Can a car purchased abroad be brought back to China for registration?
2 Answers
Yes, but proper customs clearance and tax procedures are required before it can be registered in China. Customs duty issue: Chinese customs calculate duties for vehicles under 40,000 kilometers as new cars. The only difference is that used cars generally don't require the original invoice. Remember, never provide the original invoice under any circumstances. Additionally, it's best to purchase models that are already approved for import in China, otherwise, it could be troublesome if there's no record with customs. Shipping arrangement: In the U.S., it's generally simpler as there are many international freight companies listed in the yellow pages. Just call and ask if they specialize in vehicle transportation and inquire about the price. Shipping costs should already include insurance, port miscellaneous fees, etc.
When I was studying in Japan two years ago, I bought a used car and wanted to bring it back to China to drive after graduation. After returning, I realized that getting it licensed wasn't so simple—it had to go through customs inspection and required paying a bunch of taxes, like tariffs and VAT, which added up to more than the cost of the car itself. It took me several months to handle the import permit and emissions testing because the car had to meet Chinese standards, otherwise it wouldn't pass. In the end, I managed to get it done, but the process was quite a hassle. My advice is, if you really want to bring a car from abroad, check the local policies first to see if it's worth it. Personally, I think it's possible to bring a car back and get it licensed, but it's time-consuming and labor-intensive—better to calculate the costs carefully before taking action.
