What are the procedures for parallel imported vehicles?
2 Answers
Parallel imported vehicles require the following procedures: 1. Certificate of Imported Goods, which includes the vehicle name, customs declaration company, chassis number, engine number, production date, etc.; 2. Inspection Sheet for Imported Motor Vehicles, stamped by the National CIQ Inspection and Quarantine Bureau; 3. Mandatory Product Certification Vehicle Conformity Certificate, with the conformity certificate on the front and the environmental protection list on the back; 4. Environmental Protection List; 5. Invoice, which states the invoiced price of the vehicle and taxpayer information. Parallel import refers to vehicles imported directly from the product's country of origin by importers other than the general distributor, and its import channels are parallel to the domestic authorized distribution channels, as opposed to standard domestic models.
Last year, I purchased a parallel-imported Mercedes-Benz, and the entire process was quite cumbersome. First, the agent helped arrange the import contract and certificate of origin, which took several weeks just to prepare the documents. Then, during customs clearance, there was a pile of paperwork like the customs declaration, invoices, and bills of lading—plus hefty taxes: 25% tariff, 13% VAT, and potential consumption tax. After clearance, the vehicle had to undergo environmental and safety testing at a certification center, including emissions and brake inspections. My car failed the headlight test initially, requiring additional repairs and costs to pass and obtain the conformity certificate. The biggest hassle was registering the car—waiting in line at the DMV for inspection, passing the testing line, and then paying a few hundred yuan for the license plate. The agent’s fee alone cost several thousand, and the whole process took two months. While it didn’t save much compared to a regular purchase, the freedom to choose the model was worth it.
