Lebanon has almost no domestic vehicle assembly, so its car market depends heavily on imports, entering mainly through the Port of Beirut and the Port of Tripoli. Only left-hand-drive (LHD) vehicles are accepted; right-hand-drive cars cannot be registered. Customs and taxes are administered by Lebanese Customs under the Ministry of Finance. Duty is assessed on the CIF value: general tariffs run from roughly 0% to 70%, passenger cars typically start at 20% and, on customs-assessed value, can reach 50% or more. On top of that, Lebanon levies an excise tax based on engine displacement and an 11% value-added tax (VAT). Used vehicles face an age cap — the widely applied rule is a maximum of 8 years from the year of manufacture, with older cars (other than diplomatic imports) refused. Cars must meet Euro 4 or higher emission standards, and vehicles of non-EU origin generally require a certificate of conformity, with technical rules set by the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR). The 2026 budget granted customs and excise exemptions to electric and hybrid vehicles. Given currency and fiscal pressures, specific rates and exemptions can change, so confirm with a local customs broker before shipping.
| Age limit | Used vehicles face an age cap: the widely applied rule is a maximum of 8 years from the year of manufacture, and vehicles older than that (other than diplomatic imports) cannot be imported. |
|---|---|
| Steering | Only left-hand-drive vehicles are accepted; right-hand-drive cars cannot be registered. |
| Import duty & taxes | Duty is assessed on the CIF value: passenger cars typically start at 20% and, on customs-assessed value, can reach 50% or more; an excise tax based on engine displacement applies on top, plus 11% VAT. The 2026 budget granted customs and excise exemptions to electric and hybrid vehicles. |
| Main ports / entry | The main entry ports are the Port of Beirut and the Port of Tripoli. |
| Authority & certification | Customs and taxes are administered by Lebanese Customs under the Ministry of Finance, with technical rules set by the Lebanese Standards Institution (LIBNOR). Cars must meet Euro 4 or higher emission standards, and vehicles of non-EU origin generally require a certificate of conformity. |
Figures indicative. Lebanon: its car market depends heavily on imports; customs duty is assessed on CIF with passenger cars typically starting at 20%, used vehicles face an 8-year age cap, only left-hand drive is allowed, and an engine-displacement excise plus 11% VAT apply, while the 2026 budget exempts EVs and hybrids from duty and excise. Confirm current rates with Lebanese Customs before shipping. Sources: Lebanese Customs (customs.gov.lb); Ministry of Finance (finance.gov.lb); LIBNOR (libnor.gov.lb). Last reviewed 2026-10.
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EZ Auto is based in China (Zhengzhou, Henan) with 15–20 years in the country's car export trade. We export new and used Chinese vehicles across the Middle East, with sea freight to Jebel Ali, Jeddah, Dammam, Sohar, Aqaba, Umm Qasr and Shuaiba, handling China export clearance and full documentation. Local import clearance is arranged by the buyer or a licensed broker; we provide all paperwork and per-country guidance, including the pre-shipment certification that several Gulf markets require. We do not operate local offices in the Middle East — every car is sourced and inspected in China before shipment.
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