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What Is The Procedure To Import Foreign Vehicles To India?

​Indian celebrities and business tycoons own premium cars and bikes that are imported from foreign countries. These vehicles are so luxurious that people are willing to spend a ton of money and time getting them here in India. However, one should know that there are certain rules and regulations imposed by the Indian government on importing a foreign vehicle. These rules are strict and non-flexible. 

Given below are some of the important things that one should be aware of while importing a foreign vehicle in India: 

Rules To Import A New Car


  • ​​The car imported to India must be assembled or manufactured outside of India.
  • The car should be imported from the country where it was manufactured. 
  • The steering wheels of the vehicle should be on the right-side.
  • The headlights should be bright. 
  • The speedometer should measure speed in kilometres. 
  • Cars can only be imported via naval docks that are situated in Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata. So, before your car gets deliver at your doorsteps, it will be imported at these ports only. 

    • Rules for importing a used car is similar to the rule of importing a new car. However, in case of a used car there are an additional two rules:

  • The used car that is imported to India should not be more than 3 years old. 
  • Roadworthiness certificate is important, and its validity should be at least 5 years.

    • Banned Vehicles


    There are certain vehicles that are prohibited on Indian roads. A vehicle with the following specifications can’t be imported in India: 

  • Any car whose engine capacity is between 1,000cc to 2,500cc.
  • Bikes or heavy-duty two-wheelers whose engine capacity is between 50cc to 500cc.
  • Scooters whose engine capacity is between 250cc to 800cc.

    • Important Documentation And Paperwork


    You need to provide with the following paperwork when you are planning to import a vehicle to India: 

  • GATT Declaration 
  • Invoice of the vehicle
  • Bank Draft
  • Car Insurance policy
  • Import License
  • Bill of Lading 
  • Test report 
  • Two wheeler insurance​
    (in case the imported vehicle is a two-wheeler)
  • Purchase Order/ Letter of Credit
  • DEPB (Duty Entitlement Passbook)/ DEEC (Duty Exemption Entitlement Certificate)/ ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India) 

    • Things To Consider Before Importing A Vehicle Into India


    Importing a vehicle from a foreign country is a time-consuming process. That is why it is important for you to consider certain things before you start the importing process. given below is the list of things that you should know about before you import a vehicle on Indian soil:

    Import Duty On Bikes


    You might need to pay approximately 116% of the bike’s cost, freight (CIF) value, and, insurance as import duty.

    Import Duty on cars


    You might need to pay approximately 165% of the car’s cost, freight (CIF) value, and, insurance as import duty.

    Registration


    Y​ou need to register the imported vehicle in India at the nearest Regional Transport Office or RTO. The cost of registration and road tax are excluded from the import duty. The cost of registering an imported vehicle depends on the cost and type of vehicle.
    With the help of the abstract mentioned above, you can get your car imported from a foreign country to India without any hassles.