Send a Car Home as a Gift: The Complete 2026 Gift Scheme Guide

Send a Car Home as a Gift: The Complete 2026 Gift Scheme Guide

Your father's old Corolla finally gave up. Your brother is getting married and needs a car for the family. You've been in Japan for three years, working hard, and you want to send something real back home — not just money in an envelope, but something the whole family will use every day for the next 10 years.

This is exactly what the Gift Scheme is for. Here's everything you need to know, in plain language.

📋 Want the exact official procedure, the real duty savings, and how to avoid getting cheated by fake agents? Read our full deep-dive: Sending a Car from Japan as a Gift — Official Procedure, Tax Savings, and Fraud Protection

The One-Line Answer

You can legally send one car every 850 days (about 2 years and 4 months) from Japan to a relative in Pakistan, duty-concession rates apply, and the recipient cannot sell it for 12 months after it arrives.

Who Can Use It

• You are a Pakistani citizen with genuine, documented income in Japan (payslips, tax records)
• You have not imported, gifted, or received a vehicle in the past 2 years
• The recipient is a real relative in Pakistan

• You are a student living on remittance from home (the rule is specifically written to exclude this — the whole point is you're sending money home, not asking for more)
• You are a non-earning dependent (for example, on a spouse's visa without your own income)

What Kind of Car Can You Send

Step-by-Step: How to Send a Gift Car

What Does It Actually Cost?

Your total cost has several parts, and the auction price is just the starting point:

• FOB price — the winning auction bid in Japan
• Freight/shipping — to Karachi Port
• Marine insurance — usually 1–2% of vehicle value
• Customs duty & taxes — based on engine size, with 1% per month depreciation applied for the car's age. Hybrid vehicles get a real discount: 50% exemption up to 1800cc, 25% exemption from 1800–2500cc
• Port charges & clearing agent fee

Want to know your exact number before you commit to a car? Use our Landed Cost Calculator tool.

Common Mistakes That Cause Delays

• Sending a car that's just over 3 years old — customs checks the manufacture date precisely; "close enough" doesn't work
• Skipping the PSI certificate — as of 2026, cars without it can be held at the port
• Trying to resell within the first year — this isn't just against the rules, it can block the vehicle's registration transfer entirely
• Sending too soon after a previous gift/import — the 850-day clock starts from when the Goods Declaration was filed for your last vehicle, not from today

FAQ

Q: Can I gift a car to a friend, not just family?

The scheme is designed around relatives. Check with a licensed clearing agent about your specific relationship, as documentation requirements can vary.

Q: What if my relative wants to sell the car before 12 months for an emergency?

The 1-year restriction is firm and enforced through the registration system — plan around it rather than assuming an exception.

Q: Is a hybrid car worth the extra cost for a gift?

For a family that will drive it daily for years, often yes — lower duty (25–50% exemption) and much better fuel economy in Pakistan's rising petrol prices usually pay off within a couple of years.

Q: Do I need to travel to Pakistan to complete this?

No — your relative can handle clearance in Pakistan on your behalf using the documents you provide, with a licensed clearing agent.

Q: How long does the whole process take, start to finish?

Typically 8–12 weeks: sourcing and PSI (2–3 weeks), shipping (4–8 weeks), and port clearance (1–2 weeks if documents are ready).

*This guide reflects Pakistan's Gift Scheme rules as amended by SRO 61(I)/2026. Requirements can change — confirm current details with fbr.gov.pk and a licensed clearing agent before shipping.*