It's no secret that Chinese electric cars have been rapidly capturing the European market for the past few years. Models like the Zeekr 001, BYD Song Plus, Geely EX5 and others are becoming increasingly recognizable. They offer technological and affordable solutions. However, purchasing a car is only the first step. Real difficulties arise during its importation, certification and registration in the territory of the European Union.
Is it possible to simply order a car, pay for delivery and immediately drive it on European roads? Unfortunately, everything works a little differently. EU authorities have strict requirements for safety, environmental standards and the origin of each vehicle. In order for a Chinese electric car to become a legal participant in European road traffic, you need to go through a number of procedures and collect a certain package of documents. In this article we would like to share with you a selection of documents that you may need to legalize a new electric car from China in European countries. Here we go!
General requirements for importing cars into the EU
Let's start this article in general by understanding the general requirements for importing machines within the European Union. It is governed by strict rules, which are based on Regulation (EU) 2018/858 - read more at the link. This document defines the technical requirements, certification processes and responsibilities of manufacturers or importers.
Any vehicle, before entering the EU market, must undergo a type approval or individual certification procedure, confirming compliance with environmental, technical and safety standards.
Customs procedures include declaration, duties and VAT (depending on the country).
An environmental levy may also be required, especially for electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries.
There are differences between importing new and used cars. For new cars, a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) and compliance with current standards are critical. Used cars may be subject to additional checks, especially if they have not previously been registered in the EU.
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1. Certificate of Conformity (Сос)
The Certificate of Conformity (Certificate of Conformity, or CoC) is a document confirming that a vehicle complies with all applicable EU requirements. It is issued by the manufacturer and is required to register the vehicle in the EU.
However, many Chinese manufacturers do not provide a CoC for the European market, which complicates the registration process. In such a case, individual certification may be required, which is a more complicated and costly procedure. We have written about it here.
2. Vehicle homologation
Homologation is a procedure for confirming that a vehicle complies with the established safety standards and environmental requirements. There are two main types of homologation in the EU:
The homologation process includes various tests such as crash tests, checking the braking system, noise level and other parameters. For example, in Poland it is called Homologacja pojazdów.
3. Certificate of Origin
A certificate of origin is a document confirming the country of production of a product. It is required for customs clearance and can affect the amount of duties applied. In the case of Chinese electric cars, having a certificate of origin confirming production in China means that the car will be subject to the aforementioned anti-dumping duties. Certificates of origin may be issued by:
Some manufacturers, in an effort to avoid high duties, organize car assembly in EU countries. For example, BYD plans to open a plant in Hungary, which will allow them to obtain EU certificates of origin and, consequently, avoid anti-dumping duties.
4. Customs declaration
When importing Chinese electric vehicles into the European Union (EU), a customs declaration, which includes an invoice, a CoC certificate and a customs value declaration, is required. As of October 30, 2024, the EU has imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese electric vehicles to offset alleged government subsidies provided to Chinese manufacturers. Duty rates vary depending on the manufacturer (up to 35.3%).
5. WVTA certificate (for business)
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The WVTA (Whole Vehicle Type Approval) certificate confirms that a vehicle meets all EU requirements and can be sold in the territory of the Union without additional checks.
To obtain a WVTA, a manufacturer must undergo a comprehensive certification procedure, including safety, environmental and other tests. WVTA significantly simplifies the process of registration and sale of cars in the EU.
Moreover, when preparing for vehicle certification, you can carry out part of the certification in one country and in parallel in another. Thus, if you want to deal with reflectors, headlights in a couple of days, you can do it in Latvia. All these documents are formed in English and locally issued by the country, so they are quoted everywhere in the EU.
Learn more about WVTA certificate
Example based on imports of Chinese cars into the Netherlands
Undoubtedly, it would be best to look at a real example to understand what documents you will need for this process. As today's practice shows, it is no longer so profitable to drive Chinese cars to Poland. One of the actual options is the Netherlands. Why this country? The answer lies in the geography of this country, as the Netherlands is washed by the North Sea. There are many ports in this country, and this means that you can bring cars from China by sea. This is much cheaper than using air or rail (unless in large volumes).
For example, specific auto import rates depend on the port of origin and port of destination. The most commonly used bundle is the port in Shanghai + port in Rotterdam. The entire journey takes approximately 35 days and will cost you an average of $2,500. Are there any other solutions? Yes, Dalian Port - Port of Amsterdam is considered the fastest way to bring a car from China to the Netherlands by sea. The travel time is 15 days and the cost of this solution is about 1850 dollars for the service.
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What should you consider? The cost of bringing a car from the PRC to the Netherlands can depend on various factors, including the season. For example, the lowest prices are observed in winter. While from June to August, the prices increase by about 800-1000 dollars for bringing a vehicle. Now let's go into more detail about what documents you will need:
A bill of lading used for import, release and tax purposes.
Tax identification number in the Netherlands.
Location of tariff sub-item and goods.
Registration as an importer of vehicles from China to the Netherlands.
Declaration of the customs value of the vehicle.
A certificate of origin from China confirming that the vehicle is new.
A document that proves your financial solvency in the Netherlands.
Incoterms agreements for import.
IMPORTANT: you will also need a power of attorney that authorizes your customs broker to clear the imported vehicle in the Netherlands. Other important documents include a combined certificate of value and origin (CCVO) and an invoice. You also need to have a trade or corporate patent in the Netherlands, which should prove that you are in the business of importing vehicles from China. Find out how to apply for Dutch license plates for used cars at this link.
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How to import a Chines electric car to Poland?
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In fact, importing a Chinese electric car to Europe is not that difficult (if you want to bring the car for personal use and not massively for further sale). In our article we have described the step-by-step process of bringing a car to Poland. The whole process includes several steps: initial customs clearance, re-clearance, payment of fees and registration. However, today there are a few nuances in this case. The EU authorities have introduced anti-dumping duties on Chinese electric cars, so you will have to pay up to 35.5% fees (depending on the car brand). To pay the small rate, then you have to be a dealer. More information about the current duties can be found here.
In recent months, there have been rumors that the above mentioned duties will be completely abolished. However, so far it is nothing more than just talk. It's most likely not going to happen, otherwise BYD wouldn't be building a factory in Europe. You may also encounter various complications, including passing inspection and differences in the certificate of conformity. What to do? The best solution is to contact the qualified professionals at aksis agency. This way you can save your personal time and finances. We will help you to make the whole process of importing Chinese electric cars simple and fast, saving you a lot of hassle. Leave a request or contact us in any convenient way for a free consultation. We will promptly give feedback and discuss in detail assistance in importing cars!
