Car Shipping UK to Ghana — Full Guide (2026)

Ghana receives around 7,500 UK vehicles annually through Tema Port (and a smaller volume via Takoradi). The Ghanaian market has historically been a steady absorber of UK Tokunbo stock but the 2020 Customs (Amendment) Act introduced steep age-based penalty rates that reshaped what's economic to ship. This 2026 guide covers Tema clearance, the punitive penalty schedule on cars over 10 years old and DVLA Ghana registration.

Per saloon door-to-port from UK Midlands. RoRo to Tema: £1,195, transit 18–22 days. Container shared 40ft: £1,495, transit 22–28 days. Sole 20ft container: £1,795. SUVs +£200. Sailings via Tilbury weekly. Tema is more efficient than Lagos — average dwell 4 days vs 10 in Nigeria. Takoradi alternative adds £100 and serves western Ghana hinterland. See Ghana destination page.

Ghana imposes punitive penalty rates on vehicles over 10 years old, designed to discourage old-vehicle imports. Schedule on top of standard 20% duty: 10–12 years +5% penalty; 12–15 years +20%; over 15 years +50%. A 15-year-old car carries 40% total duty plus 15% VAT plus 2.5% NHIL = ~57% on CIF. This makes anything over 10 years uneconomic for resale. Ship newer stock (2017+) for best margins.

Documents: Bill of Lading, commercial invoice, V5C, passport, IDF (Import Declaration Form), GCNet entry. Duty 20% standard, plus VAT 15%, NHIL 2.5%, GETFund Levy 2.5%, ECOWAS Levy 0.5%, Special Import Levy 2% = ~42.5% combined on under-10-year vehicles. Clearance 5–9 working days with GRA-licensed agent. Total destination charges £850–£1,250. Ghana Revenue Authority runs the customs valuation system.

Once cleared, register at DVLA Ghana office (Accra, Kumasi, Tema). Required: cleared customs receipt, valid Ghanaian insurance, vehicle inspection at DVLA, proof of address. Plates issued within 5 working days. RHD permitted (Ghana drives on right; UK-spec RHD legal but inconvenient). Most exporters target the LHD market by sourcing UK-registered ex-fleet cars. Annual road worthiness inspection required.

Top UK exports 2026: Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, Nissan X-Trail, VW Touareg. Ghana favours Toyota over European brands by 3:1 margin. Saloons stronger than SUVs in volume. Dual-cab pickups for trade. Avoid old diesel — emissions enforcement tightening. See destination customs guide for broker matching.

UK to Ghana car shipping in 2026 starts at £1,195 RoRo to Tema with 18–22 day transit. Tema is more efficient than Lagos but Ghana's age-based penalty schedule makes vehicles over 10 years old uneconomic to ship. Focus on 2017+ Toyota/Honda saloons for the Accra and Kumasi resale market.

Shipping to Africa? Get a fixed quote or WhatsApp +44 (0)1495 320540.