How importing a car from China works

1. 01

   Inquiry

   We check availability, price and approval. You get a quote including shipping and duty.

   Document

   Written quote

2. 02

   Purchase in China

   We buy from a vetted seller. Your contract is with us alone.

   Document

   Purchase contract

3. 03

   Export from China

   We handle the export documents in China.

   Document

   Export documents

4. 04

   Shipping

   By sea to Europe, then by road.

   Document

   Bill of lading

5. 05

   Customs and taxes

   We clear the car and pay import duty and import VAT.

   Document

   Customs declaration

6. 06

   Approval

   We prepare the technical report, roadworthiness test and identity check, and file for approval.

   Document

   Approval decision

7. 07

   Registration

   We register the car. You take it with plates and the registration document.

   Document

   Registration document and plates

Approval is decided by the authority, not by us. We prepare the file so the application succeeds.

What it costs: duty, the EU duty on EVs, VAT

• Import duty. Every passenger car from China pays 10% customs duty, calculated on the price of the car plus shipping and insurance to the EU.
• Extra duty on Chinese EVs. Since October 2024 the EU charges an additional duty on fully electric cars made in China, set per manufacturer: from 7.8% to 35.3%. Plug-in hybrids, range-extender EVs and hybrids don't pay it.
• VAT. VAT is paid in the country where the car is registered, at that country's rate. Our prices include it, and VAT-registered businesses can deduct it.

Our quote lists every one of these costs separately.

Getting a Chinese car approved in the EU

Cars built for China usually have no European certificate of conformity (COC), so each one goes through an individual approval: a check that it meets EU rules on lighting, safety equipment, emissions and noise. Some cars need small changes first. We check this before you pay anything and prepare the file for the authority.

How long it takes

It depends on where the car is, on shipping and on the authorities. You get a specific estimate in your quote.

What you get

A registered car with plates, the registration document, and all the import paperwork.

Frequently asked

Can any car be imported?

Most passenger cars from the Chinese market, yes. Before you pay anything, we check that the car will pass approval.

Which Chinese cars can I buy in Europe?

In principle any model sold in China, including models the manufacturer doesn't offer in Europe. Whether a specific car can be approved, and at what cost, we check before you pay.

How much duty do I pay on a car from China?

10% customs duty on every car. Fully electric cars made in China also pay an EU duty of 7.8% to 35.3%, depending on the manufacturer; plug-in hybrids and range-extender EVs don't. VAT comes on top, in the country of registration.

Can a Chinese EV be charged in Europe?

Yes, but cars built for China often have the Chinese GB/T charging socket instead of Europe's CCS2. Before you buy, we check which socket a car has and what it needs to charge here.

Will the screen and apps be in my language?

Not always. Cars built for the Chinese market may offer only Chinese and English, and Chinese apps. We tell you what a specific car has before you buy.

Is the car under warranty after import?

A Chinese factory warranty usually does not apply in Europe. What comes with a specific car is written into the contract.

Who services the car?

Any good EV workshop can handle routine servicing. We source parts from China.

Do you deliver outside the Czech Republic?

Yes, to any country in the European Union. We handle Czech registration completely; elsewhere we arrange it according to local rules, agreed in advance.