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Q: What's the feasibility of shipping a car to China?

How much will it cost, etc?

9 years 40 weeks ago in  Transport & Travel - China

 
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Basically, you're better off buying one in China.  Once upon a time, there used to be a loophole for foreigners working in China that would allow them to import a car for personal use without paying the ridiculous import duties.  Too many of those foreign workers' bosses exploited that loophole for personal gain (importing expensive luxury cars duty free and then reselling), that the loophole was eventually closed.  So now  you would have to deal with the shipping costs, import taxes, and hassle of getting the car through customs.  Also, older used cars...say more than 1-2 years old are not eligible for import.  

 

I would suggest buying a foreign branded car that's made in China.  #ThisIsChina #麻烦 #bendover

Hulk:

You can't import older cars? Damn.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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ou812:

I have no real desire to drive here, but I had no idea you couldn’t import an older car. I have thought it would be cool to import an older Mazda RX7 from Japan to save on shipping cost and perhaps pick up some (fx) gains in the process. I have also never asked because if you have to ask, then you probably can’t afford it. The look on a Chinese mechanics face when he opened the hood of a Gen 1 Rx7 and looked at his first Wankel designed engine would make for a really interesting picture.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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cooter:

Yeah, the supposed premise was probably something along the lines of older cars not meeting current safety and/or emissions standards.  The real reason is probably more along the lines of it's more likely for the gov't to get their taxes if you're forced to buy a car here, as opposed to importing it.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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I looked into a business venture importing used cars from Germany to China, but I very quickly discovered that the taxes and customs process would make it near impossible.

 

Best bet is to buy a second-hand 1-2 year old Chinese car, they're not the best built or super reliable, and they probably haven't been maintained well, but they are cheap, easy to fix, lot's of spare parts also you don't give shit about it anyway, small dents, where you leave it etc.

Hulk:

How much are we talking about?

9 years 40 weeks ago
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Hotwater:

1-2 year old Chinese cars aren't that much less than buying new. Chinese don't seem to understand about depreciation.......

 

I bought a new car in Zhongshan 2.5 years ago (Lifan 320, Chinese Mini Copy!). I'd looked at the prices of 2nd hand first but after comparing themto new prices gave up.

 

I've found the Lifan good value for money (45k RMB on the road),not too many problems (some minor issues, all fixed under the 2 years warranty), and very reliable (60 km round trip, 5 days a week, for the last two years).

 

Probably a bit too small to fit Hulk and his extended family though! wink

9 years 40 weeks ago
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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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The answer really depends what why you are asking this question...

If you want to import a car because you already have one elsewhere, or you think it would be a cheaper option than buying here... then foget it, it isnt. The costs of importing your car from home would be as much as buying another one. 

If you want to do it to start a business or something, then it is possible but you need money and connections. The people who are setting up private dealerships are backing it with their own cash, they are the overnight rich who I see all over GuangDong. They are locals that have the connections and the cash to buy and import direct from car company and pay off everyone who needs to get their red envelope to make it happen.

If you simply want a car then go buy one, yeah the chinese ones are cheaper but they suck. If you research enough you can find some good deals on locally made foreign branded cars...

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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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Possibility of importing a car: none.

Buying chinese brands: leave it. Not even chinese buy them, left alone the mian bao che.

Look at the Dongfeng Nissan 1.6 van (not the NV200, the other, translated would be Shuai Off). You can get it for 90k rmb on the road. It's my daily drive as company car. 92k km and been almost bulletproof so far, and I have a pretty heavy right foot. I'm VERY meticulous on maintenance though.

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You can, but expect to pay 150% duty on the value of the car. Also customs will decide the value. I know someone who imported a 5 year old Camaro Z28, customs charged duty based on the value of the car when it was brand new! Also, I believe cars older than 10 years are forbidden for import.

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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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get a scooter with umbrella.

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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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I read a while ago that there is some kind of one off exemption for foreigners (or there used to be) for a car not for resale by a foreign citizen.

basically forget about any kind of cost arbitrage, they are too smart for that. but there might be a way for you to get one in.

I was told this rule is why you sometimes see cars that are totally out of place...like a mid 90s Chrysler Concorde, something that was never sold here. It was probably imported by some executive in the 90s and has just bounced around ever since.

who knows though? you know people like to make things up.

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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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Don't bother.

 

Like everything else here, you will be fucked over.

Dagobah:

This is a fact!

9 years 40 weeks ago
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I am currently going through the process. I have about 2 more months before i actually buy it. But i need to know its 100% feasible before buying the damn thing and shipping it here. What i have gathered so far.

Must ship to dalian, shanghai or tianjin. I heard maybe shenzhen is OK and since im here that would be far easier for me. I called the port authority but they wouldnt confirm jack. Said theyll accept anything need to talk to shipping agents.

