Importing a car from China to Bahrain: full landed-cost guide 2026

Duties, VAT, who can import, what gets in, shipping — and the DDP price of 28 popular Chinese models in Bahrain, computed by our rules engine with sources and verification dates.

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Who can import and what gets in

• Age limit 10 years
• Who can import: Residents holding a Bahraini CPR and companies with a commercial registration (CR) may import; clearance usually goes through a licensed broker
• Imported used private cars more than 10 years from manufacture cannot be registered (GDT decision of September 2022 amending Decision 154/2015 under the Traffic Law); used cars aged 5–10 years pay higher registration fees
• Left-hand drive only; cars must meet GSO (Gulf) standards and pass the GDT technical inspection; battery-electric cars get no separate duty or VAT relief
• VAT 10% is collected at customs on CIF + duty

Tax rules and sources

Bahrain applies the GCC common external tariff: 5% duty on passenger cars (new, used and electric); main sea port Khalifa Bin Salman Port (Bahrain Customs ports page) ↗ official 2026-10-04
Standard VAT 10% since 1 January 2022 (up from 5%); on imports it is collected at customs on CIF + duty ↗ official 2026-10-04
KPMG Bahrain tax alert: VAT rose from 5% to 10% on 1 January 2022, including on imports ↗ verified 2026-10-04
Amendment to the Traffic Law implementing regulation (4 September 2022): imported private cars more than 10 years from manufacture cannot be registered; other used vehicles over 5 years pay separate fees ↗ official 2026-10-04
GDN report: registration of imported vehicles older than 10 years banned ↗ verified 2026-10-04

Imported used private cars more than 10 years old cannot be registered and those aged 5–10 years pay higher registration fees; left-hand drive only, GSO conformity and a GDT inspection are required. Bahrain charges the 5% GCC common duty plus 10% VAT (on CIF + duty); there is no excise and no separate EV relief, so new, used and electric cars carry the same rates. Main port Khalifa Bin Salman Port; port and registration fees are estimates.

Popular models: DDP price in Bahrain

Model	Ex-works	DDP
BYD Seal 05 DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc	$10,710	$17,584
BYD Song Plus DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc	$14,790	$22,320
BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$15,096	$22,675
BYD Seal EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$21,420	$30,016
BYD Atto 2 (Yuan Up)Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Smart Drive 1098 · Battery electric	$14,178	$20,399
BYD DolphinQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1098 · Battery electric	$14,617	$22,117
BYD Sealion 7Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$22,950	$31,792
BYD Han EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$22,440	$31,200
BYD Seal U (Sealion 6)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$17,850	$25,872
BYD Tang EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$30,600	$40,672
Geely CoolrayQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 668 MT · Petrol/diesel · 1,500 cc	$7,589	$13,960
Geely Xingyue L (Monjaro)Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,969 cc	$17,340	$25,280
Zeekr 001Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$33,660	$44,224
Chery Tiggo 8 ProExample configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,598 cc	$15,300	$22,912
Changan CS75 PlusQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Smart Champion Edition 1089 · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown	$11,730	$18,766
GWM Haval H6Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,998 cc	$13,770	$21,136
XPeng G6Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EV 625 Max Tech Edition · Battery electric	$24,888	$33,090
MG4 EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$18,360	$26,464
Tesla Model Y (Shanghai-built)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$30,600	$40,672
XPeng G9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · 625 Max · Battery electric	$34,578	$44,338
XPeng X9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EV 665 Max · Battery electric	$42,738	$53,810
XPeng MONA M03Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 540 Long Range Plus · Battery electric	$17,136	$24,091
AITO M7Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · 新M7 EREV Pro+ · Range extender · 1,499 cc	$39,282	$50,748
AITO M9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EREV Max+ 5-seat Edition · Range extender · Displacement unknown	$67,362	$83,343
MG5Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Mexico Edition · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown	$6,375	$11,341
MG7Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1379 · Petrol/diesel · 1,988 cc	$16,074	$23,809
Changan UNI-VQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2025 · 2nd gen 新蓝鲸 1169 · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown	$11,220	$18,174
Changan Nevo Q05Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1019 · Powertrain unknown · Displacement unknown	$14,280	$21,726