Sourcing refuse collection trucks from China

UK duty on complete refuse collection trucks

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, heading 8704 covers motor vehicles for transporting goods. This guide concerns complete refuse collection trucks. Choose the line by propulsion, gross vehicle weight and whether the vehicle is new or used. Have your broker confirm the commodity code against the completed vehicle specification. For separate body purchases, see the refuse truck bodies guide.

The selected diesel, diesel-electric hybrid and electric lines all carry 10% duty for goods from China, so the duty range for these rows is a single rate. The supplied tariff data records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspensions for these lines. Import VAT is additional; see UK import duty and VAT. The tariff also lists cultural-goods export licensing entries, and waste export entries on used and electric lines; ask your broker about any later export.

The tariff attaches fluorinated greenhouse gas import controls. Imported equipment containing these gases must be correctly labelled; obtain cab air-conditioning refrigerant details and ask your broker to confirm quota and paperwork requirements. Used diesel and hybrid lines, and the electric line, also carry waste import controls. Confirm with your broker whether the vehicle is waste and which requirements apply. For notified waste imports into England, the exporter must apply to the dispatch country's competent authority for consent.

Specify the chassis, bin lift and compactor together

Fix the chassis model, drive side, axle layout, gross vehicle weight and usable payload with the complete body fitted. Describe the collection route, waste stream, bin shapes and lifting interfaces. Agree hopper opening, body capacity, compaction performance, discharge method, leachate containment and access for cleaning. For electric trucks, ask for route performance with repeated lifting and compaction, rather than driving range alone.

Unless exempt, road vehicles need approval before first registration in Great Britain. Agree the approval route for the completed truck before ordering and check how the body installation affects the chassis documents. Lifting equipment used at work is subject to lifting equipment rules. Request the bin-lift safety documentation, compactor conformity evidence, English operating instructions and a maintenance plan.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: An illustrative order of a new diesel refuse collection truck under 8704 23 91 00, invoiced at £185,000 free on board, with £9,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £194,500. Duty at 10% is £19,450. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £213,950, so it is £42,790. Import taxes total £62,240; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £19,450 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Identity and payload: match chassis and body identification to the order and approval documents. Weigh the completed truck and compare axle loads and remaining payload with the agreed specification.

Bin interface: test the lift using your actual bin types and an agreed test load. Check engagement, retention, tipping, controlled lowering and clearance from the hopper.

Compactor and safety: witness loading, compaction and discharge tests. Check guards, interlocks, emergency stops, isolation arrangements, tailgate locking and hydraulic leaks with trained personnel.

Arrival condition: inspect body welds, corrosion protection, hoses, wiring and leachate seals after transport. Repeat functional checks before handover and reconcile manuals and spare parts with the packing list.

What goes wrong

A chassis brochure can hide the payload lost to the compactor body, bin lift and battery. Other problems include lifting interfaces that do not fit the buyer's bins, poor hopper clearance, leaking tailgate seals and hoses rubbing against moving parts. Write measurable acceptance checks into the order and witness them on the completed truck.

Approval documents may describe the chassis without matching the finished vehicle. A demonstration with empty bins can also conceal lifting or compaction faults. Check document coverage before shipment, use representative test loads and agree access to replacement seals, sensors and hydraulic components. For an independent check, see quality inspection explained.

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.