Used Car Import Regulations in Mongolia
Mongolia has no legal import age ban, but registration in Ulaanbaatar is limited to vehicles within 10 years of manufacture. Excise tax rises sharply for vehicles over 10 years old, making their import practically difficult.
LHD and RHD allowed
No fixed age limit
Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.
Import Eligibility
- Nationwide import rules: there is no legal age ban, but registration in Ulaanbaatar (UB) has been limited to vehicles within 10 years of manufacture (effective June 2024; a temporary complete suspension of issuance was also imposed from November of the same year).
- Provincial registration: registration may be possible in the provinces (Aimags), but since such vehicles cannot be used or resold in UB, the main market, demand for vehicles over 10 years old has fallen sharply.
- LHD/RHD: both can be imported. However, RHD vehicles (Japanese cars) are strongly affected by the age restriction.
Import Duties & Taxes
1. Import duty: flat 5% (of the CIF value)
2. VAT: 10% (of CIF + duty + excise tax)
3. Excise tax: levied according to displacement and vehicle age; jumps sharply for vehicles over 10 years old.
(Example: 1,500cc or less)
- 0–3 years: ~750,000 MNT
- 4–9 years: ~1,600,000 MNT
- 10+ years: ~10,000,000 MNT (approx. 430,000 yen) *so high that import is practically difficult
*Hybrids (HEV) and EVs: excise exemptions or reductions apply (EVs are exempt; partial taxation of hybrids is being considered, so check the latest notices).
Vehicle Condition
- For registration in Ulaanbaatar, there is a move toward mandatory pre-export technical inspection.
- Vehicles with missing catalytic converters or significant oil leaks may face problems in customs clearance or registration due to environmental regulations.
Required Documents
- Export Certificate (deregistration certificate)
- Commercial Invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Sales contract
- Freight statement
Steering (RHD/LHD) Rules
Both LHD and RHD are permitted.
(*However, as noted above, the age restriction in UB has raised the hurdle for registering older Japanese cars.)
Shipping Methods
Rail transport via Tianjin (China), or truck transport via Vladivostok, etc.
*Always check risks such as container congestion on the Chinese side.
Sources
Mongolian Customs
Information is current as of the verification date. Please check with the relevant government authorities for the latest information.