So far everyone has said you CAN import TAX AND DUTY FREE. Just need a chinese licence and foreign expert certificate.
But other info has been conflicting. Some sources say it must he newer than 20 years old. Which makes sense as thats the rule for all chinese cars as well. But i had one agent said (american, maybe no guanxi and didnt specialize in china, that it cant be over a year old. So 2014s or 2015s and thats it. But i have other shippers saying thats bullshit.

If you do get stuck on duties it seems to be a stabdard 47% . but again , the whole purpose is because its cheaper so untill thats at least 100% confirmed im not buying.

I have heard you cant sell and i have heard you can sell it after 6 months and a year, maybe gotta show your leaving china?

The whole crux is if its duty free. The actual shipping here is cheap as hell. All the ships are almost empty coming back to China so they wanna at least make a little cash.

Also. Must pay for inspection in your home country before it ships. Safe, no gas in the tank ect. And pay as well once it arrives here.

Anyways. I am buying a new car by sept/oct at the very latest and id much prefer not to buy here. So ill have updates as i get them.

Dagobah:

ok yeah, please update with solid info.... mostly everything concerning this issues is heresay

9 years 40 weeks ago
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expatlife26:

yeah ocean freight is dirt cheap...i would guess a full container load from LA to Shanghai would be <$2000. It's air freight that's a bitch, unplanned air freight is the bane of all export firms here.

 

Mike dude best of luck, I've heard so many conflicting reports on this. My basic understanding is that as a legit foreigner you get a one time duty free exemption to import a car for your personal use. But who know right? They don't exactly make it easy.

 

My advice (and that and 33 RMB will buy you a cup of coffee) would be to make sure you got everything 100% square before you ship the car here...once it's here somebody could try and screw you with some BS charge cause what are you gonna do? Ship it back? 

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Man, I just don't get you guys.  Even if I were planning on staying here forevers (I'm not) I couldn't envisage myself going through the hassle of importing a car for personal use.  Sure, you might save a few bucks in the end, but how much of that savings will be negated by:

1. Time and effort lost during the process

2. Potential damage during shipping (scratches, dents, corrosion from sea spray...)

3. Surprise "fees" once it's arrived to your friendly neighborhood customs port.  I'm sure the customs officers know a hongbao opportunity when they see one.

 

On top of all this, the most savings is to be had when buying the more expensive cars.  After driving on China's roads (well, not all of China.  Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shanghai) for the last 3 years now, I just couldn't imagine dropping that kind of coin to put a nice ride on these awful awful excuses for roads.  I've memorized the location of most of the devastating potholes along my usual routes, and have learned to scan well ahead for impromptu road construction zones or just big ass rocks that fell off a truck, but even if I drive at the speed limit on the newest road here, I'll still get airborne going over the ridiculously angled bridge transitions (fun for a Dukes of Hazzard fan, but not conducive to long-term suspension health).

 

Even if you have the most lovely roads where you live (I doubt it), you've still got the awful awful local drivers of cars, trucks, buses, ebikes, bicycles, rickshaws, pedestrians,  that you have to share those roads with.  There's a reason that auto insurance is a MONEY LOSING business in China. You're really better off doing like what Burak43 suggested, something that will get you from point A to B, but you won't care when that ebike side swipes you or Miss Wang hits you with her BMW while trying out the hands-free option (one hand on cell phone, other holding her poodle in her lap).

 

But, above all else, it's your money, your life, your time.  Waste it all if you like angel

xinyuren:

If you are a car lover like I am, you would most certainly be at least considering it for the following reasons:

 

1.  Bigger engines: Most cars here, outside the exotics and semi exotics are embarrassingly underpowered by U.S. standards.  For this reason alone, I would love to retrieve my CTS-V from my sister's garage.  

 

2. Open road traveling.  Before you say there's no place to drive my powerful car ( I agree with you in most cases), I have frequently noticed that outside the Chinese holiday traveling pattern the highways are relatively clear.  Sporting driving here is possible.

 

3.  Some of us have cars that are unique and we are attached to.  It will be sort of like getting a green card for a loved one.

 

Not everything is about money.  It's obvious you're not a car lover, so perhaps this something you can't understand. If only Mazda sold the Miata here. Then I wouldn't be crying so hard.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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cooter:

You're wrong.  I'm a car lover, motorcycle lover, anything that goes fast, which is why I would never would have brought my baby over here to be subjected to these 3rd world conditions.  You've been here long enough, I'm guessing your Caddy is one of the earlier naturally aspirated versions (IE, not one of the newer supercharged 550 hp beasts.).  Sadly, that doesn't really count as "fast" in my book, although I'm sure it would surprise a few of the displacement challenged BMW's and Benz's on the road here.  Nor is it really "unique".

 

PS - bigger engines don't always go faster.  My little 2.5L STi (granted, it was somewhat modified smiley)  would have mopped the floor with your big ole V8 at any and all speeds/conditions angel.  So much for being obvious....

