How much is the import tax on cars generally?
4 Answers
The taxes involved in the import of cars generally include customs duty (rates ranging from 25% to 50%), consumption tax (rates ranging from 10% to 45%), and value-added tax (17%). Legal channels: Obtain various domestic certifications and permits, pay taxes normally, and you can import and enjoy preferential tax rates; permits are required; professional automobile import and export companies can apply for import permits from the Ministry of Commerce. Basic taxation: In principle, taxation is based on the actual transaction price. Of course, customs will verify this transaction price. If there is a discrepancy with the market benchmark price, customs will require the verified price to be used as the basis.
I helped a friend check import car taxes the other day and found it quite complicated. The tax rates vary significantly by engine displacement. For example, compact cars with 1.0L engines have a total tax rate around 30%, while large-displacement 4.0L vehicles can exceed 120%. The current tariff is basically 15%, plus consumption tax which is tiered by displacement from 1% to 40%, and finally topped with 13% VAT. Last time I looked at a 3.0T model with a customs-declared price of 500,000 RMB, the taxes came to over 400,000 RMB - almost more than the car's price itself. So if you're seriously considering an imported car, I recommend first checking the latest tax rate table on customs websites or directly consulting professional customs brokers to calculate the total landed cost.
As a car owner who frequently deals with imported vehicles, the most headache-inducing aspect of tariffs is the displacement tax. The policy stipulates a 5% consumption tax for engines between 1.5 to 2.0 liters, but it jumps straight to 40% for engines above 4.0 liters. Last year, I considered buying an American-made pickup truck with a customs declared price of just 380,000 yuan, but due to its 6.2-liter engine, the consumption tax alone was 32%, pushing the total price to more than double that in the U.S. Currently, parallel imports through free trade zones can save some tariffs, but the procedures are quite cumbersome. It's advisable to focus on models below 2.0T, as the comprehensive tax rate is usually kept within 50%. Beyond this displacement, the taxes become excessively harsh.
With a decade of experience in import-export logistics, I've learned the three most critical factors for automobile import taxes: origin, engine displacement, and production year. The base tariff is generally 15%, but Korean vehicles enjoy free trade benefits at just 6%, and electric vehicles qualify for a 50% consumption tax reduction. The comprehensive tax rate for a 2.0L vehicle is approximately 39%, while it suddenly jumps to 66% for 3.0L models. Last year, I handled a vintage German car from the 1960s, which qualified for the antique vehicle tax rate of only 28%. Buyers should pay attention to emission standards—since the implementation of China VI-B last year, many older imported models require additional modification fees of 70,000-80,000 yuan.
