Importing a vehicle into Pakistan — whether you are an overseas Pakistani bringing your car home, a resident importing a new vehicle commercially, or a family receiving a car as a gift from abroad — involves multiple government regulations, specific eligibility conditions, and a duty structure that can significantly affect your total cost.
Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) allows vehicle import under two broad categories:
Any individual or business can import a new vehicle into Pakistan against payment of full applicable duty and taxes under the standard commercial import procedure. There are no eligibility restrictions for new vehicle commercial import — anyone with funds to pay duties can import.
Used vehicles, however, cannot be commercially imported by the general public under standard procedures. Used vehicle import is restricted to specific schemes designed for overseas Pakistanis and returning nationals.
Three personal import schemes are available exclusively to Pakistani nationals residing abroad or returning to Pakistan. These schemes allow import of used vehicles (with age restrictions) at concessional duty rates compared to standard commercial import.
Important eligibility restrictions apply to all personal schemes: Students receiving remittances from Pakistan are not eligible, Non-earning dependants of overseas Pakistanis are not eligible, Anyone who has imported, gifted, or received a vehicle in the past two years is not eligible, Only one vehicle per person per applicable period
Available to Pakistani nationals who are permanently returning to Pakistan after living abroad.
Key benefit: Duty and taxes are paid on a concessional basis compared to commercial import rates.
Available to Pakistani nationals visiting Pakistan from abroad.
Allows a Pakistani national abroad to gift a vehicle to a close family member residing in Pakistan.
Pakistan's customs duty on imported vehicles is calculated on CIF value — Cost + Insurance + Freight — of the vehicle at the time of import. The total duty comprises several components:
| Duty Component | Standard Rate |
|---|---|
| Customs Duty (CD) | Varies by engine capacity |
| Additional Customs Duty (ACD) | 6% of CIF value |
| Sales Tax (ST) | 17–25% depending on vehicle type |
| Federal Excise Duty (FED) | Varies by engine capacity |
| Income Tax / Withholding Tax (WHT) | Up to 6% of assessed value |
| Regulatory Duty (RD) | Applies to used commercial imports |
Pakistan's FBR applies a progressive duty structure — larger engine, higher total duty:
| Engine Capacity | Approximate Total Duty Burden |
|---|---|
| Up to 800cc | Lower slab — fixed duty under SRO for Asian-made vehicles |
| 801cc – 1000cc | USD 4,800–8,000 fixed |
| 1001cc – 1300cc | USD 8,000–13,200 fixed (Asian-made SRO) |
| 1301cc – 1500cc | USD 13,200–20,000+ |
| 1501cc – 1800cc | USD 20,000–30,000+ |
| Above 1800cc | Highest slab — ad valorem on CIF + high RD |
Used vehicles imported under personal schemes benefit from monthly depreciation that reduces the taxable value:
Example: A 2022 car imported in 2025 has approximately 24–36 months of depreciation applicable — reducing its taxable CIF value by 48–72%, up to 50% cap.
Pakistan's government provides significant duty relief for hybrid vehicles to encourage fuel-efficient imports:
The Finance Act 2025 introduced notable reductions in vehicle import duties:
The documentation requirements vary slightly by import scheme, but the following are required in virtually all cases:
Our licensed customs team assists with preparation and verification of all documents before your vehicle arrives at Karachi Port — preventing holds and delays at the clearance stage.
Before purchasing a vehicle abroad, confirm which import scheme applies to your situation. Commercial import, Transfer of Residence, Personal Baggage, and Gift each have different eligibility conditions, vehicle age limits, and duty structures.
Once eligibility is confirmed, purchase the vehicle in the origin country. Arrange international shipping — either RORO (Roll-on Roll-off) or container shipping (enclosed, more secure, preferred for high-value vehicles).
Before the vessel arrives at Karachi, prepare all required documents — Bill of Lading, vehicle title, passport, and any scheme-specific documentation.
When the vessel arrives at Karachi Port or Port Qasim, your customs agent files the Import General Manifest (IGM) and initiates the clearance process.
Pakistan Customs physically inspects the imported vehicle — verifying the chassis number, engine number, and vehicle description against documentation.