9 years 40 weeks ago
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xinyuren:

It's a 2004. And it's supercharged with custom headers. I haven't had it dynoed, but I'm sure it's at least 150 hp over stock. And as long as I've been in China, I've never seen a CTS-V, so I think that makes it unique. As for your 2.5L, I have nothing against small engines and I really wasn't trying to get in a d*ck size war. All things being equal, a large engine trumps a small one most days (here's to you, 2015 Corvette). But it's evident you are a fellow car lover. I don't get to travel back to the States often, so I want my baby right here with me.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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mike695ca:

Forget being a car lover. Just on money alone. On paper it seems like a shit load of savings to be had. Im looking to import a new F150. Can be had for about 160K plus shipping. So lets just say i add another 100K for all the other bullshit. Thats just 250K which cant buy much of a normal car here. And the cheapest you can buy an F150 hete is for like 800K . big savings. Hell you get anything with an engine bigger than a 2.0T and youll save money. The savings are undisputed. Its the feasibility of it thats in question. Also FYI i live in guangdong. Arguable the best roads in China. And not so loaded with trucks. You can get speed. I had my focus up to 190 on the super highway 2 days ago.... Untill my O2 sensor broke.... Fucking chinese made cars. But obviously im not buying an F150 for the sport driving. Just want something a little different. Only seen 2 here so far, plus easy to fix myself. Cheap to maintain. As any warrenty will be voided once it gets here

9 years 40 weeks ago
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xinyuren:

Those new aluminum F-150s are bitchin'! I used to work as a millwright at an F-150 plant. They are well made vehicles, but unless you get something like the Raptor model they're not very fun to drive. I find in China, I don't need a car. I just want to drive now and then. I miss the open top, scenery porn, road trips back in America. Would love to do that in China.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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expatlife26:

Yeah you never see nice trucks here

9 years 40 weeks ago
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cooter:

Re: road conditions.  Maybe I've just been spoiled.  My home state in the US has some of the best roads in the country, and I've driven in a lot of states.  If roads in Guangdong are awesome, then I say go for it.  It's my biggest hangup here.  I'm wondering how your biannual vehicle inspection would go, especially if it's a model not normally available for sale here.  I've never seen any base model F150's, but have seen a few Raptor's roaming around. I'm guessing those guys have enough pull to not worry about inspections.  Ecoboost or V8?  If the latter, Caveat Emptor, the 5.4L Ford V8's are notorious for shooting out the spark plugs, you might wanna familiarize yourself with helicoil installations.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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9 years 40 weeks ago
 
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Most cars here are so dull.  I would welcome some solid info on how to accomplish this.  I refuse to sell my car, but i really dislike the idea of it sitting undriven in a garage.

cooter:

I keep a couple cars at home, as I like to have something to look forward to when I go back, IE civilized driving and motoring.  A buddy of mine drives them once a week, surely your sister could take it around the block every now and again.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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expatlife26:

I love how customers here have no sense of what things cost...like they think a camaro is equivalent to a 911 and buy them for 110K USD+

 

Nothing against a camaro, it's not a bad car for <$30K but again it's not a 911 or even a Corvette.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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xinyuren:

My car is under lock and key. Under the threat by death, she isn't to even look at the keys. Too much power in a girls hands is trouble. She is perfectly happy with the Miata I left her.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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mike695ca:

Why would you do that? Both the sti and especially the cts-v lose so damn much money over time. Not exactly known for its high resale value. I sold my audi before i left. Recently checked the prices for that year.... Wow. Granted ive been here for 7 years but still. I understand you love your baby but it doesnt make sense. I sold my car for over 20K and if i go back now i can buy it for like 3. 4 for one in perfect shape. I could just do that. Why let that 16K waste away in your garage?

9 years 40 weeks ago
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xinyuren:

When I buy a car, resale value is the farthest from my mind. I marry for life. Very few cars have I actually sold. I either wrecked them or gave them to family members. Money just isn't part of the equation.

9 years 40 weeks ago
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cooter:

Re mike: I sold my STi before coming here.  Within a week of putting it up for sale online, some army guy from a local base came and paid cash for it, fully modified.  Now all I've got are a Golf TDI (I make a lot of looooong trips while I'm home, 50mpg ftw) and bone stock mint condition 91 CRX Si.  TDI resale values are pretty decent, and the CRX has actually appreciated in value since I bought it.  Both are slow as ballz.....perfect for letting my friend drive them, as he's more lead footed than I.  Whenever I give up on my China dream, more appropriate (read: fast) vehicles will be found angel

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I saw a 69? Camaro once, someone has done it before.

One of my friends rallies cars, is thinking about doing ''Peking to Paris 2015'', the car he's building is a 55 Chev. a 4 dr converted to a 2 dr. I'll have to ask him about shipping. I know he brought cars home from France.

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Are you trying to smuggle your wife back into China in the trunk? 

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Ship your car to me and you'll only need to pay for the shipping. I have a special arrangement. Be sure to title it in my name.

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The problem abut importing a real car to China (e.g. a BMW not built in China) is that you know some ass is going to smash it while you are at a red light. And then you start over

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