Oman allows used private vehicles up to about 7 years old and applies a 5% duty plus 5% VAT. From 1 July 2025 the Royal Oman Police no longer accepts the GCC Clearance Certificate — importers must present an export certificate from the vehicle's country of registration.
What are the rules for importing a car from China into Oman?
Age limit: Private vehicles no more than 7 years old; used trucks and buses no more than 10 years; other equipment no more than 15 years. This limit is enforced by the Royal Oman Police Directorate General of Traffic.
Import duty & taxes: Minimum 5% customs duty on CIF value for most passenger vehicles, plus 5% VAT under the GCC Unified Agreement. Registration levy varies by engine size (for example OMR 20 above 1,500 cc and OMR 50 above 4,500 cc). Technical inspection fee about OMR 5 where required. Vehicles over 3 years must pass inspection before registration.
Authority & certification: Royal Oman Police (Directorate General of Traffic and Directorate General of Customs). An import No Objection Certificate from the ROP is normally required. Omani insurance must be in place at least 24 hours before the vehicle arrives.
Import facts at a glance
Age limit
Private vehicles no more than 7 years old; used trucks and buses no more than 10 years; other equipment no more than 15 years. This limit is enforced by the Royal Oman Police Directorate General of Traffic.
Steering
Left-hand drive only.
Import duty & taxes
Minimum 5% customs duty on CIF value for most passenger vehicles, plus 5% VAT under the GCC Unified Agreement. Registration levy varies by engine size (for example OMR 20 above 1,500 cc and OMR 50 above 4,500 cc). Technical inspection fee about OMR 5 where required. Vehicles over 3 years must pass inspection before registration.
Main ports / entry
Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat is the common entry point; the port of Sohar also handles container shipments.
Authority & certification
Royal Oman Police (Directorate General of Traffic and Directorate General of Customs). An import No Objection Certificate from the ROP is normally required. Omani insurance must be in place at least 24 hours before the vehicle arrives.
Required documents
Original title or export certificate from the country of registration, ROP No Objection Certificate, bill of lading, commercial invoice, valid passport and residence card, proof of duty and tax payment, insurance policy. From July 2025 the GCC Clearance Certificate is no longer accepted.
Figures indicative. Oman caps private vehicle imports at about 7 years, requires left-hand drive, and from 1 July 2025 requires an export certificate from the country of registration instead of the GCC Clearance Certificate. Duty is a minimum 5% plus 5% VAT. Confirm current rules at rop.gov.om or customs.gov.om. Sources: Royal Oman Police, customs (rop.gov.om); Oman Customs (customs.gov.om). Last reviewed 2026-09.
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.
FAQ
Can EZ Auto ship cars to the Middle East?
Yes. We export new and used Chinese vehicles to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, with full export documents and sea freight to the main regional ports. Import clearance is handled by you or a local broker; we supply all paperwork.
What is GCC specification and does my car need it?
GCC specification is the Gulf common standard covering cooling capacity for extreme heat, safety systems, emissions and labelling. Most Gulf markets require imported vehicles to comply, and non-compliant cars may need modification before registration. Because retrofits cost money and time, we confirm the specification of the exact model before you order.
Which Middle East market has the strictest vehicle age limit?
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are among the strictest, generally capping used passenger cars at 5 years; Oman allows about 7 years for private vehicles. Iraq's rules are in flux, with several sources citing a 2-year cap and a new specification regime expected from 2026. Because these limits are enforced at the port and change periodically, always confirm with the destination customs before shipping.
Do I need pre-shipment certification for the Gulf?
Often yes. Saudi Arabia requires a SASO Certificate of Conformity registered on the SABER platform, and for used vehicles a physical inspection by a SASO-approved body, completed before the vessel departs. Other Gulf markets require certificates of conformity or pre-shipment inspection at origin. We flag the specific certificate your destination needs before you book.
Do you handle import clearance in my country?
Export clearance in China is on us. Import clearance is handled by you or your local broker; we supply all documents and advise on requirements per country.
Oman — Buyer reviews
Real feedback from importers in this market
Import a car from China?
Get today's price and a delivery estimate to your country.
