How to Import a Truck from China: A 10-Step Guide
From checking your country's import rules to clearing customs at home: the full process, the documents you need and the mistakes to avoid.
In short: To import a truck from China, follow these steps. (1) Check your country's import rules. (2) Choose the right configuration for your work. (3) Plan the full landed cost. (4) Verify the seller. (5) Get the exact truck's VIN and photos. (6) Agree everything on a written proforma invoice. (7) Inspect before the balance is paid. (8) Book the shipping. (9) Collect the export documents. (10) Clear customs and register the truck at home. This guide explains each step, with the mistakes that cost buyers the most money.
1. Check your country's import rules first
Do this before you look at any truck. A truck that cannot be registered in your country is worth nothing to you, however low the price. Ask a licensed clearing agent in your country to confirm these points for the exact vehicle type:
- Age limit. Many countries limit the age of imported used vehicles or charge more for older ones. Check how age is counted: by build year, or by year of first registration.
- Steering side. Countries that drive on the left often require right-hand drive.
- Emission standard. Check whether your country requires a minimum Euro level.
- Pre-shipment inspection. Some countries require an inspection certificate from an approved body before the truck leaves China.
- Duty, VAT and levies. Ask how they are calculated, and whether there is an extra levy on older vehicles.
These rules change often. Kenya, for example, applies the KS 1515 standard, which limits used imports by year of first registration. Reports in 2026 said KEBS would clear only right-hand-drive vehicles first registered in 2019 or later (DHL Kenya, 2026). In Uganda, the government proposed in April 2026 to cut the maximum age for imported vehicles from 15 to 13 years (Daily Monitor, April 2026). Some rules treat commercial vehicles differently from cars, so get your agent's answer in writing.
2. Choose the right configuration for your work
Start with the job, not the brand. Tell the seller what you will carry, how far, on what roads, and how heavy each load is.
- Dump trucks (tippers) carry sand, gravel, stone and soil. Choose 4×2, 6×4 or 8×4 depending on the volume and road limits. See 6×4 vs 8×4 dump truck.
- Tractor heads pull semi-trailers. Give the trailer type, kingpin size and the total combination weight.
- Mixers, tankers, crane trucks and flatbeds need the body specification confirmed as well as the chassis.
If you are not sure which brand to choose, read HOWO vs SHACMAN. Or browse the truck catalogue by type and axle layout.
3. Plan the full landed cost, not just the truck price
A low truck price can hide a high delivery cost. Your budget should have five separate lines:
| Cost line | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Truck price | The vehicle at the seller's yard (EXW), including the agreed refurbishment |
| China-side costs | Inland transport to the port, export customs declaration and port handling |
| Freight and insurance | RoRo, flat rack or break-bulk freight to your port, plus marine insurance |
| Destination costs | Port charges, clearing agent fees, import duty, VAT and levies |
| Inland delivery | Transport from the port to your site, then inspection and registration |
Use our delivery cost worksheet to add up each line. Then ask each supplier to quote on the same Incoterm:
- EXW: you collect the truck from the yard.
- FOB: the seller delivers the truck onto the ship in China.
- CFR or CIF: the seller also pays the freight to your port (and, with CIF, the insurance).
Our published prices are EXW Jining. For truck prices, see the HOWO 371 price guide.
4. Verify the seller before you send any money
Fraud is the biggest risk in buying trucks online. Fake sellers copy photos from real companies. Check these things:
- Legal company name and registration code. Every Chinese company has an 18-character Unified Social Credit Code. You can look it up on China's official company registry, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System (gsxt.gov.cn).
- A real yard. Ask for a live video call that walks from the gate to the truck. Or visit, or send an inspector.
- Bank account name. The beneficiary on the invoice must be the same company you verified. Never pay a personal account.
- Changed bank details. If someone emails you "new" bank details, confirm by phone with a person you already know before you pay.
Our own company details, licence and payment rules are on the Verify us page. You can also walk through our yard and workshops in the 360° factory tour.
