Do imported cars have a certificate of conformity?

[McAliyah]

Imported cars do have a certificate of conformity, but depending on the dealer, some provide it with the vehicle while others may withhold it for an extended period. The certificate of conformity is a crucial document for vehicles, serving as a mandatory requirement for vehicle registration and licensing. Only vehicles with this certificate meet the national standards for motor vehicle equipment quality and related regulations, thereby qualifying for road registration. Other important vehicle documents include the purchase invoice, which serves as vital proof during the car-buying process and is also one of the required documents for vehicle registration. Therefore, when purchasing a car, it is essential to request the purchase invoice from the dealer and verify its validity.

[AdalineMarie]

Last time I helped a friend pick up an imported BMW, I paid special attention to the documentation. Imported vehicles don’t have the green-colored certificate of conformity like domestically produced cars; instead, they come with a blue A4-sized document called the 'Certificate of Imported Goods,' known in the industry as the 'Customs Clearance Document.' This document is essentially the ID card of an imported car, printed with the VIN, engine number, and importer information. Without it, the DMV won’t issue a license plate! When picking up the car, the dealership will provide you with three key documents: the Customs Clearance Document, the Imported Motor Vehicle Inspection Sheet, and the Vehicle Conformity Certificate—keep them safe and don’t lose them. Pay special attention to the embossed anti-counterfeit stamp in the lower right corner of the Customs Clearance Document; the DMV will inspect it using UV light to verify the anti-counterfeit mark.

[Santiago]

Having played with used cars for ten years, I never dare to accept imported vehicles without the customs clearance document. This thin blue piece of paper determines whether the car can be legally transferred, serving as the birth certificate for imported cars. Once, a client brought in a Middle East-spec Land Cruiser whose customs document was lost by the previous owner—it took three months to get a replacement. Here’s a reminder: always transfer the customs document with the car when selling, and never store it separately from the purchase invoice. Some parallel importers now offer electronic backups of the document, but DMVs only accept the original paper version. After paying the purchase tax, remember to laminate the customs document and invoice together, as humid weather can cause the ink to smudge.

[DiBraxton]

A friend from customs told me that imported vehicles need to pass three checkpoints to clear customs: tariff payment, commodity inspection, and 3C certification. The Certificate of Import is the clearance pass issued by customs, which specifies the vehicle's origin and the port of entry. Interestingly, the customs documents for US-spec vehicles have an additional yellow reflective verification strip compared to China-spec vehicles. There are some new policies now, such as the Middle East versions requiring an additional particulate emission test page in the commodity inspection documents starting this year. Buyers of parallel-imported vehicles should note that models with modified lights or tires might get stuck during the commodity inspection process.