Import rules vary widely from country to country, from age limits to steering side and pre-shipment inspection.
Ports and routes
We quote sea freight to Jebel Ali (United Arab Emirates), Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Mombasa (Kenya) and Lagos (Nigeria). Other ports in the region can be quoted on request. Cars leave China from Shanghai, Tianjin or Guangzhou, depending on where the car is and which services reach your port. Freight rates change, so the figure that counts is the one in your proforma invoice. Estimates with their quote dates are listed on this page and in the cost calculator on each car page; the sailing is confirmed for each car.
United Arab Emirates
| Departure port | Destination port | Quoted | Estimated ocean freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | Jebel Ali (Dubai) Guangzhou → Jebel Ali (Dubai), about 25 days at sea | $1,600 | |
| Shanghai | Jebel Ali (Dubai) Shanghai → Jebel Ali (Dubai), about 25 days at sea | $1,600 | |
| Tianjin | Jebel Ali (Dubai) Tianjin → Jebel Ali (Dubai), about 25 days at sea | $1,600 |
Kenya
| Departure port | Destination port | Quoted | Estimated ocean freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | Mombasa Guangzhou → Mombasa, about 30 days at sea | $2,000 | |
| Shanghai | Mombasa Shanghai → Mombasa, about 30 days at sea | $2,000 | |
| Tianjin | Mombasa Tianjin → Mombasa, about 30 days at sea | $2,000 |
Nigeria
| Departure port | Destination port | Quoted | Estimated ocean freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | Lagos Guangzhou → Lagos, about 40 days at sea | $1,900 | |
| Shanghai | Lagos Shanghai → Lagos, about 40 days at sea | $1,900 | |
| Tianjin | Lagos Tianjin → Lagos, about 40 days at sea | $1,900 |
Saudi Arabia
| Departure port | Destination port | Quoted | Estimated ocean freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | Jeddah Guangzhou → Jeddah, about 29 days at sea | $1,500 | |
| Shanghai | Jeddah Shanghai → Jeddah, about 29 days at sea | $1,500 | |
| Tianjin | Jeddah Tianjin → Jeddah, about 29 days at sea | $1,500 |
Container or RoRo
RoRo and container services differ by port. Compare the two methods
RoRo
Driven on and off a vehicle carrier. The car must be drivable, and personal belongings are generally not allowed inside.
Container
Secured inside a container with straps and wheel chocks; how the container is loaded is set out in your written shipping plan. Suits a car that does not run or needs extra protection.
Import rules
United Arab Emirates
The UAE drives on the right, so left-hand-drive cars suit local roads. Imported cars must meet local technical standards and pass inspection before registration; other rules apply if the car goes on to another country.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia drives on the right. It sets an age limit for imported used cars and requires imported vehicles to be certified as meeting Saudi standards.
Kenya
Kenya drives on the left and cars built for China are left-hand drive, which affects whether such a car can be registered. Kenya also limits the age of imported used cars and requires pre-shipment inspection.
Nigeria
Nigeria drives on the right, so left-hand-drive cars suit local roads. Imported cars are subject to age and documentation rules, and some import paperwork may need to be opened through your bank before the car ships.
Documents
Before documents are issued, we need the consignee details, written exactly as your broker needs them. Export paperwork and documents explains each one.
What you receive
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading
- Export customs declaration
- Vehicle deregistration certificate
- Certificate of origin, on request
What your broker usually asks for
- Commercial invoice and bill of lading
- Consignee's identification or company registration
- Any conformity or inspection certificate your country requires
Costs on arrival
Before payment, your written proforma invoice identifies the car and VIN, the FOB price, any ocean freight and cargo insurance, the agreed ports and trade term, payment terms and the bank details. Import duties, taxes, destination charges, customs broker fees and registration costs are not included.
- customs duties and taxes
- port and terminal charges, and storage if collection is late
- customs broker fees
- inspection or conformity fees at your end
- registration, and transport beyond the port
Customs clearance at the destination is done by you or your customs broker.
SUVs and pickups
The listed price is the FOB price in US dollars. It includes the car, inspection, export documents and customs clearance, domestic transport, port charges and service fee. CFR adds estimated ocean freight to the FOB price. CIF adds estimated cargo insurance to CFR. Import duties, taxes, destination charges, customs broker fees and registration costs are not included.
Common questions
Can you ship to a port not listed?
Often, yes. Tell us the port, and the car you are interested in if you have one, and your sales manager will check which RoRo or container services reach it and quote the freight. Some ports are served only with a transshipment on the way.
My country requires an inspection before shipping. Can you help?
Yes. Tell us early, ideally before you pay a deposit. We check what your country requires, who must carry out the inspection and where, and plan it into the timeline. Fees charged by the appointed inspection body are added to your costs.
Do you handle customs clearance?
No. We handle the export side in China: inspection, export paperwork and shipping. Clearance at the destination port is done by you or your licensed customs broker. We send your broker the documents and answer their questions about the car.
Can I ship to a landlocked country?
We ship to the nearest suitable sea port, such as Mombasa for many destinations in East Africa. Onward transport, transit customs and clearance in your country are arranged by you or your broker.