Japanese Used Cars for The Bahamas - Import Rules & Shipping

The Bahamas applies different maximum ages depending on the vehicle category.

Before bidding at a Japanese auction, Kaede Trading can help check the vehicle year, classification and weight against the applicable Bahamas requirements.

Used vehicles exported from Japan to The Bahamas require pre-shipment inspection by EAA Company Limited and a valid Certificate of Compliance (COC).

The inspection requirements include:

• Vehicle age verification
• Roadworthiness inspection
• Emissions testing
• Radiation inspection for vehicles exported from Japan

Kaede Trading can coordinate the EAA inspection in Japan as part of the export arrangements.

Documents generally used for Bahamas vehicle clearance include:

• Commercial / supplier invoice
• Bill of Lading
• EAA Certificate of Compliance (COC)
• Japanese Export Certificate / ownership documentation
• Relevant Bahamas Customs declaration
• Passport or driver's licence for an individual importer
• Valid business licence where the importer is a business
• Other supporting documents requested for the particular import

Additional approvals may be required depending on the vehicle, importer, intended use or island of destination. The importer or Bahamas customs broker should confirm current local requirements before shipment.

After Customs clearance, an imported vehicle must be presented to the Bahamas Road Traffic Department for local inspection before first registration.

Documents generally required for first registration include:

• Valid insurance certificate
• Vehicle sales invoice
• Customs Vehicle Information Slip
• Required identification and proof of age
• Valid Bahamian driver's licence

Registration requirements and fees can change, so customers should confirm the latest requirements with the Bahamas Road Traffic Department before completing local registration.

Import charges in The Bahamas depend on the vehicle's tariff classification, Customs Value and other applicable charges. There is no single duty percentage that applies to every vehicle.

Bahamas Trade Info currently lists the following general import charges:

• Processing fee: 1% of CIF value, subject to a minimum of $10 and maximum of $500
• Environmental fee: generally within the published $5-$200 range depending on the applicable item
• VAT: 10% of total landed cost

Customs duty varies according to the vehicle's tariff classification. We recommend obtaining a current landed-cost calculation from Bahamas Customs or a licensed customs broker using the exact vehicle details and CIF value before purchase.

Kaede Trading can arrange vehicle export shipping from Japan to The Bahamas. Depending on current service availability and the customer's destination, shipping may be arranged to Nassau or Freeport.

Shipping lines, vessel schedules, transit times and freight rates change throughout the year. For this reason, we provide current freight quotations instead of publishing a fixed shipping line or transit time.

Depending on the vehicle and route, RoRo or container shipping may be available. Vehicle dimensions and weight are particularly important for vans, pickups and commercial vehicles.

Kaede Trading is based in Japan and can source used vehicles through Japanese auctions and other domestic suppliers.

Before bidding for a Bahamas-bound vehicle, we can help review the auction sheet, vehicle year, condition, weight and key eligibility information.

Where appropriate, an independent pre-bid inspection can also be arranged in Japan to check important details beyond the auction sheet.

After purchase, Kaede Trading can coordinate the required EAA inspection and arrange export shipping once the vehicle has passed and the required Certificate of Compliance has been issued.