5. Get the exact truck, not a "similar" one
Catalogue photos show a type of truck, not the one you will get. Before you agree a price, ask for these details of the actual vehicle:
- The VIN (chassis number) and engine number, with photos of both plates
- The build year and odometer reading
- Dated photos of the cab, chassis, frame, tyres and body
- A cold-start video filmed with the engine cold, not already warm
- A video of the truck driving, shifting gears, braking and tipping or coupling
6. Put everything in a written proforma invoice
The proforma invoice (PI) is your contract, so anything that is not written on it is not agreed. It should state:
- The seller's legal name, address and bank account
- The truck: make, model, VIN, engine number, year, steering side and specification
- The condition level, and a list of the refurbishment or rebuild work
- The price, currency and Incoterm, with the named port or place
- The deposit and balance amounts, and when each is due
- The preparation time and shipping date
- The documents you will receive
- Any warranty, its length and its exclusions
7. Inspect before you pay the balance
When the agreed work is finished, check the truck again before you pay the balance. You can ask for a second live video inspection. You can visit in person. Or you can hire an independent inspection company to check it against the PI. If your country requires a pre-shipment inspection certificate, arrange it at this stage. Our used truck inspection checklist lists what to check.
8. Choose how to ship the truck
There are three common ways to ship a truck from China:
- RoRo (roll-on/roll-off). The truck is driven onto a car carrier ship. It is usually the simplest and cheapest way to ship a running truck, but sailings depend on the route.
- Flat rack container. The truck is lashed onto an open container frame. Use it when there is no RoRo service to your port, when the truck is oversized, or when it does not run.
- Break-bulk. The truck is lifted on board as general cargo. This is common for large units or groups of trucks on some routes.
Trucks from Shandong usually leave from a major northern port. The quotation should name the port. Common delivery ports for our buyers include Mombasa and Dar es Salaam (East Africa), Lagos and Tema (West Africa), and Jeddah (Middle East). Central Asian destinations such as Tashkent are inland, so they need a separate road or rail quote. Regional pages: East Africa, West Africa, Central Asia, Middle East.
9. Collect the export documents
Your clearing agent will need the original documents (or their release) before the truck arrives. A normal set includes these documents:
- Commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading (or a telex release)
- Export customs declaration
- Certificate of origin, if your country gives a preferential duty rate
- For used trucks, the vehicle's registration or deregistration papers, as your country requires
- Any pre-shipment inspection or roadworthiness certificate your country requires
Ask your agent for their exact list early, and send it to the seller before shipment. Missing papers are a common cause of port storage charges.
10. Clear customs and register the truck
When the ship arrives, your clearing agent pays the duties and taxes, clears the truck and releases it from the port. Then you arrange inland transport, a local inspection if one is required, registration and insurance. Do a first service with your own mechanic before the truck starts heavy work.
Five mistakes that cost importers the most
- Buying before checking the import rules, then finding the truck is too old or has the wrong steering side.
- Comparing an EXW price with a CFR price as if they were the same thing.
- Paying a personal bank account, or a "new" account sent by email.
- Agreeing on photos of a different truck instead of the VIN of the actual truck.
- Thinking body volume is payload. A big tipper body does not mean a legal load. Check the axle limits in your country.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to import a truck from China?
It depends on the preparation work, the next sailing and the route. Ask for a written timeline that covers preparation, transport to the port, sailing time and clearance at destination.
Can I inspect the truck before I pay?
Yes. Ask for a live video inspection of the exact truck, visit the yard, or appoint an independent inspector before you commit.
Who pays import duty?
The buyer pays duty, VAT and levies in the destination country, usually through a clearing agent. These costs are not included in an EXW, FOB or CFR price.
Is RoRo or container shipping cheaper for trucks?
For a running truck, RoRo is usually the simpler and cheaper option where a service exists. Flat rack is used for non-running or oversized units, or when there is no RoRo service. Compare written quotes for your route.
