Sourcing flatbed truck bodies from China
Flatbed truck bodies from China carry 4% UK duty across the relevant tariff lines. In Great Britain, the completed goods vehicle must be approved before registration. Specify chassis fit, deck loading and lashing points before ordering. Cambridge China Bridge sources flatbed truck bodies.
UK duty on flatbed truck bodies
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8707 covers bodies, including cabs, for vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705. Flatbed truck bodies sit within its other-body branches. The table shows product variants sharing a code, plus the industrial-assembly branch; it does not represent separate tariff lines for each material.
The supplied tariff record gives 4% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions recorded. It also attaches a DCMS Export Licence entry. Official guidance says there are no cultural-object import licensing requirements for Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm the entry’s relevance and any declaration requirements for your shipment.
For ordinary flatbed body orders, check 8707 90 90 00 against the actual goods. Use 8707 90 10 00 only where the specified industrial-assembly description fits the intended vehicle and use. Separate panels and tail lifts may fall elsewhere. Confirm the commodity code, including for a kit, and see the wider truck bodies and cabs guide.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel flatbed truck bodies, other | 8707 90 90 00 | 4% | None |
| Flatbed bodies for qualifying industrial assembly | 8707 90 10 00 | 4% | None |
Specify chassis fit, deck loading and restraint points
Send the chassis model, wheelbase, mounting drawing and manufacturer’s body-fitting instructions. Agree platform dimensions, rear overhang, subframe layout, mounting brackets, body mass and intended cargo. Specify steel or aluminium construction, deck material, crossmember layout, headboard, removable posts, dropside hinges and catches, and corrosion protection.
Ask for drawings and supporting test records for the deck, headboard and lashing points against the intended loading pattern, including concentrated loads. Official guidance says dropsides alone cannot secure a load. Agree the restraint arrangement with the vehicle operator before approving the body design.
For a new vehicle completed with the imported body in Great Britain, approval is required before registration. Agree with the chassis supplier and UK bodybuilder who handles the completed-vehicle approval. Check the planned lighting, side guards, underrun protection and plates against the finished vehicle’s approval checklist.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 4 steel flatbed truck bodies; values are illustrative under 8707 90 90 00, invoiced at £20,000 free on board, with £6,800 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £26,800. Duty at 4% is £1,072. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £27,872, so it is £5,574.40. Import taxes total £6,646.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £1,072 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: measure mounting centres, platform dimensions and clearances against the approved chassis drawing before dispatch and again on arrival.
Deck and frame: check crossmembers, welds, deck joints, fasteners and drainage; compare materials and body mass with the agreed specification.
Restraint and sides: check lashing-point construction and supporting records, headboard attachments, post sockets, hinges and positive catch engagement.
Finish and delivery: inspect coating coverage beneath the deck, exposed edges and dissimilar-metal joints; check transport distortion, loose fittings and the supplied installation documents.
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What goes wrong
A platform can match the ordered overall dimensions yet miss the chassis mounting points. A changed crossmember layout can leave the deck poorly supported beneath concentrated cargo. Other problems include distorted frames, cracked welds, loose post sockets and catches that open or bind after transport.
A dropside body can also be mistaken for a complete load-restraint system. Check the restraint design and supporting records separately from the appearance of the sides. Resolve drawing discrepancies before shipment and record arrival damage before fitting. Use an agreed quality inspection checklist to keep the factory and receiving checks consistent.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on flatbed truck bodies from China?
The supplied UK Trade Tariff record gives 4% on the relevant body lines, with no anti-dumping or countervailing measures and no suspensions recorded.
Does a Chinese flatbed body need UK vehicle approval?
For a new goods vehicle completed with the body in Great Britain, the completed vehicle must be approved before registration. Agree responsibility with the chassis supplier and bodybuilder before ordering.
Can dropsides secure the load without lashings?
Official guidance says the sides of drop or fixed sided flatbeds cannot secure a load by themselves. Agree a restraint arrangement suited to the cargo.
What drawings should I send a flatbed body factory?
Send the chassis mounting drawing and body-fitting instructions, with platform dimensions, subframe layout, intended cargo, deck loading, headboard and lashing-point specifications.