HOW TO IMPORT AN AUTOMOBILE IN INDIA :: Updated Guide for 2024

• Tariff Item: 8702 - MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF TEN OR MORE PERSONS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER
• Tariff Item: 8703 - MOTOR CARS AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES PRINCIPALLY DESIGNED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF PERSONS (OTHER THAN THOSE OF HEADING 8702), INCLUDING STATION WAGONS AND RACING CARS

HOW TO IMPORT
AN AUTOMOBILE IN INDIA :: Basic Duty

Import Duties and Taxes ON VEHICLES MEANT FOR THE TRANSPORT OF TEN OR MORE PERSONS (CTH: 87021011)

... Vehicles for transport of not more than 13 persons, including the driver;  Vehicles for transport of not more than 13 persons, including the driver;  Integrated monocoque vehicle, air-conditioned;  

DUTY-CALCULATION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE TRANSPORT OF TEN OR MORE PERSONS

Compulsory compliance Requirements (CCRs)

....OR USED VEHICLES WILL BE SUBJECT TO POLICY CONDITION NO 1 TO CH 87. THE IMPORT OF CUSTOMIZED CARS/MOTORCYCLES AND PARTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO POLICY CONDITION NO 10 TO CH 87. REFER TO POLICY CONDITION NOS 3, 4, 5, 6 & 11 FOR APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS.

...TESTING, RESEARCH OR SCIENTIFIC USE ETC. HAS TO COMPLY WITH THE CENTRAL MOTOR VEHICLES (ELEVENTH AMENDMENT) RULES, 2018.

DUTY CALCULATION FOR IMPORT OF AUTOMOBILES (OTHER THAN THOSE FALLING UNDER CTH 8702), INCLUDING STATION WAGONS AND RACING CARS

... Other vehicles, with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) and electric motor as motors for propulsion, capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power;  Vehicles principally designed for transport of more than seven persons, including driver;  

DUTY-CALCULATION MOTOR CARS AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES PRINCIPALLY DESIGNED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF PERSONS (OTHER THAN THOSE OF HEADING 8702), INCLUDING STATION WAGONS AND RACING CARS; ....

Compulsory compliance Requirements (CCRs)

....CUSTOMIZED CARS/MOTORCYCLES AND PARTS WILL BE SUBJECT TO POLICY CONDITION NO 10 TO CH 87. REFER TO POLICY CONDITION NOS 3, 4, 5, 6 & 11 FOR APPLICABLE EXEMPTIONS.

....OR BY THE ORGANIZATION/ CITIZEN FOR PERSONAL USE, DEMONSTRATION, TESTING, RESEARCH OR SCIENTIFIC USE ETC. HAS TO COMPLY WITH THE CENTRAL MOTOR VEHICLES (ELEVENTH AMENDMENT) RULES, 2018. REFER POLICY CONDITION 12, GSR 870(E) DT 13-09-2018, MIN OF ROAD, TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS & DGFT NOTN NO. 14/2015-20 DTD 28.08.2019.

BANNED AUTOMOBILES:

Banned vehicles cannot be imported to India. A person needs to make sure that the vehicle being imported does not have the following specifications:

• Cars that have an engine capacity ranging from 1,000cc to 2,500cc.

• Heavy-duty two-wheelers or bikes that have an engine capacity ranging from 50cc to 500cc.

• Scooters that have an engine capacity ranging from 250cc to 800cc.

Documents Required for Import Custom Clearance OF AUTOMOBILES

BASIC Statutory Registrations Required for ALL ImportS

How to IMPORT AUTOMOBILES under transfer of residence?

India allows foreign nationals or Non-resident Indians (NRIs) to import one vehicle while shifting permanently to India. The vehicle can be a car or two-wheeler, new or used. Here are the other conditions for the import of a car/bike under “transfer of residence”:

• The foreign national/NRI should not have stayed in India for at least 2 years before the transfer.
• The person should have a plan of residing in India for at least one year after the transfer.
• The person should not have gone through the process of “transfer of residence” for at least three years before the current transfer process.
• This process can be carried out by only one member of the family. He/she needs to fill the Transfer of Residence Form for the purpose.
• The car/bike should be imported within six months of shifting base to India.
• The sale of an imported vehicle is prohibited for at least two years after the transfer. Thus, the person should wait for 2 years in order to sell the vehicle.
• No restriction of being new or used if the engine capacity of the vehicle is between 75cc and 500cc.
• If the engine capacity of the car being imported is more than 1,600cc, then it should be registered for at least 1 year before the import.

A new imported vehicle shall mean a vehicle that:

• it has not been manufactured/assembled in India; and
• it has not been sold, leased or loaned prior to importation into India; or
• it has not been registered for use in any country according to the laws of that country, prior to importation into India.

Import of new vehicles shall be subject to the following conditions:

The new vehicle shall: 

• have a speedometer indicating the speed in km / h;
• have right hand steering, and controls (applicable on vehicles other than two and three wheelers);
• have photometry of the headlamps to suit “keep-left” traffic; and
• be imported from the country of manufacture.
  

 In addition, the new vehicle shall conform to the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the rules made thereunder, as applicable, on the date of import.

The import of new vehicles shall be permitted only through the Customs port at Nhava Sheva (Mumbai), Calcutta and Chennai.

• a. has been sold, leased or loaned prior to importation into India; or
• b. has been registered for use in any country according to the laws of that country, prior to importation into India;

• a. The second hand or used vehicle shall not be older than three years from the date of manufacture;
• b. The second hand or used vehicle shall:
  • have right hand steering, and controls (applicable on vehicles other than two and three wheelers);
  • have a speedometer indicating the speed km / h; and
  • have photometry of the headlamps to suit “keep left” traffic.
• In addition, the second hand or used vehicle shall conform to the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and the rules made thereunder, as applicable, on the date of import.
• Import of second hand vehicles shall be allowed only through the customs port at Mumbai.
• The second hand or used vehicles imported into India should have a minimum roadworthiness for a period of 5 years from the date of importation into India with assurance for providing service facilities within the country during the five year period. For this purpose, the importer shall, at the time of importation, submit a declaration indicating the period of roadworthiness in respect of every individual vehicle being imported, supported by a certificate issued by any of the testing agencies, which the Central Government may notify in this regard.
• The vehicle has to be submitted for testing to Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, of the Ministry of Defence or the Automotive Research Association of India, Pune or the Central Farm and Machinery Training and Testing Institute, Budni, Madhya Pradesh, and such other agencies as may be specified by the Central Government, for granting a certificate by that agency as to the compliance of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and any rules made thereunder.