How Much Does It Cost to Ship One Used Car from China to Ghana? A Real 2020 Toyota RAV4 CIF Case
If you buy only one used car from China, you do not always have to pay for an entire container by yourself.
In this real shipment handled by Seek Motors in early 2026, a buyer purchased one used 2020 Toyota RAV4 and shared a 40HQ container with other vehicles being shipped from Nansha Port in China to Tema Port in Ghana.
The buyer’s total cost before Ghana-side customs clearance was RMB 85,000 plus USD 2,000. This included the vehicle, China-side transport, export licence handling, allocated port charges, ocean freight and cargo insurance.
This was a historical transaction, not a current quotation. Ghana import duties, destination-port charges, customs clearance, registration and local delivery were not included.
Real Shipment Overview
The vehicle in this case was:
Model: 2020 Toyota RAV4
Engine: 2.0L gasoline
Mileage: approximately 40,000 km
Photographed mileage: 40,342 km
Colour: white
Quantity: one vehicle
Port of loading: Nansha Port, Guangzhou, China
Destination: Tema Port, Ghana
Shipping method: shared 40HQ container
The vehicle had previous bodywork and repainting. It was not presented as an original-paint or verified accident-free vehicle. Available exterior photos, interior photos, mileage evidence and condition information were shared with the buyer before the purchase was confirmed.
Actual Cost Breakdown
The vehicle selling price was RMB 80,000.
The additional China-side and shipping costs were:
Delivery to Nansha Port: RMB 500
Used-vehicle export licence handling: RMB 2,000
Allocated China-side port charges: RMB 2,500
Allocated ocean freight and cargo insurance to Tema: USD 2,000
The total before Ghana-side charges was therefore:
RMB 85,000 plus USD 2,000.
The original currencies have been retained because converting the transaction using today’s exchange rate would create a misleading historical total.
The RMB 2,000 export licence handling amount should not be treated as a universal Chinese government fee. Export-related costs can vary depending on the vehicle and the export arrangement.
Why Did One Car Pay Only Part of the Container Cost?
At the time of booking, the ocean freight for the complete 40HQ container was USD 5,800. The complete container’s China-side port charges were RMB 7,000.
However, this customer purchased only one RAV4. Seek Motors arranged for the vehicle to share the container with other cars travelling to the same destination.
The customer therefore paid:
RMB 2,500 as the RAV4’s allocated share of the port charges
USD 2,000 as its allocated share of the ocean freight and cargo insurance
A 40HQ container can generally carry three or four vehicles in our loading arrangements. The exact number depends on the size, height, wheelbase and combination of the vehicles being loaded.
Three large SUVs do not occupy a container in the same way as four smaller cars. For this reason, the cost of one position cannot always be calculated by simply dividing the full container price by four.
The RAV4 was positioned on a vehicle-loading rack and secured with tie-down straps inside the container. This loading arrangement uses the container’s height more efficiently and allows multiple vehicles to be loaded safely.
Is USD 2,000 a Fixed Shipping Price to Ghana?
No. USD 2,000 was the allocated freight-and-insurance amount for this specific RAV4 shipment.
In quotations handled by Seek Motors for the Nansha-to-Tema route, the ocean freight for a complete 40HQ container has ranged from approximately USD 4,800 at the lower end to more than USD 7,000 at the higher end.
The full-container ocean freight in this particular case was USD 5,800.
Shipping prices can change because of:
The shipping line
Sailing dates and available space
Seasonal demand
Port congestion
The number and size of vehicles
Availability of a suitable shared container
Insurance arrangements
China-side port and terminal charges
A freight quotation without the destination port, vehicle model, year and quantity is only an estimate.
What Was Included in the Cost to Tema?
For this transaction, the quoted amount covered:
The used Toyota RAV4
Delivery of the vehicle to Nansha Port
Export licence handling
The vehicle’s allocated China-side port charges
The vehicle’s allocated ocean freight to Tema
Cargo insurance for the shipment
This was the agreed CIF-related cost scope to Tema Port. It was not a complete landed-cost quotation for Ghana.
What Was Not Included?
The following Ghana-side costs were not included:
Ghana import duties and taxes
Shipping-line charges collected at the destination
Tema terminal and port charges
Customs-agent or clearing fees
Storage or demurrage caused by delayed clearance
Vehicle registration and number plates
Local transport after the vehicle leaves Tema Port
The Ghana Revenue Authority explains that a vehicle’s likely duty is checked in ICUMS using information including its VIN, make, model and year. It also identifies the Bill of Lading or waybill and vehicle title as relevant clearing documents.
