Sourcing bicycle locks from China

Duty on bicycle locks and spare parts

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 9 October 2026, heading 8301 covers base-metal padlocks and locks, including key, combination and electrically operated types, along with lock parts and keys. This guide focuses on mechanical bicycle locks, including shackle, cable, chain and folding designs. For the reverse route, see exporting UK locks to China.

The selected padlock, other-lock, parts and separate-key lines all carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. The control attached to locking clasps elsewhere in the heading is outside these selected lines.

Confirm the commodity code against the actual construction, particularly for chain-and-lock sets and separately supplied components. Do not classify bicycle locks as motor-vehicle locks merely because they secure a vehicle. See the wider locks guide for other lock families. For equipment locks, see our security cable lock sourcing guide.

Specify the lock and its bicycle fit

Specify usable shackle clearance, cable or chain length, metal dimensions, materials, hardening, protective covering and finished weight. For folding locks, define joint construction and play. Agree the frame bracket, attachment method and the bicycle tube shapes it should fit.

Set the keying plan, supplied keys, combination-reset method and replacement-key arrangements. Ask for test evidence matching the exact model and construction before accepting a security claim. Keep an approved sample for comparison with production. For luggage applications, see our luggage combination lock sourcing guide.

For consumer sales in Great Britain, the importer must ensure the product is safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Where reasonable, the product or packaging must identify the producer's name and address and the product reference or applicable batch. Assess sharp edges, finger traps and bracket detachment.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 2,500 mechanical bicycle locks under 8301 40 90 00, invoiced at £24,000 free on board, with £2,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £26,000, so it is £5,200. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Operation: open and close sampled locks, check every supplied key against its lock and test combination setting and resetting.

Construction: compare metal dimensions, materials, hardening evidence, folding joints and locking engagement with the agreed specification.

Fit and finish: fit brackets to the agreed tube shapes, check retention during movement and inspect coverings for exposed metal, burrs and frame-marking edges.

Arrival: check cartons for moisture, corrosion and transit damage; match locks, keys, brackets and batch identification to the packing list. Use an agreed inspection plan.

What goes wrong

A thick plastic covering can hide a thinner cable or shackle than the approved sample. Poor alignment can make keys bind, weak joint control can leave folding locks loose, and bracket movement can damage a bicycle frame. Check the underlying construction rather than judging strength by appearance.

Unclear keying instructions can produce shared keys where different keys were expected. Missing brackets or mismatched keys make stock difficult to sell. Confirm the key plan and packed contents before shipment, then repeat functional checks on arrival.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.