Importing a car to Algeria: the complete guide
Who can import, which vehicles are accepted, what it really costs and the steps you go through.
Can you import a car to Algeria?
Yes. Importing is allowed under strict conditions: a petrol, hybrid or electric vehicle (diesel is excluded for private individuals), compliance with an engine-capacity cap and an age limit that depend on your scheme, and payment in your own foreign currency.
The real bottleneck: foreign currency
This is the point most guides leave unsaid. A private individual can import only with their own foreign currency: access to the State’s foreign exchange reserves is reserved for approved economic operators, including for paying the freight.
In practice, a resident with no euros cannot import, whatever their resources in dinars. That is why the diaspora plays a central role in almost every import that goes through.
The four import schemes
- CCR (change of residence) — for Algerians living abroad who are returning for good. The most favourable scheme in tax terms.
- Moudjahid licence — full or partial exemption for those entitled to it.
- Standard customs clearance — full customs duties, with no particular status required.
- Used vehicle under 3 years old — for residents in Algeria, with strict constraints on the vehicle.
The same vehicle does not have anything like the same final price from one scheme to another. That is the first question to settle, before even choosing a model.
What it costs
The purchase price of the vehicle is only part of the bill. To it you have to add the sea freight, the customs duties and taxes, and the service fee if you go through an intermediary.
The steps
- Work out your import scheme, and therefore what you are eligible for.
- Choose a vehicle that meets the constraints of that scheme.
- Check the vehicle’s actual condition before any commitment.
- Pay for the purchase and the transport in foreign currency.
- Follow the shipment through to the Algerian port.
- Complete customs clearance, then registration.
Information verified on 25 July 2026. Algerian regulations change regularly: we update these pages with every change we know about, and we always state the date. If you are unsure about your situation, have it confirmed by an approved customs broker.
Also worth reading
- Which vehicles can you import to Algeria?
Engine type, engine capacity, age, condition: the criteria that get a vehicle accepted or refused at customs.
- CCR: importing your car when you return for good
The change-of-residence scheme is the most advantageous — but it is reserved for those coming home for good.
- What does importing a car to Algeria really cost?
A full breakdown of the landed, customs-cleared price: what you pay, to whom, and when.