"How much will it cost to get this car to Ghana?" is the most common question we receive. The honest answer is a set of named parts — some fixed once you approve a vehicle, and some that can only be estimated until the vehicle is assessed at Tema.
1. Costs fixed before shipping
- Vehicle price — the winning bid or dealer price, always within the maximum you authorised.
- Auction fees — buyer, gate and related fees charged by the auction.
- Inland towing — from the auction yard to the shipping facility.
- Pre-shipment inspection — required to obtain the GSA Certificate of Conformity from 1 October 2026.
- Ocean freight — roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) or container, to Tema.
- RNJ service fee — our fee for sourcing, managing and documenting the transaction.
2. Costs estimated until arrival: duties and port charges
Import duty and taxes are assessed by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. As explained by customs officials in July 2026, valuation does not simply start from the price you paid at auction. It starts from a reference value (such as the manufacturer's price or home delivery value) and applies a depreciation schedule by age:
- under 6 months: no depreciation
- 6 months to 1.5 years: 15%
- 1.5 to 2.5 years: 30%
- 2.5 to 5 years: 40%
- over 5 years: up to 50%
The duty rate depends on the vehicle's classification — engine capacity, fuel type, body type and seating — read from the VIN. Reported bands range from 5% (for example buses, trucks and small-engine passenger vehicles) to 20% (for example petrol engines above 3,000cc, diesel above 2,500cc, and hybrid and electric vehicles), with other levies and charges applied on top. Vehicles older than 10 years attract an over-age penalty.
Because the final figure is set by customs at assessment, RNJ marks duties and port charges as "estimate" on your Purchase Agreement, and shows you the official assessment documents when they arrive.
3. The exchange rate
Costs are priced in US dollars. Your agreement states the cedi total at a stated exchange rate and locks it until a stated date. If you pay after that date, we re-issue the agreement at a current rate — no silent changes.
Where the money goes, internally
What you pay is allocated to named buckets — vehicle, auction fees, towing, shipping, clearing, service fee — and tracked against actual costs. It is never a single unexplained number.
General information only — not legal, tax or customs advice. Rules and rates change; check with the relevant authority before relying on any figure.
