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China car import tax calculator · 2026

What does it cost to import a car into China?

Enter the car you have your eye on and see straight away the tariff, consumption tax, VAT and purchase tax China will charge on a new car. Amounts in yuan.

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In short

China does not allow the import of used cars at all. New cars can be imported — usually through a parallel-import dealer in a pilot zone — at 15 % tariff, a consumption tax of 1–40 % by engine size, 13 % VAT and a 10 % purchase tax. The hard part is not the tax but the licence plate.

used-car imports prohibited
New only
MFN tariff (US-built: check the current rate)
15 %
consumption tax by engine size
1 – 40 %
VAT and purchase tax
13 % + 10 %

Last updated: · Sources & method: every rate is checked against the official source named in the guide; all amounts are indicative.

Calculate the taxes

Customs tariff 2026 · GACC & STA ✓

Origin

The car

Transport

Exemption

Registration & paperwork

Worked examples: what does it cost in practice?

Two typical cars, calculated with this tool for a purchase in Germany. Change any detail in the calculator above to see your own figure.

Volkswagen Golf 1.5 TSI (petrol), 2023, 60,000 km, 125 g/km CO₂

Purchase price:
CN¥171,600
Transport (indicative):
CN¥14,000–CN¥24,000
Import tariffCN¥28,590
Consumption taxCN¥6,779
VAT 13 %CN¥29,376
Vehicle purchase taxCN¥22,597
Inspection & environmental testCN¥2,000
CCC certification & customs brokerCN¥30,000
Registration & platesCN¥500
Number platesCN¥0

Taxes & fees on topCN¥119,842

BMW X5 xDrive30d (diesel), 2021, 90,000 km, 185 g/km CO₂

Purchase price:
CN¥374,400
Transport (indicative):
CN¥14,000–CN¥24,000
Import tariffCN¥59,010
Consumption taxCN¥61,692
VAT 13 %CN¥66,833
Vehicle purchase taxCN¥51,410
Inspection & environmental testCN¥2,000
CCC certification & customs brokerCN¥30,000
Registration & platesCN¥500
Number platesCN¥0

Taxes & fees on topCN¥271,446

Step-by-step guide: importing a car into China

Importing a car into China

China does not allow the import of used cars at all. New cars can be imported — usually through a parallel-import dealer in a pilot zone — at 15 % tariff, a consumption tax of 1–40 % by engine size, 13 % VAT and a 10 % purchase tax. The hard part is not the tax but the licence plate.

Before you buy

  • Only an unregistered new car qualifies. A "demo" or pre-registered car is a used car in the eyes of Chinese customs.
  • Engine size drives the consumption tax: 2.0 L is 5 %, 3.0 L is 25 %, 4.0 L and above 40 % — a V8 costs more in consumption tax than in tariff.
  • Do you have a plate quota? Shanghai auctions plates (about ¥90,000), Beijing runs a lottery with years of waiting; new-energy cars often get a green plate without the quota.
  • The car must obtain CCC (3C) certification; parallel-import dealers do this per vehicle in Tianjin or Shanghai.

Documents you will need

  • Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
  • Automatic import licence (自动进口许可证) obtained by the importer of record
  • CCC certificate for the vehicle and the environmental (China 6) conformity report
  • Customs declaration and the tax payment certificate (关税/消费税/增值税缴款书)
  • Vehicle purchase tax payment certificate
  • Your ID / residence permit and the plate quota certificate of your city

Step by step

  1. 1

    Choose the channel

    Individuals cannot import directly; a parallel-import dealer or trading company in a pilot zone (Tianjin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen) acts as importer of record and applies for the import licence.

  2. 2

    Ship to Tianjin or Shanghai

    RoRo or container from Europe (35–50 days), Japan and Korea (1–2 weeks), the US (25–40 days).

  3. 3

    Customs clearance

    Customs (GACC) assesses the tariff on the CIF value, then the consumption tax on the grossed-up value, then 13 % VAT on the total. The dealer pays and hands you the tax certificates.

  4. 4

    CCC and environmental inspection

    Single-vehicle CCC certification and the emissions/safety inspection at the local vehicle administration office (车管所).

  5. 5

    Purchase tax and registration

    Pay the vehicle purchase tax (10 % of the value excl. VAT; halved for new-energy cars in 2026–27, capped) at the tax bureau, then register with your plate quota and get plates and the vehicle licence.

Traps

  • No plate quota, no registration: buy or secure the quota before the car ships.
  • US-built cars: the extra tariff on US cars has been imposed, suspended and re-imposed several times since 2018 — confirm the rate the week you clear customs.
  • Cars above ¥900,000 (excl. VAT) attract an additional 10 % "ultra-luxury" consumption tax at retail since July 2025.
  • Returning Chinese residents and expats have no duty-free allowance for a car; only diplomats have a separate regime.

Official sources

Run this route in the calculator in yuan, with tariff, consumption tax, VAT and purchase tax.

Calculate for China

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to import a car into China?
New only — used-car imports prohibited
Which taxes do you pay when importing a car into China?
China does not allow the import of used cars at all. New cars can be imported — usually through a parallel-import dealer in a pilot zone — at 15 % tariff, a consumption tax of 1–40 % by engine size, 13 % VAT and a 10 % purchase tax. The hard part is not the tax but the licence plate.
Which documents do you need to import a car into China?
Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading; Automatic import licence (自动进口许可证) obtained by the importer of record; CCC certificate for the vehicle and the environmental (China 6) conformity report; Customs declaration and the tax payment certificate (关税/消费税/增值税缴款书); Vehicle purchase tax payment certificate; Your ID / residence permit and the plate quota certificate of your city.
What are the most common mistakes when importing a car into China?
No plate quota, no registration: buy or secure the quota before the car ships. US-built cars: the extra tariff on US cars has been imposed, suspended and re-imposed several times since 2018 — confirm the rate the week you clear customs. Cars above ¥900,000 (excl. VAT) attract an additional 10 % "ultra-luxury" consumption tax at retail since July 2025. Returning Chinese residents and expats have no duty-free allowance for a car; only diplomats have a separate regime.
Do I pay VAT or customs duty when importing a car into China from another EU country?
New cars only: China does not allow the import of used cars. 15 % MFN tariff on the CIF value, consumption tax by engine size, 13 % VAT and 10 % purchase tax at registration.
What applies when the car comes from outside the EU?
New cars only: China does not allow the import of used cars. 15 % MFN tariff (US-built cars: 25 % — check the current rate), consumption tax by engine size, 13 % VAT and 10 % purchase tax.
What should I check before buying a car to import into China?
Only an unregistered new car qualifies. A "demo" or pre-registered car is a used car in the eyes of Chinese customs. Engine size drives the consumption tax: 2.0 L is 5 %, 3.0 L is 25 %, 4.0 L and above 40 % — a V8 costs more in consumption tax than in tariff. Do you have a plate quota? Shanghai auctions plates (about ¥90,000), Beijing runs a lottery with years of waiting; new-energy cars often get a green plate without the quota. The car must obtain CCC (3C) certification; parallel-import dealers do this per vehicle in Tianjin or Shanghai.

Import into China from another country

Other destinations

These guides describe the usual procedure as of September 2026 and are indicative. Rules, fees and deadlines change and vary by region and office; carimportcalculator.com accepts no liability for decisions based on them. Confirm the steps with the authority named in each guide or a licensed agent before you buy.