Pakistan Removes Age Limit on Used Car Imports (July 2026)

A significant, and currently underreported-in-general-conversation, change to Pakistan's vehicle import rules took effect this month. As of July 1, 2026, the age limit on importing used cars has been removed entirely — but it comes bundled with a tighter restriction on how individuals can actually use that new flexibility.

What Actually Changed

Previously, used car imports into Pakistan were capped at 5 years old (this limit applied right up until June 2026). From July 1, 2026 onward, that age cap is gone. Per Dawn's coverage of the roadmap, quality and compliance standards remain mandatory regardless — this is a change to the age restriction specifically, not a removal of all import standards.

The Bigger Catch: Personal Baggage Scheme Removed

At the same time, and arguably more consequential for everyday buyers, SRO 61(I)/2026 — issued by the Ministry of Commerce on January 15, 2026 — removed the Personal Baggage scheme from the Import Policy Order 2022. That scheme was historically one of the more accessible routes for individuals to bring in a car from abroad.

What's left, per DrivePK's reporting:

• Gift scheme — you can gift a car up to 3 years old to a blood relative, once every 2 years.
• Transfer of Residence scheme — available if you've spent at least 700 days abroad within the last 3 years, allowing import of a vehicle up to 3 years old.

Both routes are narrower than the removed Personal Baggage scheme, and both carry their own eligibility conditions.

Who's Not Eligible

Reporting specifies that certain groups are excluded from these remaining schemes: students receiving remittances from Pakistan, non-earning dependents, and anyone who has already imported, gifted, or received a vehicle within the past two years.

The Duty Structure

A new 40% regulatory duty applies on top of existing duties and taxes for these imports — but it's not a permanent flat rate. It's set to step down over time: 30% in 2026, 20% in 2027, 10% in 2028, and fully eliminated by July 1, 2029. If you're weighing an import decision, the timing of that phase-down is genuinely worth factoring in.

What This Means If You're Considering an Import

• The age-limit lift alone doesn't make importing easier for most people — the Personal Baggage route being removed is the bigger practical constraint for anyone without overseas residency or an eligible relative under the Gift scheme.
• If you qualify under Transfer of Residence or Gift, the age cap on eligible imports (3 years) is unrelated to the newly-lifted general age limit — don't confuse the two; the general lift matters more for other import categories, not necessarily these two personal schemes specifically.
• If importing isn't realistically an option for you, buying an already-imported vehicle locally remains the simpler path — see our guide to buying safely in Pakistan for what to check regardless of a car's import history.

We'll keep this updated as the duty phase-down schedule progresses and if further clarifications to the schemes are issued.