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

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

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Who can import and what gets in

⛔ Right-hand drive only: China-market LHD cars cannot be imported — needs the RHD version
• Age limit 3 years
• Who can import: Individuals and companies may import; cars up to 3 years old are off the suspension list and need no separate import licence; payment normally by bank LC; DMT-registered dealers may import any number, other importers one vehicle per 12 months; registration within 90 days of the customs declaration with a TIN affidavit
• Right-hand drive only; a China-spec left-hand-drive car can be neither imported nor registered
• Car imports reopened on 1 Feb 2025 (Gazette 2421/44): cars must be no more than 3 years old, counted from the date of manufacture (the 15th of the month on the manufacturer's or export inspection certificate) to the bill of lading date
• BEV excise is a specific rate per kW of motor power (up to 1 year old: up to 50 kW Rs 18,100/kW, 51–100 kW Rs 24,100/kW, 101–200 kW Rs 36,200/kW, over 200 kW Rs 96,600/kW; 1–3 years old: 36,200 / 36,200 / 60,400 / 132,800); this page assumes a new 125 kW car
• Customs duty (CID) rose from 20% to 30% in March 2026 (Gazette 2478/03); a 50% surcharge on CID applies until 31 Dec 2026 (Gazette 2501/88), except for LCs opened by 15 May 2026 and shipped by 15 Nov 2026

Tax rules and sources

Sri Lanka Customs tariff Chapter 87 (2025 edition, superseded by the 2026 edition): 20% general duty on cars, 50% surcharge on CID, 18% VAT; petrol excise per cc (1300–1500cc Rs 4,450/cc), BEV excise per kW (101–200 kW up to 1 year Rs 36,200/kW); luxury tax petrol 100% above Rs 5.0m, BEV 60% above Rs 6.0m ↗ official 2026-10-07
Sept 2026 car import taxes: CID 30% + 50% surcharge on CID (from 15 May 2026, extended to 31 Dec 2026) + excise (petrol per cc, e.g. 1300–1500cc Rs 4,450/cc; BEV per kW: 51–100 kW Rs 24,100, 101–200 kW Rs 36,200, over 200 kW Rs 96,600, up to 1 year old) + luxury tax (petrol 100% above Rs 5.0m, hybrid 80% above 5.5m, BEV 60% above 6.0m) + 2.5% SSCL + 18% VAT ↗ verified 2026-10-07
BEV excise per kW (Gazette 2434/04): up to 50 kW Rs 18,100 / 36,200 / 48,300; 51–100 kW Rs 24,100 / 36,200 / 72,400; 101–200 kW Rs 36,200 / 60,400 / 108,700; 201–400 kW Rs 96,600 / 132,800 / 144,900 (up to 12 months / 13–36 months / over 36 months) ↗ verified 2026-10-04
Nine conditions on the reopening of vehicle imports (Gazette 2421/44, effective 1 Feb 2025): right-hand drive only; cars / jeeps / buses / motorcycles no older than 3 years, trucks 4 years, vans 5 years ↗ verified 2026-10-04
Sri Lanka Customs tariff Chapter 87 (2026 edition): cars (8703.22.70 / 8703.80.33 etc.) 30% general duty, 18% VAT, 50% surcharge on CID, 2.5% SSCL; petrol excise per cc (up to 1000cc Rs 2,450/cc or Rs 1.992m per unit, 1000–1300 Rs 3,850, 1300–1500 Rs 4,450, 1500–1600 Rs 5,150, 1600–1800 Rs 6,400, 1800–2000 Rs 7,700, 2000–2500 Rs 8,450, 2500–2750 Rs 9,650, 2750–3000 Rs 10,850, 3000–4000 Rs 12,050, over 4000 Rs 13,300); BEV per kW (101–200 kW up to 1 year Rs 36,200, 1–3 years Rs 60,400); luxury tax petrol 100% above Rs 5.0m, BEV 60% above Rs 6.0m ↗ official 2026-10-07
Sri Lanka Customs 2026 tariff preamble, computation of import levies: VAT = (CIF×1.1 + CID + excise + surcharge) × rate; SSCL = (CIF×1.1 + CID + excise + surcharge) × 2.5%; surcharge = CID × rate; specific excise = quantity × unit rate ↗ official 2026-10-07
Gazette 2478/03 (3 Mar 2026, Revenue Protection Order No. 01/2026): general CID 30% on cars including 8703.22.70 and 8703.80.3x ↗ official 2026-10-07
Gazette 2501/88 (signed 13 Aug 2026): 50% surcharge on CID for scheduled vehicles (incl. 8703.22.70, 8703.80.33) from 15 Aug to 31 Dec 2026; LCs opened by 15 May 2026 exempt unless amended or shipped after 15 Nov 2026 ↗ official 2026-10-07
Gazette 2421/44 (Imports and Exports (Control) Regulations No. 02 of 2025, effective 1 Feb 2025): lifts the suspension on cars up to 3 years old (incl. BEV 8703.80.31–34); age = date of manufacture to bill of lading date; importers other than registered dealers limited to one vehicle per 12 months; registration within 90 days with a TIN affidavit, late fee 3% of CIF per month (cap 45%) ↗ official 2026-10-07
Import & Export Control Dept, conditions for used vehicles under import licence: vehicles must be right-hand drive; letters of credit must be opened ↗ official 2026-10-07

