Importing a car from China to Malta / EU: full landed-cost guide 2026
Duties, VAT, who can import, what gets in, shipping — and the DDP price of 28 popular Chinese models in Malta / EU, computed by our rules engine with sources and verification dates.
Who can import and what gets in
- • Who can import: Individuals and companies can import; companies need an EORI number
- • A China-spec car without an EU CoC needs individual approval and a technical inspection before registration
- • EU duty is 10%; new China-built BEVs and range-extender cars also carry the EU countervailing duty, used cars (registered over 6 months and over 6,000 km) do not
- • Inspection and registration must be completed within 30 days of the car's arrival, with a daily late charge; Malta drives on the left, left-hand-drive cars can be registered (to confirm)
Tax rules and sources
- EU common duty on third-country passenger cars is 10%; import VAT at the national rate ↗ official 2026-10-03
- National standard VAT rates (AT 20 / GR 24 / HU 27 / HR 25 / SI 22 / MT 18) ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Countervailing duty on new China-built BEVs / range-extenders (Reg. (EU) 2024/2754 art. 1): manufacturer rate only with a listed maker's invoice declaration, otherwise 35.3%; used cars (C/2025/330: registered over 6 months and over 6,000 km) outside ↗ official 2026-10-02
- Registration in the EU requires a certificate of conformity or individual approval plus a roadworthiness check ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Transport Malta: documents, fees (administration EUR 15, used-car inspection EUR 55, standard plate pair EUR 70), SVA for non-EU used cars, minimum registration tax for cars over five years; SOPV02 download ↗ official 2026-10-03
- European Commission Clean Energy for EU Islands: in Malta newly registered BEVs and PHEVs with ≥50 km electric range are exempt from registration tax and from the annual licence for the first five years (under Cap. 368) ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Transport Malta: from 2023 PHEV registration-tax relief needs ≥50 km urban electric range; the BEV exemption continues ↗ official 2026-10-03
- Transport Malta downloads: SOPV02 vehicle registration (30-day deadline, registration-tax formula RV × CO2 % + RV × length %) and SOPV33 annual licence table ↗ official 2026-10-03
Malta drives on the left, but left-hand-drive cars can be registered (Transport Malta has no steering ban; confirm before the first order); inspection and registration must be completed within 30 days of arrival. EU duty 10% + VAT 18%, plus the registration tax: BEVs are currently exempt under Cap. 368 (PHEVs need ≥50 km electric range); petrol cars pay registration value × a CO2-band percentage + registration value × a length-band percentage, about EUR 3,900–4,140 (roughly 20%) for a 1.5T at EUR 20,000 / WLTP 140–150 / 4.4 m, and used cars over five years old have a minimum tax; administration EUR 15 + inspection EUR 55 + plates EUR 70. New China-built BEVs and range-extender cars carry the EU countervailing duty: 35.3% unless a listed manufacturer issues the invoice with the required declaration; used cars (registered over 6 months and driven over 6,000 km) are outside it. Sea freight to Malta Freeport. China-spec cars without an EU CoC need single-vehicle approval (SVA; cost estimated).
Popular models: DDP price in Malta / EU
| Model | Ex-works | DDP |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Seal 05 DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc | $10,710 | $24,627 |
| BYD Song Plus DM-iExample configuration (reference price) · Plug-in hybrid · 1,498 cc | $14,790 | $29,944 |
| BYD Atto 3 (Yuan Plus)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $15,096 | $38,890 |
| BYD Seal EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $21,420 | $49,776 |
| BYD Atto 2 (Yuan Up)Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Smart Drive 1098 · Battery electric | $14,178 | $35,514 |
| BYD DolphinQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1098 · Battery electric | $14,617 | $38,063 |
| BYD Sealion 7Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $22,950 | $52,410 |
| BYD Han EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $22,440 | $51,532 |
| BYD Seal U (Sealion 6)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $17,850 | $43,631 |
| BYD Tang EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $30,600 | $65,578 |
| Geely CoolrayQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 668 MT · Petrol/diesel · 1,500 cc | $7,589 | $20,558 |
| Geely Xingyue L (Monjaro)Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,969 cc | $17,340 | $33,267 |
| Zeekr 001Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $33,660 | $70,846 |
| Chery Tiggo 8 ProExample configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,598 cc | $15,300 | $30,609 |
| Changan CS75 PlusQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Smart Champion Edition 1089 · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown | $11,730 | $25,955 |
| GWM Haval H6Example configuration (reference price) · Petrol/diesel · 1,998 cc | $13,770 | $28,615 |
| XPeng G6Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EV 625 Max Tech Edition · Battery electric | $24,888 | $54,334 |
| MG4 EVExample configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $18,360 | $44,508 |
| Tesla Model Y (Shanghai-built)Example configuration (reference price) · Battery electric | $30,600 | $65,578 |
| XPeng G9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · 625 Max · Battery electric | $34,578 | $71,015 |
| XPeng X9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EV 665 Max · Battery electric | $42,738 | $85,061 |
| XPeng MONA M03Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 540 Long Range Plus · Battery electric | $17,136 | $40,990 |
| AITO M7Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · 新M7 EREV Pro+ · Range extender · 1,499 cc | $39,282 | $80,521 |
| AITO M9Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2026 · EREV Max+ 5-seat Edition · Range extender · Displacement unknown | $67,362 | $128,858 |
| MG5Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · Mexico Edition · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown | $6,375 | $17,618 |
| MG7Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1379 · Petrol/diesel · 1,988 cc | $16,074 | $31,616 |
| Changan UNI-VQuoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 2025 · 2nd gen 新蓝鲸 1169 · Petrol/diesel · Displacement unknown | $11,220 | $25,290 |
| Changan Nevo Q05Quoted configuration · 2026-09-30 · 1019 · Powertrain unknown · Displacement unknown | $14,280 | $29,278 |
Available to order now
Cars you can order now: same-day quotes by model with maker photos. Sign up free to see every trim and the price to your own country.
Corolla Cross
0 km · PHEV
佛山市南海区领贤行汽车贸易有限公司
Price after free sign-up
GAC Trumpchi Trumpchi M8 领秀系列 390T 至尊版
2021 · 80,000 km · ICE
佛山市南海区领贤行汽车贸易有限公司
Price after free sign-up
BYD Han DM-i 121km 尊荣型
2023 · 140,000 km · PHEV
佛山市南海区领贤行汽车贸易有限公司
Price after free sign-up
Geely Coolray
ICE
LandedCar ✓
FOB $8,928+
Changan Nevo Q05
PHEV
LandedCar ✓
FOB $15,109+
Geely Coolray L
2025 · ICE
LandedCar ✓
FOB $11,391+
Changan Mazda CX-5
ICE
LandedCar ✓
FOB $17,536+
Changan Mazda CX-50
ICE
LandedCar ✓
FOB $20,698+
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Indicative only: rates, freight and rules change. Every rule shows its source; verify before you commit.