghana's RHD prohibition is a real barrier for cars sourced from right-hand-drive markets, but it doesn't touch Korean domestic stock at all - every Korean-market car is left-hand-drive from the factory, exactly what the standard import rule requires.
What to check before you commit
Beyond Ghana's own rules, the same buyer-side checks apply here as anywhere: verify the car's real condition against its official inspection record rather than photos alone, confirm there's no outstanding lien, and get the duty breakdown in writing for your specific car - and if the car is close to the 15-year cutoff, confirm its exact eligibility before you commit.
Continue reading
FAQ
Is the age rule really changing soon, and is it 10 years or 15?
It's 15 years, from 1 October 2026 - GSA's original proposal was a 10-year cutoff, but it was revised up to 15 after public and industry feedback. If you see the 10-year figure elsewhere online, it's now outdated. This is a real, dated, imminent change either way, not a distant proposal.
Can I import a right-hand-drive car?
Not under standard rules - RHD is prohibited except through a separately regulated conversion process. Korean cars are all left-hand-drive, so this doesn't affect our stock.
How does the car get from Korea to Ghana?
By container or RoRo shipping to the Port of Tema, or to Takoradi as a secondary option.
How much will duty cost?
Roughly 5-20% depending on the car, plus 15% VAT and NHIL/GETFund levies. Message us with the specific car and we'll confirm the exact figure.
Found a car you're considering importing to Ghana? Message us on WhatsApp - we'll confirm current pricing, the car's inspection record, and its eligibility under the incoming rules.
See it for yourself, on a real car
Every listing on our site includes Korea's official inspection record, reproduced unaltered.
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