Ghana: used cars capped at 15 years, CoC before shipping

Ghana's new regime means the entry ticket is issued in the country of origin, not at Tema. From next month, used cars over 15 years old are barred, and every unit needs inspection abroad plus a Certificate of Conformance before sailing. The shipment date decides.

The rule comes from Ghana Standards Authority notice GSA/DGS/PN/26/09 under standard GS 4510:2022. The age cut-off moved from a proposed 10 years to 15, but inspection moved forward: defects surface before loading, not at the port. Five categories are banned — flood, fire, chassis damage, spare-part assembly and non-metric speedometers.

Run the numbers and the shipping date outweighs condition. A car refused at port for age or a missing certificate goes back at your cost: goods plus freight already paid. Loaded this month with a valid CoC, the same car clears under the old rules. And GRA still adds an age penalty on CIF for cars over 10 years — around 5% at 10–12 years, 20% at 12–15.

For importers, the work shifts from inspecting cars to auditing files. Sourcing runs on year of first registration, speedometers must be metric, and inspection slots in Japan, the Gulf and China need booking before the loading cut-off.

Three actions. Ask the supplier for written proof of the year of first registration, an inspection report from a GSA-approved body abroad, and the CoC for that exact unit. Write the shipment date into the contract and agree the refund route if the certificate fails. Check every unit against the five bans. Send a VIN and year to confirm eligibility.

What certifications are required to import used cars from China?
Requirements vary by destination (e.g. EAEU needs SBKTS/OTTC, GCC for the Middle East). EZ Auto handles compliant documents and certification per the destination customs, confirming clearance before shipment to avoid port hold-ups.

What recent policy changes affect Chinese vehicle exports?
EV subsidies are phasing out while export licensing and shipping capacity fluctuate. EZ Auto tracks destination tariffs and certification changes and updates them in the News section for procurement decisions.

Can an individual buy a car directly from China for export?
Possible, but with document and customs hurdles. Most buyers order through a licensed exporter like EZ Auto, which handles the contract, export declaration and destination paperwork; you only handle pickup and local registration.

What export documents are needed for used cars?
Core documents include the commercial invoice, packing list, export customs declaration, bill of lading and the destination's import clearance papers. EZ Auto prepares the full set before shipment to ensure smooth clearance abroad and avoid demurrage.

Do destination countries limit the age of imported vehicles?
New cars are mostly unrestricted; used cars often face an age cap (e.g. some Middle East and Africa markets require within 5-8 years). EZ Auto checks the destination's age rule before shipping and screens out non-compliant units to avoid rejection at port.

This article is published by EZ Auto. EZ Auto (Cheyixing Automobile Import & Export) specializes in exporting Chinese vehicles — new, used and parts — serving Latin America, Central Asia & CIS, Africa, the Middle East and the EU, with order-based sourcing, inspection with photo report, export documentation and ocean freight in one place.