Whether a left-hand-drive car can be imported is a legal question. Whether it will sell is a commercial one. A dealer in a left-driving country needs both answers before buying, and they are not always the same.
The short version
- Some countries require imported used cars to be right-hand drive; Kenya and Sri Lanka are examples.
- Others, such as the UK, set no such requirement in their import guidance.
- Right-hand-drive stock comes from countries that drive on the left.
- A conversion changes steering, pedals and often lights, and may need engineering approval afterwards.
Steering rules, in one paragraph
In a country that drives on the left, a car with the steering wheel on the right is the norm. Some such countries make right-hand drive a condition of importing a used vehicle; others allow left-hand drive with extra approval or with no extra step at all. Check the destination's rule, then check what your buyers will accept.
Where right-hand-drive stock comes from
| Source market | Traffic keeps to the | Domestic stock |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Left | Right-hand drive |
| United Kingdom | Left | Right-hand drive |
| Thailand | Left | Right-hand drive |
| India | Left | Right-hand drive |
| Australia | Left | Right-hand drive |
| New Zealand | Left | Right-hand drive |
| United Arab Emirates | Right | Left-hand drive, with some right-hand-drive re-exports |
The UAE is the market where the steering question bites. Its domestic stock is left-hand drive; right-hand-drive cars do appear there, but usually as re-exports that arrived from another market. See importing cars from the UAE as a dealer.
A legal rule and a resale question are different things
- Where right-hand drive is required — Kenya's revenue authority states that an imported used vehicle must be right-hand drive, and Sri Lanka's licence guidelines say the same — a left-hand-drive car is not an option at any price.
- Where it is allowed with an extra step — Cyprus's government business portal lists a Single Vehicle Approval form for registering a left-hand-drive car — the car can be registered, at extra time and cost.
- Where no rule is stated — GOV.UK's import guidance sets no right-hand-drive requirement — the question becomes whether local buyers want the car, and at what discount.
What does your country require?
| Country | Steering |
|---|---|
| GOV.UK's import guidance sets no right-hand-drive requirement, so a left-hand-drive car can be imported and registered once it passes approval and the MOT. | |
| Revenue's import guidance sets no right-hand-drive requirement for registering a car. | |
| The Transport Malta documents checked set no right-hand-drive requirement; confirm with Transport Malta before buying left-hand-drive stock. | |
| A left-hand-drive car can be registered with an extra Single Vehicle Approval form (TOM 139B), according to the government's business portal. | |
| An imported used vehicle must be right-hand drive. | |
| Tanzania drives on the left; confirm the steering rule for your vehicle class with TRA and TBS before buying left-hand-drive stock. | |
| Uganda drives on the left; confirm the steering rule for your vehicle class with URA before buying left-hand-drive stock. | |
| Mauritius drives on the left; MRA's page sets no steering rule, so confirm it with the National Land Transport Authority before buying left-hand-drive stock. | |
| Jamaica drives on the left; confirm the steering rule for your vehicle class with the Trade Board before buying left-hand-drive stock. | |
| Used right-hand-drive vehicles are imported under a licence from the Trade Licence Unit. | |
| New Zealand drives on the left; NZTA's vehicle standards govern whether a left-hand-drive car can be certified, so check them before buying one. | |
| The Import and Export Control Department's licence guidelines require an imported vehicle to be right-hand drive. |
Choose a country for its full rules and the official sources, checked 27 October 2026.
Steering · United Kingdom
GOV.UK's import guidance sets no right-hand-drive requirement, so a left-hand-drive car can be imported and registered once it passes approval and the MOT.
Sources for United Kingdom, checked 27 October 2026:
- Importing vehicles into the UK — GOV.UK
- Vehicle approval — GOV.UK (DVSA)
Steering · Ireland
Revenue's import guidance sets no right-hand-drive requirement for registering a car.
Sources for Ireland, checked 27 October 2026:
- Importing a vehicle into Ireland — Citizens Information
Steering · Malta
The Transport Malta documents checked set no right-hand-drive requirement; confirm with Transport Malta before buying left-hand-drive stock.
Sources for Malta, checked 27 October 2026:
- Registering a vehicle — documents required — Transport Malta
Steering · Cyprus
A left-hand-drive car can be registered with an extra Single Vehicle Approval form (TOM 139B), according to the government's business portal.
Sources for Cyprus, checked 27 October 2026:
- Running and growing your business — registering a vehicle — Business in Cyprus (Government of Cyprus)
- Road Transport Department — Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works
Steering · Kenya
An imported used vehicle must be right-hand drive.
Sources for Kenya, checked 27 October 2026:
- Importation procedure for motor vehicles — Kenya Revenue Authority
Steering · Tanzania
Tanzania drives on the left; confirm the steering rule for your vehicle class with TRA and TBS before buying left-hand-drive stock.
Sources for Tanzania, checked 27 October 2026:
Steering · Uganda
Uganda drives on the left; confirm the steering rule for your vehicle class with URA before buying left-hand-drive stock.
Sources for Uganda, checked 27 October 2026:
- Uganda Revenue Authority — URA
Steering · Mauritius
Mauritius drives on the left; MRA's page sets no steering rule, so confirm it with the National Land Transport Authority before buying left-hand-drive stock.
Sources for Mauritius, checked 27 October 2026:
- Customs — motor vehicles — Mauritius Revenue Authority
- National Land Transport Authority — NLTA
Steering · Jamaica
Jamaica drives on the left; confirm the steering rule for your vehicle class with the Trade Board before buying left-hand-drive stock.
Sources for Jamaica, checked 27 October 2026:
- Motor Vehicle Import Policy (Ministry Paper 36/14) — Trade Board Limited
Steering · Trinidad and Tobago
Used right-hand-drive vehicles are imported under a licence from the Trade Licence Unit.
Sources for Trinidad and Tobago, checked 27 October 2026:
- Declaration for licence to import a used right-hand-drive vehicle — Ministry of Trade, Investment & Tourism
- Trade Licence Unit — Ministry of Trade, Investment & Tourism
Steering · New Zealand
New Zealand drives on the left; NZTA's vehicle standards govern whether a left-hand-drive car can be certified, so check them before buying one.
Sources for New Zealand, checked 27 October 2026:
- Importing a used vehicle — NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Steering · Sri Lanka
The Import and Export Control Department's licence guidelines require an imported vehicle to be right-hand drive.
Sources for Sri Lanka, checked 27 October 2026:
- Importation of a used motor vehicle under import control licence — Department of Import and Export Control
Where the section says the authority sets no rule in the sources checked, that is what it means: no requirement was found, not that left-hand drive is welcome. Confirm with the registration authority before buying left-hand-drive stock.
Why conversions rarely pay
Converting a car from left- to right-hand drive moves the steering rack, the pedal box and the dashboard, and can affect headlamps, wipers and airbags. Many countries then require the converted car to pass an engineering or approval inspection. For a single specialist car the sums can work; for volume stock, buying right-hand drive at source is almost always simpler. Where your country requires right-hand drive at import, also check whether a converted car is accepted at all.
Steering is one of three rules that set your shortlist, with age limits and pre-shipment inspection. To see which markets survive all three, read the best country to import cars from. When the cars are chosen, you can send a dealer inquiry. The full process is in the dealer's guide to sourcing cars overseas.