Once examination is complete and duty is paid, the customs authority issues a Delivery Order for the release of the vehicle from the port.
After port release, the vehicle is transported from Karachi to your home city via car carrier or professional driver.
The final step is registering the imported vehicle with the provincial Excise and Taxation department in your city.
Japan is the most popular source for used vehicle imports to Pakistan — offering well-maintained right-hand drive vehicles at competitive prices. Japanese auction sheets provide vehicle history and condition grades. Transit time by sea from Japan to Karachi is approximately 20 to 30 days.
UAE-sourced vehicles are increasingly popular — shorter transit time (approximately 5 to 10 days by sea) and large availability of both new and used vehicles. Left-hand drive vehicles from UAE require conversion to right-hand drive or registration as an exception.
UK imports offer European specification vehicles with full service history. Transit time approximately 20 to 25 days. UK-sourced vehicles are right-hand drive — no conversion required.
US and Canadian vehicles are left-hand drive — conversion to right-hand drive is required or vehicle may only be registered in specific categories. Transit time approximately 28 to 40 days by sea.
The 3-year age limit under personal schemes is strictly enforced. A vehicle manufactured more than 3 years before the import date will not clear under Personal Baggage or Gift schemes — and clearing it as a commercial import will attract significantly higher duty.
Discovering ineligibility after the vehicle has already shipped is an extremely costly mistake. Verify eligibility with a customs agent before any purchase is made.
Pakistan Customs uses international reference databases to verify vehicle values. Under-declaration triggers a revised assessment with potential penalties and delays.
The Bill of Lading for personal scheme vehicle imports must be dated within 120 days of the vehicle's arrival at Karachi Port. Delays in shipping after purchase can cause the Bill of Lading to expire.
For personal scheme imports, duty must be paid using foreign exchange from a verified remittance source — a local bank transfer is not accepted. The bank encashment certificate is a mandatory document at clearance.
We arrange container shipping or RORO transport for your vehicle from any source country to Karachi Port. Container shipping is recommended for high-value vehicles — your car is enclosed in a sealed container with zero exposure to weather.
See our door-to-door cargo service →Our licensed customs agents manage the complete Karachi Port clearance process — WeBOC filing, duty calculation verification, examination coordination, and Delivery Order collection.
See our →After customs clearance, we arrange transport of your vehicle from Karachi Port to your home city via enclosed car carrier or professional driver.
See our →Before you purchase abroad, use our calculator to estimate total duty and tax burden for your specific vehicle — engine capacity, age, type, and applicable scheme.
See our Custom Duty Calculator →A: Under all three personal import schemes (Transfer of Residence, Personal Baggage, and Gift), the maximum age for cars is 3 years from the date of manufacture. Other vehicles such as trucks and buses can be imported up to 5 years old. New vehicles have no age restriction under commercial import.
A: Yes, subject to eligibility under one of the three personal schemes. The vehicle must not be older than 3 years and you must meet scheme-specific residency or relationship requirements. Duty is calculated on CIF value with applicable depreciation and any hybrid concessions.
A: Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) up to 1800cc receive a 50% exemption from applicable duty and taxes. HEVs between 1800cc and 2500cc receive a 25% exemption. The base duty is first calculated for a standard petrol vehicle of the same engine capacity, then the concession is applied.
A: Vehicles imported under personal schemes are subject to a lock-in period before they can be sold or transferred. Selling before the lock-in period attracts penalty duty equivalent to the concession received. Confirm the applicable lock-in period with a customs agent for your specific scheme.
A: With complete and correct documentation, clearance typically takes 5 to 10 working days after vessel arrival. Incomplete documents, customs examination, or duty disputes can extend this to 3 to 6 weeks — during which storage charges accumulate daily.
A: No. A licensed customs agent can manage the entire clearance process on your behalf with a Power of Attorney. You do not need to travel to Karachi — our team handles everything remotely and delivers your vehicle to your city.
Whether you are importing a car from Japan, UAE, or UK — or need customs clearance support at Karachi Port — our team is ready to assist at every stage.
Fill out the form and our team will get back to you within 24 hours.
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