How to Ship a Car Purchased Abroad Back to China?
2 Answers
The common method is to pay sufficient customs duties with all relevant documents in order and ship the car back to China through customs. Below is a detailed introduction to considerations when purchasing a car abroad: 1. Cars brought from abroad do not have after-sales service: In general, since these cars shipped directly from abroad are not models targeted at the Chinese market, they usually do not come with after-sales service, let alone a corresponding warranty period. The costs of later maintenance and repairs must be borne by the individual, and there are few 4S shops that can provide such services. 2. Car models not listed in the customs catalog are not allowed to be imported: Car models not listed in the customs catalog cannot pass through customs. For example, some used cars, according to relevant national policies, have been prohibited from being imported since July 2010.
Last year I bought a Ford Mustang from the US and decided to ship it back home to save money and get my dream car. The first step was finding a freight company—I opted for container shipping service, which cost around $3,000 and took about a month and a half. The key was hiring a reliable agent to handle customs clearance. They helped prepare the invoice, original manufacturer certificate, and bill of lading. When submitting customs declarations, I had to pay import duties (30%-100% of the car's value) and 10% VAT. After the car arrived at the port, I had to pick it up in person and complete emission and safety tests before registration. My car almost failed the China VI emission standards—costly modifications set me back 5,000 RMB. Though the whole process was expensive and labor-intensive, it was 20% cheaper than buying domestically, plus I got a unique model and gained valuable import experience. I’d recommend checking government websites for regulations before diving in.
