Iraq is a large and fast-moving market for Chinese vehicles, but its import rules are in flux and sources disagree on the age limit and duty rate. Vehicles must be left-hand drive and non-armoured. A new specification regime for used imports is expected from 2026.
| Age limit | Sources conflict: some cite a 2-year maximum age, others up to 7 years, and others no current restriction with an 8-year cap under parliamentary discussion for 2026. In the Kurdistan Region, 2024 model-year vehicles are permitted until 1 September 2026. Verify the current rule before shipping. |
|---|---|
| Steering | Left-hand drive only, and the vehicle must be non-armoured (no added armour on body, glass or chassis). |
| Import duty & taxes | Sources conflict significantly: figures cited include 25% duty on petrol vehicles, 15% on hybrids and 12.5% on EVs plus VAT and a reconstruction levy; 8–10% duties and taxes on declared customs value; and zero tariff for Chinese used cars subject to a 12% VAT. Treat all as indicative and confirm before shipping. |
| Main ports / entry | Umm Qasr is the principal sea port for vehicle imports. The Kurdistan Region uses Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports and the Parwizkhan, Ibrahim Khalil, Bashmakh and Haji Omran border crossings, with procedures that may differ from federal Iraq. |
| Authority & certification | Iraqi Customs Service; Ministry of Trade import licence for dealers; Directorate of Traffic for registration. Euro 5 emission compliance is commonly cited for Chinese exports. From early 2026, used imports except new energy vehicles are expected to meet a new safety, emissions and documentation specification. |
| Required documents | Purchase invoice, Certificate of Conformity (Euro 5), original registration documents, export certificate from Chinese authorities, proof of VAT payment where applicable. All documents require certified Arabic translation. |
Figures indicative — sources disagree materially on both the age limit and duty rate for Iraq, and a new specification regime is expected from 2026. Vehicles must be left-hand drive and non-armoured; Kurdistan Region procedures differ. Confirm current rules with Iraqi Customs or your broker before shipping. Sources: Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Iraq (oversees the General Authority of Customs) (mof.gov.iq). Last reviewed 2026-09.
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EZ Auto is based in China (Zhengzhou, Henan) with 15–20 years in the country's car export trade. We export new and used Chinese vehicles across the Middle East, with sea freight to Jebel Ali, Jeddah, Dammam, Sohar, Aqaba, Umm Qasr and Shuaiba, handling China export clearance and full documentation. Local import clearance is arranged by the buyer or a licensed broker; we provide all paperwork and per-country guidance, including the pre-shipment certification that several Gulf markets require. We do not operate local offices in the Middle East — every car is sourced and inspected in China before shipment.
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