Can Russian cars be driven in China for a long time?
4 Answers
You can drive a car purchased in Russia to China. It must go through formal procedures according to relevant customs regulations, which currently allow it. Process according to agreements: For countries that have signed bilateral or multilateral transit transport agreements with China, the process should follow those agreements. If there are mutual recognition agreements between governments regarding vehicle license plates and driver's licenses, the process should follow those agreements. The following situations apply: temporary entry is permitted for organized tourism, competitions, and other exchange activities approved by national authorities, and the vehicle can only be driven within a specified range. Important notes: Imported vehicles for long-term residents should be sedans, off-road vehicles, or small passenger vehicles with 9 seats or fewer. Right-hand drive vehicles are not allowed to be imported. For long-term residents, imported motor vehicles subject to taxation cannot be transferred or re-registered until one year after completing vehicle registration procedures with the public security traffic management department.
When it comes to whether Russian cars can be driven long-term in China, I’d like to share my perspective. First, during import, they must pass customs clearance and comply with China’s vehicle safety and environmental standards—otherwise, registration won’t be possible. I know this process can be time-consuming and usually requires hiring a professional importer. For long-term use, local inspection stations may not be familiar with such vehicle models during annual checks, which could cause delays. I recommend consulting with a 4S shop in advance to check for compatible maintenance solutions. While road adaptability is decent, I believe maintenance poses significant risks due to scarce parts availability. If a breakdown occurs, waiting for overseas shipments could disrupt daily use. Overall, it’s legally permitted, but one must carefully handle procedures and secure reliable repair channels.
In our auto repair circles, we often deal with such issues. Russian cars can indeed run domestically for a long time, but spare parts are the real challenge. From my experience, engine components are hard to find, and during maintenance, you often have to use substitutes or second-hand parts, which is time-consuming and costly. This is especially true for older models, where inventory is almost nonexistent. I recommend that car owners stock up on key components or switch to other brands with more readily available parts to reduce hassle. In the long run, reliability depends on maintenance frequency, and it's advisable to check the oil and electrical systems every six months.
I drove a used Lada for commuting for several years and found it fairly reliable. It performed normally on Chinese urban roads with decent acceleration from start. For long-term use, pay attention to fuel compatibility - I had no major issues after switching to China VI standard gasoline. Regular oil and filter changes can extend its lifespan and prevent overheating issues. However, I'd recommend avoiding remote areas due to limited service points.
