Can I import this car? Import eligibility checker
Use this checker to screen a China-sourced vehicle against known destination-country rules before you commit. It flags obvious risks and tells you what to confirm with your customs broker.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-14
Screen before you source
The most expensive mistake in cross-border used car buying is purchasing a vehicle that cannot clear customs at the destination. Age limits, fuel restrictions, steering-side requirements and certification rules vary by country — and a car that looks perfect in photos can become a storage problem at a foreign port.
This checker uses the rule summaries from our country import guides to flag the most common deal-breakers before you pay a deposit. It is not a customs ruling. It is the first five minutes of homework that too many buyers skip.
If the result is Likely OK, your next step is to confirm the specific VIN with a local customs broker. If it is High risk, the vehicle probably cannot enter that market under normal conditions. If it is Needs broker check, there is a known complication — do not proceed without a written answer from your broker.
Import eligibility screener
Select your destination country, enter the vehicle details, then check eligibility.
Destination
Vehicle details
Choose a destination country above. The screener checks age, fuel type, steering side and known restrictions based on our published import guides.
What the screener checks
The screener compares your inputs against four dimensions drawn from our published country import guides:
- Steering side. Most destination countries in our coverage are left-hand-drive markets. Mainland-China vehicles are LHD by default. The screener flags the rare case where a market expects RHD.
- Vehicle age. Many countries have a maximum age limit counted from the manufacture date — not the model year or first registration. The screener checks your manufacture year against the published limit and warns when the margin is tight enough that shipping time could push the vehicle over.
- Fuel type. Some countries ban diesel passenger cars. Others have newer, stricter rules for EV or PHEV imports. The screener flags known fuel restrictions.
- Country-specific complications. Certification requirements (SABER, CNCA, EAEU conformity), document language, routing choices and customs volatility are flagged as broker-check items.
The screener does not check engine displacement, emission standard, vehicle category, customs valuation, salvage history or VIN-level specification. Those require your broker.
After the screening
If you get Likely OK, the next step is a specific vehicle. Browse current stock or tell us what you need — destination country, model preference, year range, fuel type and budget. We select against the real rule, not against a generic listing.
If you get Needs broker check, collect the flagged items and send them to your customs broker before contacting us. We can prepare vehicle data (VIN, specs, photos, manufacture date evidence) once the broker confirms the path is clear.
If you get High risk, the vehicle probably cannot enter that market under normal import conditions. Consider a different fuel type, a newer manufacture year, or ask your broker whether the rule has changed since the guidance was published.
Exporter-side insight: the screening order matters
From our desk, the first question in every inquiry should be eligibility — not price. When a buyer asks "How much is a 2019 diesel SUV to Algeria?" the answer is that diesel passenger cars are banned there, regardless of price. When a buyer asks "Can you ship a 2018 sedan to Saudi Arabia?" the answer is that the car is outside the 5-year window before we discuss FOB.
The screening order we use internally:
- Can this vehicle legally enter the destination? (age, fuel, steering, category)
- Can the buyer's broker confirm the path? (documents, certification, route)
- Does the landed cost make sense? (use the FOB cost estimator)
- Does the model fit the market? (parts support, resale demand, service network)
This checker handles step 1. Your broker handles step 2. The cost estimator handles step 3. Our sourcing conversation handles step 4.
Turn the screening into a sourcing brief
Once you have a Likely OK result and your broker's written confirmation, send us:
- destination country and port;
- vehicle model, year range and fuel type that passed the screening;
- your broker's specific requirements (documents, certification, date evidence);
- budget range and intended use (personal, fleet or resale);
- any additional restriction your broker flagged.
We supply to the confirmed rule — not to the cheapest listing. That is how a first order becomes a repeatable supply relationship instead of a port-side surprise. Browse current stock or send your screening summary through WhatsApp to start.
Frequently asked questions
Is this checker an official customs ruling?
No. It is a pre-deposit screening tool based on publicly available trade guidance reviewed as of mid-2026. Rules change, enforcement varies, and edge cases exist. The checker tells you whether a vehicle is Likely OK, Needs broker check, or High risk — but your local customs broker is the only source of a binding eligibility answer for a specific VIN.
Why does the checker say 'Needs broker check' instead of giving a clear yes or no?
Because many countries apply rules that depend on vehicle category, importer status, customs valuation method, document wording or current enforcement practice. A screening tool cannot replicate a broker's judgement on those details. When the checker says Needs broker check, it means the combination you entered is possible but has a known complication that must be confirmed locally before deposit.
My country is not listed. Does that mean I cannot import from China?
Not at all. The checker currently covers countries where we have published import guides with publicly verified rule summaries. For unlisted countries, contact us with the destination, vehicle type and year range — we can help you structure the right questions for your local broker.
Can I use this checker for electric vehicles and hybrids?
Yes. Select the fuel type and the checker will flag any known EV or hybrid caution for that destination. Some countries have stricter age rules, extra certification steps or limited charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The checker highlights these, but your broker must confirm the current treatment for the exact battery type and VIN.
Disclaimer: import regulations change and are applied by the destination country's customs at the time of clearance. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal advice — always confirm current rules with your local customs broker before paying a deposit. Under FOB terms, import compliance and clearance are the buyer's responsibility; we flag obvious issues (such as vehicle age limits) before you commit.