Ghana used car rule: 15-year cap, no CoC no entry

What matters is not the age cap but the paper that must exist before the ship sails. From 1 October Ghana requires type approval and pre-shipment conformity: used cars need inspection and a CoC at origin. Arrive without one and the box is rejected at Tema, not repaired. Booking now runs backwards from the sailing date.

GSA runs the regime, mandatory since 1 October. The age line never settled: officials said 10 years, enforcement says 15, and both circulate, so the number in your quote decides the deal. A lawyer sued GSA on 5 October; summons on 9 October gave 8 days to respond, and no hearing is set. Enforcement continues.

A used saloon at 8,000 dollars CIF pays 80 dollars inspection, 1%, and 1,000 VAT at 12.5%: 1,080 before duty, 13.5% of value. Miss the CoC and it sits at Tema; at 50 dollars a day per box, 30 days costs 1,500, close to a fifth of CIF and many times the certificate.

Two effects. A 15-year ceiling rules out anything built before 2011, and cheap stock sits on that line, so the pool halves. Inspection at origin adds 3 to 7 days, pushing bookings back and stretching cash. Old Japanese stock loses; 8-year stock gains a door competitors cannot open.

Filter stock at 10 years, not 15, and treat the 10-to-15 band as risk unless the supplier shows a full inspection report with emissions and safety records. Ask for the original CoC, the pre-shipment test report and a proforma stating age and VIN. Keep 1% CIF, 12.5% VAT, duty and a demurrage reserve as four lines.

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.