Right-Hand-Drive Import Bans and Restrictions: A Country-by-Country Overview

Japanese vehicles are built for left-side driving, which means they are right-hand drive. For many destinations this is a perfect match, but a significant number of countries drive on the right and place restrictions on, or outright prohibit, the permanent registration of right-hand-drive cars. Knowing this before sourcing stock avoids buying a vehicle a customer can never register.

Restrictions tend to cluster in regions where the road network and registration rules are built around left-hand-drive vehicles. Some countries ban right-hand-drive imports for road use entirely, others allow them only for special categories such as utility, agricultural, or collector vehicles, and some permit conversion under strict conditions.

Even where right-hand-drive cars are technically allowed, there can be practical penalties such as higher inspection scrutiny or requirements to relocate controls and lighting. For an export business, the cleaner approach is usually to match right-hand-drive Japanese stock to right-hand-drive markets and to treat conversion as a last resort.

Because these policies shift with national road-safety reforms, never assume a destination accepts right-hand-drive vehicles based on a neighbouring country. Confirm the current rule with the destination's transport or customs authority, or a local registration agent, before shipping any unit.