Taxes associated with importing a car for personal use

[Grizzly111]

Hi, I am considering a move to HK in the near future. What are the costs associated with importing a car tax -wise. I have been to the govt website but cant seem to find what I am after?

[jaykay]

Taxes are easy and are shown here http://www.customs.gov.hk/filemanage.../noticefrt.pdf

The valuation of the can be performed in 2 different way depending on whether you've owned the car for over 6 months or it is a car you have just purchased. Valuation includes shipping fees and other costs associated with import.

Most cars will be subject to a noise and emissions test but there are some exceptions, this will explain it better http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/en..._Procedure.pdf

There is also a road worthiness test performed by the transport department.

[MovingIn07]

Since HK is a free port, the answer is probably zero which is why you can't find it. But I'm not an expert. I would ask why on earth you would want to do it - only a few living locations actually make a car necessary here and in the vast number of situations its more of an inconvenience than useful. And in any event, not hard to buy something when you arrive which is probably cheaper than the shipping costs!

EDIT - jaykay's link above shows the registration taxes, which look like a stealth import tax to me ha ha.

[Grizzly111]

Thanks for the replies.

Wow! That is an insane tax. So if I import a 2nd hand car with a value of say HK$500k, the tax will cost HK$372k???

[Watercooler]

OP, also note that HK doesn't allow left-hand drive cars, but only right-hand drive cars (steering on the right). So even if you can waive the tax, you won't be able to drive the car here if it is not right-hand drive.

[MovingIn07]

OP, also note that HK doesn't allow left-hand drive cars, but only right-hand drive cars (steering on the right). So even if you can waive the tax, you won't be able to drive the car here if it is not right-hand drive.

He said it was bringing it from Australia (on another thread) so that's not an issue. It's just a daft idea.

[Grizzly111]

I thought it was a plausible idea since there was no import tax (unlike in Aus where taxes are high). Can anyone confirm that the first registration tax on an imported car will be almost as much as the value of the car? Is there a way to waive it?

If it's correct, then yes I must say it is a very daft idea to import a car indeed!

[jaykay]

Thanks for the replies.

Wow! That is an insane tax. So if I import a 2nd hand car with a value of say HK$500k, the tax will cost HK$372k???

Yes, well HK$372,500 to be exact. For ordinary cars it's not worth it. Only really works for high end cars or something out of the ordinary.

There are also quite a few imported Japanese cars but normally purchased super cheap due to astronomical milages and clocked before they're sent to HK.

[Grizzly111]

Thanks for the link to the cars for sale DeletedUser.

Seems like prices are cheaper than in Australia, given current exchange rates. Second hand cars here are much more dear, so will be a smarter idea to sell here then buy in HK.

[Jeremy Clarkson]

however you can save yourself a packet if you import a car from the UK providing you chose wisely. Anything that is reasonabley attractive with a price of around GBP15k in the UK and around 4-5 years old will save you a load ( it is a recession, depreciation, exchange rate issue) e.g. a BMW M3 providing it is completely standard and built to Euro iv or v emmissions. Also you can go high end and save a packet- e.g 911 GT3 RS or Aston V8V etc. Anything saloon except BMW M5 etc is to be avoided and anything in orange with chandeliers and flamethrowing exhausts unless fitted by the factory. Dont forget you will also get a service history in the UK which is rare in HK after the initial warranty period. oh and it is illegal to clock a car in UK where as in HK---- well it doesnt seem as though it is! And yes I have done it, made all the mistakes so learned how to do it efficiently but still saved around $100k (25%) on an equivalent car and my UK car has seat warmers!!!