Controlled importation of Second Hand Vehicles (Full Analysis)

Starting from the 2^nd of April, government issued Statutory Instrument 89 of 2021 which among other things notes that the importation of second-hand vehicles aged 10 years and above would require an Import Licence from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Please note this is not a BAN but controlled importation.

Extracts from number 54 of the SI states as follows:

“54. Second-hand motor vehicles which are ten (10) years older from the date of manufacture classified under headings 8702, 8703, 8704:2120, 8704:2130, 8704:2140, 8704:2190, 8704:3120, 8704:3130, 8704:3140 and 8704:3190 of the customs tariff.”

Many of us do not understand the codes listed above and so the following table lists the tariff codes and their vehicle types. The list tries to explain the codes and give examples but it is not exhaustive.

TARIFF	TARIFF DESCRIPTION	TYPES OF VEHICLES
8702	Vehicles for the transport of 10 or more people	Mini buses, Buses, Commuter buses, kombis,
8703	Passenger Motor Vehicle	Sedans, Station Wagons, SUVs, Sports cars, hybrid and electric vehicle
8704:2120	Transportation of Goods	Double Cabs (Petrol Driven)
8704:2130	With a payload not exceeding 800kg	Small pickup trucks, Nissan Vanettes, Madza Bongo, NP200 etc… (Petrol)
8704:2140	Payload between 800kg but not exceeding 1400kg	Hiace, 1Tonne trucks, Nissan ELF, All Bakkies/Pickup trucks (Petrol)
8704:2190	Other GVM less than 5 tonnes	2 Tonne trucks whose GVM does not exceed 5 tonnes (Petrol)
8704:3120	Transportation of Goods	Double Cabs (Diesel Driven)
8704:3130	With a payload not exceeding 800kg	Small pickup trucks, Nissan Vanettes, Madza Bongo, NP200 etc… (Diesel)
8704:3140	Payload between 800kg but not exceeding 1400kg	Hiace, 1Tonne trucks, Nissan ELF, All Bakkies/Pickup trucks (Diesel)
8704:3190	Other GVM less than 5 tonnes	2 Tonne trucks whose GVM does not exceed 5 tonnes (Diesel)

Tariff codes and explanation

Importation of vehicles older than 10 years of the above vehicles now require a licence from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Failure of which will attract a fine of ZWL 800 000.00.

Please note you can use our free vehicle duty calculator tool on this website and estimate the duty you might be paid on importation.