🌍 Where to Source Cars
Top marketplaces for buying cars in each source country. All listed countries use LHD (left-hand-drive) cars compatible with Ghana traffic.
🇩🇪
Germany
EUR · €
📦 Port: Hamburg / Bremerhaven
⏱ Transit: ~18 days
💶 RoRo from: €1,000
💸 VAT refund: 19% on export
💡 Ask sellers for a MwSt-freie Ausfuhrrechnung (VAT-free export invoice) — saves 19%.
🇺🇸
United States
USD · $
📦 Port: Newark / Houston / Baltimore
⏱ Transit: ~26 days
💶 RoRo from: $1,735
Marketplaces
💡 Use a US-licensed broker (e.g. AutoBidMaster, ABetterBid) for Copart/IAAI.
🇨🇦
Canada
CAD · C$
📦 Port: Halifax / Montreal
⏱ Transit: ~28 days
💶 RoRo from: C$2,253
Marketplaces
💡 Watch for rust in cars from Quebec/Ontario.
🇰🇷
South Korea
KRW · ₩
📦 Port: Busan / Incheon
⏱ Transit: ~35 days
💶 RoRo from: ₩3,046,100
💸 VAT refund: 10% on export
💡 Hyundai/Kia best value. Korea-Ghana shipping via Busan is well-trodden.
🇨🇳
China
CNY · ¥
📦 Port: Shanghai / Shenzhen
⏱ Transit: ~42 days
💶 RoRo from: ¥14,140
💸 VAT refund: 13% on export
💡 Best for new EVs (BYD, Geely, Chery). Parts availability in Ghana is improving.
🇦🇪
UAE
AED · AED
📦 Port: Jebel Ali (Dubai)
⏱ Transit: ~22 days
💶 RoRo from: AED5,521
💸 VAT refund: 5% on export
Marketplaces
💡 UAE is a re-export hub — many cars are originally from the USA. LHD always.
🇫🇷
France
EUR · €
📦 Port: Le Havre / Marseille
⏱ Transit: ~20 days
💶 RoRo from: €1,100
💸 VAT refund: 20% on export
Marketplaces
💡 Same EU customs rules as Germany. Demande facture HT (VAT-free invoice).
🇮🇹
Italy
EUR · €
📦 Port: Genoa / Livorno
⏱ Transit: ~21 days
💶 RoRo from: €1,200
💸 VAT refund: 22% on export
Marketplaces
💡 Highest EU VAT refund (22%).
🇧🇪
Belgium
EUR · €
📦 Port: Antwerp / Zeebrugge
⏱ Transit: ~18 days
💶 RoRo from: €950
💸 VAT refund: 21% on export
Marketplaces
💡 Antwerp port is the closest Europe→Tema shipping lane.
🔨 Buying at auction?
Copart, IAAI, Manheim (US/CA), Zoll-Auktion (DE), and most Korean platforms are auctions — you don't know the winning bid in advance.
👉 Use the Profit Calculator and open the "Max bid table" after calculating. It tells you exactly how high you can bid to break even, hit €1k profit, €2k profit, etc.
⚠️ Countries we DON'T recommend for Ghana
- 🇬🇧 UK — RHD (right-hand drive); Ghana drives on the right with LHD cars
- 🇯🇵 Japan — RHD; popular for Tanzania/Kenya but not Ghana
- 🇿🇦 South Africa — RHD
- 🇦🇺 Australia — RHD
You CAN convert RHD to LHD but cost (~$2,000+) usually kills the margin.