Sourcing motorcycle helmets from China

Duty on motorcycle helmets

Heading 6506 covers other headgear, including safety helmets. The relevant motorcycle helmet lines distinguish plastics from other materials. The table repeats these codes for different helmet styles; these are product examples rather than separate tariff subdivisions. For another safety-headgear family within the heading, see horse riding helmets. For workplace headgear, see our industrial safety helmet sourcing guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, both relevant safety-headgear lines carried 2% duty for goods from China. No anti-dumping duty, countervailing duty or suspension is recorded for these lines. The other-materials line attaches cat and dog fur import and export controls. Imports and exports of such fur and products made from it are banned; exclude it from linings and trim.

Confirm the shell composition and finished construction with your customs broker before declaring the commodity code. Do not choose a code solely from the supplier's description of the helmet as plastic or composite.

Shell, fit and approval documents

Helmets used on the road must meet safety standards. Before ordering, ask for the approval documents for the exact model and compare their product identification with the sample. Have an adviser assess the documents through testing and certification before accepting the supplier's compliance claim.

Specify full-face, open-face or flip-front construction, shell material, size range, impact liner, comfort padding, chinstrap closure, visor tint and replacement parts. For flip-front helmets, specify the chin-bar latch and hinge construction. Agree the permitted material and component changes in writing.

Visors marked for daytime use, or carrying the equivalent symbol, should only be used in daytime. Specify the intended riding conditions and approve the visor supplied with the helmet, including any replacement visor.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 50 composite-shell motorcycle helmets under 6506 10 80 00, invoiced at £7,500 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £8,400. Duty at 2% is £168. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £8,568, so it is £1,713.60. Import taxes total £1,881.60; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £168 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identification: compare model references and approval markings with the documents and approved sample; photograph discrepancies.

Shell and liner: check for cracks, crushed impact liner, loose padding and differences in fit across the ordered sizes.

Retention and moving parts: check strap stitching, buckle engagement, visor retention and flip-front latch operation against the agreed inspection brief.

Packing and arrival: check carton damage, scratched visors, size labels and the packing list; quarantine suspect stock for assessment. Arrange quality inspection before shipment as well.

What goes wrong

A supplier may send documents for a different shell, liner or closure, while production pieces resemble the approved sample externally. Treat a model mismatch or unexplained component change as a reason to hold the shipment and seek assessment.

Other faults to watch for include loose chinstrap stitching, uneven comfort padding, visors that distort the view, weak visor detents and flip-front latches that fail to engage consistently. Visual inspection cannot establish impact performance; assess the approval documents alongside specialist testing.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.