If you are planning to ship a car to China, first, know if you can legally drive there. Getting a Chinese driver’s license and license plate is tough for most residents. In many cases, doing so is not even an option for visitors. If you are cleared to ship your car, start early to allow time for research, document gathering and payment. Here’s what you need to know.
Shipping costs
How much you pay to ship your car will depend on a few factors. These include mode of transport:
RORO or roll-on, roll-off is often least expensive. Cars are driven onto and transported via a large shipping vessel (boat or plane). Think of a large, floating or flying parking deck with cars parked closely and secured in place for the journey.
Container – container shipping offers more protection as your car travels in a large box. Container shipping costs more but may be worth it if you are shipping a custom or luxury car. One advantage is that you may be able to include personal items to be shipped along with the car.
Where you live also matters – if you do not live near a major port you will have to factor in the expense of getting your car to the nearest one. The same will be true on the other side.
Factor in modifications and fees – Be prepared to pay exorbitant duties and taxes, such as VAT or value added tax and consumption tax. Again, these are quite expensive – prohibitively so for most people. You will also need to be sure your car meets local requirements for road readiness. For example, only left driving vehicles are allowed in most cases.
In all you can expect to spend an average of $6,000. Again, that figure can be higher or lower depending on your car (size and value will impact shipping, fees and taxes on arrival), where you are shipping to and from and how you are shipping.
Gather your documents
You will need to:
- Apply with the Customs Office for an Import Permit.
- Obtain an Import Cargo Declaration.
- Present your original purchase invoice.
- Present your business license, Z visa and/or customs certificate.
- Present your Chinese residency card.
- Present authorization from the environmental board. Your car should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any biohazards prior to shipping.
Shipping your car to China can be tricky business. You will need to allow yourself plenty of time to learn the rules (discover workarounds when possible) and find an experienced shipper you can rely on for a smooth process.







