China car import · 2025 global guide

Buying a car in China in 2025 – full global guide

Chinese cars – especially EVs and hybrids – are often one or even two segments higher for the same money compared to local offers in Europe. This guide explains how to choose a car in China, check it, buy it safely and ship it to Europe with full understanding of taxes and registration.

We focus on buyers from the EU (Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Italy, France, etc.) but the same logic works for other regions – you only change local tax rates and registration rules.

1. Why look at China for your next car in 2025

• Price vs equipment. For the price of a basic European car you often get a better-equipped Chinese SUV or EV.
• Strong EV & hybrid line-up. Brands like BYD, Zeekr, Li Auto, NIO and others offer long-range EVs and plug-in hybrids.
• Wide choice. From compact city cars to luxury sedans and MPVs – many models are sold only in China.
• Growing export experience. Chinese manufacturers and exporters already work with clients in the EU, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

2. New vs used cars from China

You can import both new and used cars. The purchase price and export paperwork are different, but the main idea is the same: find a real car with clean history and calculate the full landed cost to your country.

• New cars. Clear configuration, factory warranty, invoice directly from a dealer or OEM. Good choice for EVs and premium models.
• Used cars. Lower entry price, plus you can also find European, Japanese and Korean brands that were originally sold in China. Here inspection is critical.

3. Where to search for cars in China

You do not need to know Chinese to start searching. Modern browsers translate pages automatically, and we have a separate article that explains how to use Chinese platforms in detail.

• Che168 (二手车之家). One of the largest platforms for used cars across China – dealer and private listings.
• Guazi (瓜子二手车). Big online marketplace with warranty options and verified listings.
• Dongchedi (懂车帝). Auto-media project owned by ByteDance (TikTok). New-car configurator with official prices plus a used-car section.
• Official manufacturer websites. For new cars you can see factory configurations and recommended retail prices.
• Our configurator on myroncars.com. Lets you build a car (trim, battery size, drivetrain, interior) and get a realistic price in China in one place.

When you find a car you like, save the URL, VIN (if shown), screenshots of the ad and seller contacts. These will be needed for inspection and export.

4. Step-by-step: how the buying process works globally

4.1. Online selection and first check

You shortlist several cars based on photos, mileage, year and price. A local partner in China (like Myron Cars) contacts the sellers, checks that the cars really exist, and negotiates a realistic price range.

4.2. Technical inspection and history

For used cars you should always order an independent inspection – for example via services like ChaBoShu – to detect accident damage, repaint, structural issues or odometer tampering. For new cars we verify VIN, factory order and delivery times.

4.3. Contract and deposit

Once the car passes inspection, you sign a purchase agreement and pay a deposit to reserve it. Payments from Europe are usually made by standard bank transfer in EUR or USD directly to a Chinese company account. Commission is typically small and clearly shown by the bank.

4.4. Export from China

A licensed exporter (for example, MYRON TRADE / Myron Cars) re-registers the car on its company, deregisters it in Chinese traffic police, obtains an export licence and files the export declaration. After that the car can legally leave China.

4.5. Ocean shipping to Europe

Most cars for Europe go by sea:

• Ports of loading: Shanghai, Ningbo, Tianjin, Guangzhou and others.
• Ports of discharge: mainly Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Bremerhaven (Germany). From these hubs you can clear customs and then deliver the car anywhere in Europe.
• Container loading: 1 car per container (maximum flexibility) or 2–3 cars in one container to reduce the cost per unit.

From the port you either transport the car on a truck to your country or register it first in Germany / Switzerland and drive it home on plates from these countries.

5. Taxes in Europe: duty, VAT and excise

When a car from China enters the EU, several taxes apply. You need to know them before you decide if the deal makes sense.

5.1. Customs duty (CŁO)

The standard EU duty on passenger cars from outside the EU is 10 %. It is calculated from the customs value:

• car price in China (invoice);
• + transport and insurance up to the EU port (e.g. Rotterdam);
• + some port handling fees if they are included in freight.

Duty is paid in euros when the car is customs cleared in the EU port.

5.2. VAT in different EU countries

After duty, you pay VAT in the country of import. VAT is charged on the customs value plus duty. For private buyers VAT is usually not refundable and becomes part of the final landed cost.

• Germany – 19 %
• Netherlands – 21 %
• Lithuania – 21 %
• Poland – 23 %

VAT is paid when the car arrives in Europe, is unloaded and customs cleared at the port. You receive an invoice from your customs agency and pay in EUR at the exchange rate on the payment day.

5.3. Example: local costs and excise in Poland

As an example of local registration costs, here is a simplified overview for Poland. Other countries have their own schemes, usually based on CO₂ emissions, engine size or vehicle value.

Figures are indicative and may change – always check current rules in your country.

Item	Typical range	When paid
Transport from port & extra services	Home delivery from about 2 500 PLN Translation of documents from 500 PLN Expert report from 500 PLN Excise filing service from 180 PLN	After the car leaves the EU port
Customs duty	10 % of car value + freight + insurance	Paid in EU port in EUR on customs clearance day
VAT	23 % in Poland (19–23 % in most EU states)	With customs declaration, based on customs agency invoice
Excise duty (Akcyza) – Poland	0 % – battery-electric vehicles (BEV) 0 % – plug-in hybrids up to 2.0 L and historic / collector cars 1.55 % – non plug-in hybrids (HEV) up to 2.0 L 3.1 % – petrol / diesel up to 2.0 L 9.3 % – HEV and plug-in hybrids above 2.0 L 18.6 % – petrol / diesel above 2.0 L	Paid by the owner to Polish tax office after import

6. Registration routes: Germany, Switzerland or directly at home

After customs clearance you have several options:

• Direct registration in your country. The car is trucked from Rotterdam / Bremerhaven to, for example, Poland, Italy, France or Lithuania and registered directly there.
• Temporary registration in Germany. In some cases it is efficient to register cars on German plates first (including insurance), then drive them to the final country and re-register.
• Registration in Switzerland. Switzerland has relatively simple plate issuance. After getting Swiss plates you can drive the car to your EU country and register it according to local rules.

Which route is better depends on the model, engine type, your country’s taxes and whether the car will be used privately or by a company. Our team can simulate several scenarios so you can choose the most efficient option.

7. New vs. used: what stays the same in calculations

For both new and used cars from China:

• vehicle search and inspection in China follow the same steps;
• export from China and ocean freight are calculated in the same way;
• EU duty (10 %) and VAT are applied equally to new and used imports;
• the main differences are in the car price and local registration taxes (some countries give extra incentives to new EVs).

To avoid surprises, combine this article with our separate cost calculator guide and always run a full landed-cost estimate before you sign a contract.

Want a ready-made quote for your dream car from China? Send us a link or spec (new or used car), and we’ll calculate the complete landed cost to your European country: car price in China, export, ocean freight, duty, VAT, local taxes and delivery to your city. Get a full China→Europe quote Buying a car in China in 2025 – full global guide for European buyers. The article explains where to search for Chinese cars (Che168, Guazi, Dongchedi, manufacturer sites, marintaz.com configurator), how to inspect and reserve a vehicle, how export from China and ocean shipping to Rotterdam or Bremerhaven work, and how to calculate total landed cost with EU customs duty 10 percent, VAT between 19 and 23 percent and national registration taxes such as Polish excise (akcyza). It shows example costs in Poland, describes registration routes via Germany, Switzerland or directly in the home country, and positions MYRON TRADE / Myron Cars as a partner for full service China to Europe car imports.