• Age Limit:
  
  • Effective 24 January 2026, a new Prime Ministerial decree (Décret n° 26/01) caps the maximum age of imported passenger cars at 15 years (calculated from the year of manufacture). 
  • Agricultural, forestry and mining tractors may be imported up to 20 years. This decree reversed the earlier 2017 regulation that had allowed vehicles up to 20 years.
  • Imported buses with 10 or more seats must be under 7 years of age.
  • Vintage vehicles (≥ 30 years old) are exempt from these age limits.
    
    
• Left‑Hand Drive (LHD) Requirement:
  The DRC mandates left‑hand drive (LHD) vehicles for registration and road use. Right‑hand drive (RHD) vehicles are not permitted.
  
  
• Required Pre‑Export Inspection:
  Every vehicle must possess a Certificate of Technical Inspection (Contrôle Technique) issued by an accredited centre in the country of origin. For vehicles with a FOB value of USD 2,500 or above, a pre‑shipment inspection by BIVAC (Bureau Veritas) is mandatory. The inspection fee is 0.75 % of the FOB value.
  
  
• Container vs. Ro‑Ro:
  Vehicles may be shipped via Roll‑on/Roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) or container. The main port of entry is Matadi, with Dar‑es‑Salaam and Mombasa serving as alternative regional gateways.
  

The national revenue authority is the Direction Générale des Douanes et Accises (DGDA). Import taxes on passenger vehicles are primarily composed of:

1. Customs Duty (Droit d’Entrée)

   • 20 % of the CIF value (Cost, Insurance, Freight) for standard combustion/hybrid vehicles.

   • Fully electric vehicles (EVs) currently benefit from a 100 % customs duty exemption.

2. Value Added Tax (TVA)

   • 16 % calculated on the sum of (CIF Value + Customs Duty).

   • Fully electric vehicles also benefit from a 100 % TVA exemption.

3. Para‑Fiscal Fees

   • Several additional administrative fees are applied to the CIF value, typically totalling approximately 3.5 %. These include the OCC fee (1.5 %), the administrative levy (2 %), the OGEFREM charge (0.58 %), and the FPI contribution (2 %). While exact fee percentages can shift, our calculator incorporates a standard 3.5 % para‑fiscal estimate.

Calculation Formula (Standard Vehicle):

• CIF Value = Purchase Price (FOB) + Freight + Insurance (≈ 1 % of FOB)

• Customs Duty = 20 % × CIF Value

• VAT = 16 % × (CIF Value + Customs Duty)

• Para‑Fiscal Fees ≈ 3.5 % × CIF Value

• Total Customs Payable = Customs Duty + VAT + Para‑Fiscal Fees

• Landed Cost = CIF Value + Total Customs Payable

To legally operate an imported vehicle on DR Congo roads, owners must comply with the Nouveau Code de la Route (Law n° 78/022 of 30 August 1978) and subsequent technical inspection regulations. 

The Arrêté Ministériel du 7 janvier 1998 mandates periodic Contrôle Technique(roadworthiness tests) for all vehicles.

While the primary code focuses on mechanical condition, practical enforcement by the Police de Circulation Routière and the Kinshasa Vehicle Impound and Technical Inspection Authority requires the following mandatory on‑road safety equipment:

Personal Vehicle:

• x2 Warning Triangle(s) (reflective, equilateral)
• x1 Fire Extinguisher (serviceable, approved type) 1 kg minimum
• First‑Aid Kit
• Reflective Safety Vest x1 per occupant
• Spare Wheel, Jack & Wheel‑Spanner

Commercial Vehicle:

• x2 Warning Triangle(s) (reflective, equilateral); plus 2 per trailer
• x1 Fire Extinguisher (serviceable, approved type) 1.5 kg minimum
• First‑Aid Kit
• Reflective Safety Vest x1 per occupant
• Spare Wheel, Jack & Wheel‑Spanner
• Honeycomb Reflectors / Continuous Reflective Tape -  Required on sides & rear of heavy vehicles

Driving Through Other African Countries?

Whilst most countries will have similar mandatory requirements for vehicles on their roads, it is always worth checking before you travel to avoid potential delays or fines. Find out requirements of other countries.