Vladivostok is the shortest voyage from China; Novorossiysk and St Petersburg take much longer but are closer to European Russia.
Ports and routes
We quote sea freight to three Russian ports: Vladivostok on the Pacific coast, Novorossiysk on the Black Sea and St Petersburg on the Baltic. Cars leave China from Shanghai, Tianjin or Guangzhou. Estimates with their quote dates are listed on this page and in the cost calculator on each car page; the sailing and the final rate are confirmed for each car.
Russia
| Departure port | Destination port | Quoted | Estimated ocean freight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guangzhou | Novorossiysk | — | |
| Shanghai | Novorossiysk | — | |
| Tianjin | Novorossiysk | — | |
| Guangzhou | St. Petersburg Guangzhou → St. Petersburg, about 45 days at sea | $2,400 | |
| Shanghai | St. Petersburg Shanghai → St. Petersburg, about 45 days at sea | $2,400 | |
| Tianjin | St. Petersburg Tianjin → St. Petersburg, about 45 days at sea | $2,400 | |
| Guangzhou | Vladivostok Guangzhou → Vladivostok, about 14 days at sea | $1,800 | |
| Shanghai | Vladivostok Shanghai → Vladivostok, about 14 days at sea | $1,800 | |
| Tianjin | Vladivostok Tianjin → Vladivostok, about 14 days at sea | $1,800 |
Container or RoRo
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
Rules and charges for imported cars in Russia change often. What you pay, and which documents you need, can depend on the car's age, engine size or power and engine type, and on whether the buyer is a private person or a company. Some charges are set separately from customs duty and have been revised several times.
Payment details and terms are set out in the proforma invoice.
Documents
Before documents are issued, we need the consignee details, written exactly as your broker needs them. Export paperwork and documents explains each one. After clearance, the car needs an electronic vehicle passport before registration.
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
- Buyer's passport or company details
- Technical data: VIN, engine size and power
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.
- duty and other charges for imported cars
- port and terminal charges, and storage if collection is late
- customs broker fees
- certification, vehicle passport and registration
- onward transport to your city
Customs clearance at the destination is done by you or your customs broker.
SUVs in stock
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
Which port should I choose?
The one with the simplest onward route to your city. Vladivostok suits the Far East and Siberia; St Petersburg and Novorossiysk are closer to European Russia.
Can you ship to another Russian port?
We quote Vladivostok, Novorossiysk and St Petersburg as standard and can check other ports on request. Tell us the port, and the car ID if you have one, and your sales manager will tell you whether a service is available and what it costs.
Do you handle Russian customs?
No. We handle the export side in China: inspection, export paperwork and shipping. Customs clearance, certification and registration in Russia are done by you or your licensed customs broker. We send your broker the documents and technical details they ask for.
Can the screen be switched to Russian?
Many models offer Russian in the settings, but it depends on the model and software version, and some apps and online services work only in China. We confirm the languages for each car, so ask your sales manager for a video of the settings menu.