What are the procedures for importing cars?
2 Answers
Importing cars involves the following procedures: 1. Certificate of Imported Goods: (commonly known as the "Customs Declaration") The full name of the Customs Declaration is the Certificate of Imported Goods, also called the "Dock Receipt". It is a receipt issued by customs and serves as an important "ID card" for parallel imported cars. It is a crucial document for customs clearance. Without this identification, parallel imported cars cannot be registered. 2. Content of the Customs Declaration: It can identify the specific model of the car, and the production location refers to the final place of production, not the country of origin. Parallel imported cars refer to vehicles purchased by traders from overseas markets and introduced into the Chinese market for sale without authorization from the brand manufacturer.
Last year, I imported a used car from Germany, and the whole process was quite time-consuming and labor-intensive. First, I had to obtain the CCC certification, which stands for China Compulsory Certification. This involved contacting the General Administration of Quality Supervision for various tests to ensure compliance with safety standards. Then, I had to prepare a pile of documents, such as invoices, certificates of origin, and emission reports. Next, customs declaration was the most critical step, involving the calculation of import duties, value-added tax, and consumption tax—the tax rates were shockingly high, with the total tax on my car amounting to nearly half of its price. After that, I had to schedule environmental and safety inspections at designated institutions. Only after passing these certifications could I proceed to the vehicle management office for registration, where getting license plates required queuing. The entire process took at least three to four months, and I had to hire an agent to minimize the hassle. I recommend checking the vehicle model catalog in advance, as used cars may face stricter requirements, and budgeting at least an additional 30% of the car’s price for fees. Although the process was cumbersome, the car’s performance is excellent and a joy to drive.
