Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about importing cars to Ghana with TrendiCars.
What is TrendiCars?▾
A platform for Ghanaian car importers. Calculate duty, estimate profit, track shipments from purchase to sale, and find verified Tema clearing agents. All in one place.
Which countries can I import from?▾
We support 9 left-hand-drive countries: Germany, USA, Canada, South Korea, China, UAE, France, Italy, and Belgium. UK and Japan are not recommended (right-hand drive — incompatible with Ghana traffic).
How accurate is the duty calculator?▾
We use 2026 ICUMS / GRA rates: import duty (5-20%), VAT (12.5%), NHIL (2.5%), GETFund (2.5%), ECOWAS levy, network charge, processing fee, plus age penalties for cars over 5 years. For final figures always confirm with your clearing agent — Ghana's HDV database may value the car differently than the invoice.
Do I have to pay German VAT?▾
No — if you get a 'MwSt-freie Ausfuhrrechnung' (VAT-free export invoice). That saves you 19%. Always ask the dealer for one before paying. Same applies to France (20%), Italy (22%), Belgium (21%).
Why is Ghana car duty so high?▾
Cars older than 10 years carry heavy overage penalties (20-50% extra). The sweet spot is 5-10 year old cars — small penalty (5%) and good resale value. Cars under 5 years have zero overage and the highest margins.
How does the Telegram bot work?▾
After signing up, link your Telegram in Account Settings. When your saved searches match a new car, the bot sends you the deal instantly. Free 24/7, no app store needed. Telegram alerts require Pro plan or higher.
Can I pay with Mobile Money?▾
Yes — Paystack accepts MTN MoMo, Vodafone Cash, and AirtelTigo Money. Card payments and bank transfers also work.
What if I cancel my subscription?▾
Your plan stays active until the end of the paid month, then automatically drops to Free. Your pipeline data, saved searches, and history are never deleted — alerts just pause.
How do I find a clearing agent?▾
Browse the /agents directory for verified Tema-port agents. Always get 3 quotes, demand an itemized breakdown, and never pay 100% upfront.
How long does shipping take?▾
Germany/Belgium → Tema: ~18 days. USA East Coast → Tema: ~26 days. Korea → Tema: ~35 days. China → Tema: ~42 days. UAE → Tema: ~22 days. See /sources for full table.
Can I use TrendiCars to import to a country other than Ghana?▾
Right now duty calculations are Ghana-specific (ICUMS 2026). The profit calculator works for any destination — we just don't model other countries' import taxes yet. Tell us if you'd like Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, etc. added.
Is my payment data safe?▾
Yes. All payments go through Paystack — we never see or store your card or Mobile Money details. We only get a 'success' or 'failed' signal from Paystack.