Importing a car from China to United Kingdom: full landed-cost guide 2026
Duties, VAT, who can import, what gets in, shipping — and the DDP price of 19 popular Chinese models in United Kingdom, computed by our rules engine with sources and verification dates.
Who can import and what gets in
- ⚠ RHD market: LHD cars can be registered but are hard to resell
- • Who can import: Individuals and companies can import; companies need a GB EORI number
- • Speedometer must show mph
Tax rules and sources
- Import duty 10% (UK Global Tariff, 8703 passenger cars; the UK did not follow the EU countervailing duty on Chinese BEVs) + VAT 20% (on price + freight/insurance + duty) ↗ verified 2026-09-02
- NOVA declaration within 14 days of arrival; China-spec cars without type approval need IVA; DVLA first registration fee £55 ↗ official 2026-09-02
- Right-hand-drive market; LHD can be registered but is hard to resell; speedometer must show mph ↗ official 2026-09-02
Post-Brexit UK tariff: 10% duty on cars, VAT 20%, no countervailing duty on Chinese BEVs (a price advantage versus the EU); right-hand-drive market, China-spec LHD cars can be registered but are hard to resell; imports need a NOVA declaration and IVA individual approval when there is no type approval.
Popular models: DDP price in United Kingdom
| Model | Ex-works | DDP |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Seal 05 DM-i | $10,500 | $18,263 |
| BYD Song Plus DM-i | $14,500 | $23,570 |
| BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus) | $14,800 | $23,968 |
| BYD Seal EV | $21,000 | $32,193 |
| BYD Atto 2 (Yuan Up) | $11,500 | $19,590 |
| BYD Dolphin | $11,000 | $18,927 |
| BYD Sealion 7 | $22,500 | $34,182 |
| BYD Han EV | $22,000 | $33,519 |
| BYD Seal U (Sealion 6) | $17,500 | $27,549 |
| BYD Tang EV | $30,000 | $44,132 |
| Geely Coolray | $10,500 | $18,263 |
| Geely Xingyue L (Monjaro) | $17,000 | $26,886 |
| Zeekr 001 | $33,000 | $48,112 |
| Chery Tiggo 8 Pro | $15,000 | $24,233 |
| Changan CS75 Plus | $13,000 | $21,580 |
| GWM Haval H6 | $13,500 | $22,243 |
| XPeng G6 | $24,000 | $36,172 |
| MG4 EV | $18,000 | $28,213 |
| Tesla Model Y (Shanghai-built) | $30,000 | $44,132 |
Other countries
UAERussiaPortugal / EUKazakhstanKyrgyzstanSaudi ArabiaNigeriaKenyaGhanaMexicoPoland / EUGermany / EUGeorgiaEthiopiaCôte d'IvoireSenegalTanzania · Dar es Salaam
Indicative only: rates, freight and rules change. Every rule shows its source; verify before you commit.