Because Ghana import duties depend on vehicle-specific information and current customs calculations, it would be inaccurate to add a generic tax percentage to this case.
Importers should confirm the estimated duty and destination charges using the Ghana Revenue Authority’s official vehicle importation guidance or a qualified local clearing agent before purchasing a vehicle.
How the Transaction Worked
1. The Buyer Selected the Vehicle
The buyer chose a used 2020 Toyota RAV4 with a 2.0L gasoline engine and approximately 40,000 km.
Seek Motors confirmed the available vehicle information, condition and selling price.
2. The Vehicle Condition Was Reviewed
Exterior photographs, interior photographs, mileage evidence and the known bodywork and repainting were disclosed before the buyer confirmed the purchase.
Used-car condition descriptions should be based on evidence. If the available records do not support a claim such as “accident-free,” an exporter should not make that claim.
For overseas buyers who cannot inspect a vehicle in China, detailed photos, videos and honest disclosure are more useful than a vague promise that a car is “perfect.”
3. China-Side Export Costs Were Calculated
The quotation separated the vehicle price, delivery to Nansha Port, export licence handling and the vehicle’s allocated share of the port charges.
This made it clear which costs belonged to the vehicle and which costs belonged to the shipment.
4. A Shared 40HQ Container Was Arranged
Instead of charging the one-car buyer the complete USD 5,800 ocean freight, the RAV4 was consolidated with other vehicles.
The customer’s allocated ocean freight and cargo insurance amounted to USD 2,000.
5. The Vehicle Was Secured for Shipment
The RAV4 was positioned on a loading rack and secured with straps inside the 40HQ container for shipment to Tema Port.
This case documents the vehicle, the cost structure and the China-side loading process. It does not include Ghana customs clearance or final delivery to the customer.
Can You Ship Only One Used Car from China to Ghana?
Yes, if a suitable shared-container arrangement is available.
The customer in this case purchased one vehicle and paid an allocated share of the port charges, ocean freight and insurance instead of paying for the entire container.
However, shared-container space is not guaranteed for every sailing. The exporter must find compatible vehicles, a safe loading plan and other shipments using the same destination route.
If no suitable consolidation is available, the buyer may need to wait for another sailing or consider a different shipping arrangement.
For dealers purchasing several vehicles, booking a complete 40HQ container generally provides more control over loading and scheduling. For a one-car buyer, consolidation can reduce the shipping cost compared with paying for a complete container alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did this Toyota RAV4 cost to ship from China to Ghana?
The complete cost before Ghana-side clearance was RMB 85,000 plus USD 2,000.
This consisted of an RMB 80,000 vehicle price, RMB 500 delivery to Nansha, RMB 2,000 export licence handling, RMB 2,500 allocated port charges, and USD 2,000 allocated ocean freight and cargo insurance to Tema.
Does this price include Ghana customs duty?
No. Ghana import duty, destination-port charges, clearing-agent fees, registration and local delivery were not included.
Why did the customer pay USD 2,000 when the full container freight was USD 5,800?
The customer purchased one vehicle and shared the 40HQ container with other vehicles. USD 2,000 was the RAV4’s allocated ocean-freight and cargo-insurance amount for that shipment.
How many cars can fit inside a 40HQ container?
A 40HQ can generally carry three or four vehicles in our loading arrangements. The actual number depends on the size and combination of the vehicles.
Is USD 2,000 the current cost of shipping one car to Tema?
No. It was the amount charged for this historical transaction. Freight rates and shared-container availability change continuously.
A current quotation requires the destination port, vehicle model, year and quantity.
Can an overseas buyer inspect a used car before purchasing?
Yes. Buyers should request current exterior and interior photographs, mileage evidence, detailed videos and all available vehicle-condition information before confirming a purchase.
Request a Current China-to-Ghana Quotation
This RAV4 case shows that a buyer purchasing one used car may be able to use a shared 40HQ container instead of paying the full container cost.
It does not mean every RAV4 or every sailing will have the same price.
To request a current quotation from Seek Motors, send:
Destination port
Vehicle model and preferred year
Quantity
Target budget
Browse the current vehicle inventory on the Seek Motors website or contact our export team through the WhatsApp inquiry button.
For a broader explanation of the process, read our guide to importing used cars from China to West Africa.