Today in China

How to import a second hand car in China

I recently received a request from one of Today in China’s Readers about how to import a car from abroad while you are in Beijing. Since I use to drive a scooter around Beijing (much more convenient than a car…) I had no idea and my first answer was the following:

Most of my friends here in Beijing prefered to buy a used or new car in China which is much cheaper.

Then I thought… Maybe I could make some more research and provide a better answer and decided to ask
Asian Tigers, a Move Management specialist in Asia and here is the answer I got…

For importing a car to China , please be informed that only left wheel car can be imported. And we need to know below information about the car to estimate a duty amount for it:
1. Brand
2. Color
3. Model
4. Production date and Purchase date
5. Engine number
6. Running Km.
7. Value (as invoice)
8. The volume of the exhaust fumes (cc.)
9. Origin of the car

Please find importing process as follows:

Step 1. Import Permit
Obtain the import permit at Beijing Custom with below documents. This takes around 7 working days, and you are required to be present to the Custom office while application and import permit collection:
1. Original passport with Residence Permit valid at least one year
2. Original Employment Permit valid at least one year
3. Original Company Registration Book in Custom
4. Original Duplicate Company Business License
5. Original Invoice of the car
6. Original Packing List of the Car
7. Original OBL
8. Application Form & Entrusting Letter with your signature and your company chop on it, we can provide

Step 2. Final Clearance at Tianjin port
With the import permit, we will do final clearance at Tianjin port, need provide below documents and this needs around ten working days:
1. Original passport
2. Original Duplicate Company Business License
3. Original Invoice of Ocean Freight from Shipping Company at origin
4. Original Car Quality Certificate
5. Original Invoice of the Car
6. Original Packing List
7. Entrusting Letter with your signature
You need be present when asked by Custom.

Step 3. Drive the car to Beijing
Get the car released. After completing above steps, the car can be released in Tianjin, and you or you can appoint us to drive the car to Beijing.

For the duty amount, Asian Tigers needed to know the specific information about the car as mentioned on the top of this post.

I made the exercice for the car of the fore mentionned reader who first asked me about this process…

1. Brand:	Honda
2. Color:	Red
3. Model:	Civic
4. Production date and Purchase date:	1998 model / purchased (new) in March 1999
5. Engine number:	?
6. Running Km:	21,000 km (13,000 mi)
7. Value (as invoice):	$15,500
8. The volume of the exhaust fumes (cc.):	1,590 cc 1.6 liters 4 in-line front transverse engine
9. Origin of the car:	United States