Updated November 2026 This guide now covers 2026, including the Carnet de Passages problems facing overland travellers; for permanent imports by Iranians abroad, see our separate 2025 guide.
Bringing your car to Iran temporarily is possible for foreign tourists, Iranians living abroad and some foreign investors, but the rules depend on who you are and how long you want to stay. The last major overhaul of the temporary import rules came in 2023, when Iran lengthened permits to five months and dropped its ban on American-made cars. This guide explains those rules, what has changed since, and where the process now gets stuck.
Prices for cars already in Iran are a different matter: see our weekly imported car prices and Iran car prices trackers.
Temporary import or permanent import?
These are two separate systems:
- Temporary import lets you drive your own foreign-registered car in Iran for a limited period and then take it out again. You pay no import duty, but you must not sell the car in Iran.
- Permanent import means bringing a car in to keep, register on Iranian plates and pay duties. Iranians resident abroad currently have a dedicated scheme for this, covered in our guide to car import rules for Iranians living abroad.
Iranians living abroad: five months
Under the 2023 rules, Iranian citizens who can show they have lived outside Iran for at least three consecutive months before arrival receive a five-month temporary import permit from customs as standard. Before 2023 the normal permit was two months, with extensions to five only on approval.
Foreign tourists: five months, but the carnet is the catch
The same 2023 changes gave foreign visitors of any nationality up to five months with their own vehicle, replacing the much shorter permits that had applied before. Since March 2024, foreign cars can also drive on their original plates, as long as the registration uses Latin letters and numbers, instead of having to obtain temporary Iranian plates.
To enter, you normally need a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD), a customs guarantee issued by motoring clubs that are members of the FIA or AIT, or another guarantee accepted by Iranian customs. The Touring and Automobile Club of Iran (TACI) is the local partner. The difficulty in 2026 is that many motoring associations abroad have stopped issuing carnets valid for Iran. Some Iranian agencies say they can arrange an alternative customs guarantee case by case, depending on your vehicle, nationality and border crossing, but there is no standard alternative open to everyone. Sort this out well before you set off.
Documents you will need include your passport and visa, the vehicle registration certificate, your driving licence with an International Driving Permit, and details of your planned entry and exit borders. Third-party insurance valid in Iran can be bought at the border.
Foreign investors
The 2023 directive also allowed foreign investors registered under Iran’s Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) to bring in vehicles for business use for up to five years, subject to approval. At the time, an investment of US$300,000 qualified for one car and US$600,000 for up to three, free of duty. Investors should confirm the current terms with the Organization for Investment, Economic and Technical Assistance of Iran and their customs broker.
American cars
From 2016, cars made by GM, Ford, Chrysler, Tesla and other US manufacturers were barred from Iran. The 2023 temporary import rules lifted that ban, so a visiting US-brand car can in principle enter on a temporary permit. Note that the separate 2025 permanent import scheme for Iranians abroad still excludes American brands.
Free zones: one month
Iran’s free trade zones, such as Kish, Qeshm and Aras, kept their own regime: passenger cars may be brought in for one month, with extensions processed fairly quickly. A car admitted to a free zone cannot automatically be driven on the mainland.
Before you go
- We have not been able to confirm that every detail of the 2023 rules still applies in 2026. Check with Iranian customs (IRICA), an Iranian consulate or a specialist customs broker before you travel.
- Never sell or hand over a temporarily imported car in Iran; buying and selling these cars is banned and the penalties are severe.
- Keep every customs document. You will need them to leave with the car, and overstaying the permit can mean fines or seizure.
- Sanctions still complicate payments, insurance and spare parts, especially for less common makes.
This article first appeared in a different form on Tehran Bazaar.