Right-hand drive only and cars must be no more than 3 years old (manufacture to bill of lading), so a China-spec LHD car cannot be imported or registered. Tax = 30% CID + 50% surcharge on CID (45% of CIF in total; surcharge in force to 31 Dec 2026) + excise (BEV per kW: 101–200 kW new Rs 36,200/kW, about 75% of CIF for 125 kW; a 1.5L petrol car Rs 4,450/cc, about 111%) + 2.5% SSCL + 18% VAT (both on CIF×1.1 plus CID, surcharge and excise); CIF above Rs 6.0m (BEV) / Rs 5.0m (petrol) carries luxury tax on the excess. Based on the 2026 Sri Lanka Customs tariff and Gazettes 2478/03, 2501/88 and 2421/44; via Colombo, payment normally by letter of credit.

Popular models: DDP price in Sri Lanka

Model	Ex-works	DDP
BYD Seal 05 DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc	$10,710	$42,471
BYD Song Plus DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc	$14,790	$55,169
BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$15,096	$48,550
BYD Seal EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$21,420	$65,532
BYD Atto 2 (Yuan Up)Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · Smart Drive · Battery electric	$14,178	$43,284
BYD DolphinQuoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · Battery electric	$14,633	$47,306
BYD Sealion 7Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$22,950	$69,640
BYD Han EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$22,440	$68,271
BYD Seal U (Sealion 6)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$17,850	$55,945
BYD Tang EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$30,600	$90,183
Geely CoolrayQuoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · MT · Petrol · 1,499 cc	$7,827	$30,253
Geely Xingyue L (Monjaro)Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol · 1,969 cc	$17,340	$97,701
Zeekr 001Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$33,660	$98,401
Chery Tiggo 8 ProExample configuration (reference price) · Petrol · 1,598 cc	$15,300	$62,288
Changan CS75 PlusQuoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · Smart Champion Edition · Petrol · 1,494 cc	$11,730	$45,646
GWM Haval H6Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol · 1,998 cc	$13,770	$80,409
XPeng G6Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 2026 · EV 625 Max Tech Edition · Battery electric	$24,888	$72,644
MG4 EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$18,360	$57,315
Tesla Model Y (Shanghai-built)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric	$30,600	$90,183
XPeng G9Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 2026 · 625 Max · Battery electric	$34,578	$98,666
XPeng X9Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 2026 · EV 665 Max · Battery electric	$42,738	$120,578
XPeng MONA M03Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 540 Long Range Plus · Battery electric	$17,136	$51,827
AITO M7Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 2026 · M7 EREV Pro+ · Range extender · 1,499 cc	$39,326	$131,533
AITO M9Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 2026 · EREV Max+ 5-seat Edition · Range extender · 1,496 cc	$67,438	$219,025
MG5Quoted configuration · 2026-10-07 · MT Mexico Edition 指导价6.79万 · Petrol · 1,495 cc	$6,120	$25,636
MG7Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · Petrol · 1,988 cc	$16,092	$91,656
Changan UNI-VQuoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · 2025 · 2nd gen Blue Whale · Petrol · 1,494 cc	$11,220	$44,059
Changan Nevo Q05Quoted configuration · 2026-10-06 · Battery electric	$14,280	$46,358