How to export car parts from the UK to China

Which car parts can you export to China?

UK exports of car parts and accessories under HS 8706-8708 (18 subheadings) need product-specific checks. Some products are in the CCC catalogue and need certification before import. Identify the Chinese tariff line and certification route before accepting an order.

Under HS 8706-8708 (18 subheadings), HMRC recorded £110.1m of UK goods exports to mainland China under 18 HS6 subheadings in 2025 (2024: £197.3m, -44.2%). Exports to Hong Kong under the same codes were £36.3m. January to July 2026: £44.0m against £71.4m in the same months of 2025 (-38.4%).

The largest UK export line was body parts line 87082990 at £22.0m, a code total rather than sales of one product. The covered Chinese tariff lines are not on the cross-border e-commerce retail import list examined here. Plan the import route with your buyer rather than assuming retail cross-border clearance is available.

Build duty and VAT into your buyer’s price

All the supplied Chinese tariff lines across these HS groups have an MFN rate of 6%. Chinese tariff line 87089939 also has a provisional 2026 rate of 3%. Have your buyer settle the precise Chinese line before calculating landed cost; a UK export code alone does not identify that line.

The VAT Law’s standard import rate is 13%, subject to its reduced-rate list and special rules. Import VAT uses the customs value plus customs duty plus consumption tax as its base. The importer’s customs broker or adviser confirms whether consumption tax applies to the part. These border charges affect landed cost and the price your buyer can offer.

Resolve CCC scope and the certification change

The SAMR and GACC reference table associates chassis codes 8706002100, 8706002200, 8706004000 and 8706009000 with third-party certification. It lists seat belts at 8708210000, seats and head restraints at 8708995900, and safety glass at 8708294100 and 8708294200 under self-declaration. Use these reference matches to investigate the actual part’s scope, with the importer confirming the current classification and certification requirements.

Seat belts, seats and head restraints, and safety glass change to third-party CCC certification from 1 January 2027. Conversion must be completed by 31 December 2026; the announcement requires a CCC certificate and mark before import from the change date. Allow months, not weeks, for approval; the Chinese authority decides. Agree who supplies the product information and who handles the certification work before committing stock.

Prepare the UK export declaration

For exports from England, Scotland or Wales, classify each part and obtain a GB EORI number. The online export declaration needs the commodity code, value, weight, packaging, destination, transport details, and invoice and packing list references. Give the carrier the invoice and any required export licences or certificates. Keep the part descriptions consistent with the classification and CCC work so your buyer can reconcile the shipment.

Find an importer who can handle your parts

Ask a prospective importer how it will resolve your part’s Chinese classification, applicable CCC route and landed-cost calculation. Our own staff in China find and check Chinese importers and distributors for UK brands. If an importer has already approached you, our staff in China check that company before stock is sent or anything is signed.

Through our export-to-China service, we prepare registration and label work with licensed partners in China. The importer of record and other applicable regulated roles stay with licensed partners in China, while your own filings remain yours. Match the proposed importer’s capabilities to the specific parts you intend to supply.