Sourcing hearses from China

UK import duty on hearses

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 8703 covers motor cars and other vehicles principally designed for transporting persons. The hearse lines shown carry 10% duty for goods from China, with no anti-dumping or countervailing duty recorded. The autonomous suspension applies only to ambulances. Import VAT is normally 20%; see import duty and VAT.

The tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls, including for vehicles with pre-charged air-conditioning. Imported equipment containing these gases must be labelled correctly. Obtain the refrigerant specification and have your customs broker confirm the applicable requirements. The used diesel line also carries waste import controls: notification starts in the dispatch country, and you should confirm with the relevant waste authorities what consent is needed before shipping to England under notification controls. The file also lists cultural-object export licensing and, on the used line, waste export controls.

These are candidate vehicle codes, not dedicated hearse codes. Give your broker the completed body description, propulsion, engine capacity and new or used status, then confirm the commodity code. For another product family within the wider heading, see motorhomes.

Specify the completed hearse conversion

Specify the base vehicle and conversion builder, driving position, passenger seating, overall dimensions and loaded axle weights. Define coffin-deck length and width, rear-door opening, loading height, roller layout, stops and restraints. Ask for drawings showing how the deck and body extension attach to the vehicle, with access for maintenance.

Agree right-hand-drive configuration, lighting, speedometer display, brakes and suspension for the completed vehicle. Request the approval documents for the exact conversion and confirm the approval route or exemption before ordering. Proof of approval is needed to register and tax an imported vehicle unless an exemption applies. A vehicle brought into the UK permanently must be registered with the vehicle licensing authority.

Specify deck finish, cleaning method, partition, glazing, curtains, interior lighting and door seals. Agree a loading demonstration with a representative test load, a water-ingress check and a controlled loaded driving test. Include replacement rollers, restraint fittings, seals, conversion-specific glazing and wiring information in the handover agreement.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative funeral-business order of a completed new diesel hearse, not a quotation under 8703 33 19 00, invoiced at £41,600 free on board, with £3,520 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £45,120. Duty at 10% is £4,512. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £49,632, so it is £9,926.40. Import taxes total £14,438.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £4,512 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and documents: match vehicle identifiers, base model and conversion details to the invoice, drawings and approval evidence; compare arrival condition with the pre-shipment inspection record.

Coffin deck: measure usable space and door clearance; test rollers, stops and restraints with the agreed test load, checking deck fixings and access beneath the floor.

Body conversion: inspect structural joints, underbody protection, glazing, paint, trim and door alignment; check seals for water ingress and look for transport damage.

Driving and handover: check brakes, steering, suspension, lights and instruments on a controlled test; operate air-conditioning and interior electrics, and account for keys, instructions and agreed spare parts.

What goes wrong

A base vehicle's paperwork can be mistaken for evidence covering the completed hearse. A body extension or changed seating may leave the supplied documents describing a different build. Resolve mismatches before shipment and confirm what evidence the approval authority needs for the actual vehicle.

A deck can meet its advertised length while the rear opening prevents loading the intended coffin. Rollers may bind under load, restraints may be awkward to reach, and added bodywork can leak around glazing or doors. Record functional acceptance tests in the order and compare the delivered vehicle with the pre-shipment evidence.

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.