Truck cranes and pump trucks from China
Special purpose motor vehicles from China, such as mobile and truck cranes, concrete mixer lorries, concrete pump trucks, fire fighting vehicles, mobile drilling rigs, road sweepers and recovery trucks, pay 0% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. To use them on UK roads they need vehicle approval and registration, and cranes and pumps also need machinery evidence.
Truck cranes, concrete mixer lorries, pump trucks, fire engines, drilling rigs and other special purpose vehicles from China pay 0% UK duty. Approval and LOLER.
0% duty
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, special purpose motor vehicles other than those principally designed for the transport of persons or goods, heading 8705, carried 0% on goods from China on every line: mobile cranes, mobile drilling derricks, fire fighting vehicles, concrete-mixer lorries, concrete-pumping vehicles and other special purpose vehicles. No line carried an anti-dumping measure.
Cranes that are not road vehicles, such as crawler and tower cranes, are under heading 8426 (see our cranes guide), and site concrete mixers under 8474 (see our crushers and concrete mixers guide).
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| New mobile cranes, 30 tonnes or more lifting capacity | 8705 10 00 11 | 0% | None |
| Other mobile cranes | 8705 10 00 90 | 0% | None |
| Fire fighting vehicles | 8705 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Concrete-mixer lorries | 8705 40 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Concrete-pumping vehicles | 8705 90 30 00 | 0% | None |
| Other special purpose vehicles (sweepers, recovery trucks) | 8705 90 80 00 | 0% | None |
Road approval, machinery and lifting
A vehicle used on UK roads must be approved before first registration, through GB type approval or Individual Vehicle Approval, under the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020, and must meet current emissions, lighting and construction requirements for Great Britain. Check approval routes with the builder before ordering, since left-hand drive and non-UK lighting may need changes.
The crane or pump superstructure is machinery under the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, and cranes in use must be thoroughly examined under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.
Specifying special vehicles
Specify chassis make and emissions level, drive side, axle configuration and gross weight, crane capacity chart or pump output and boom reach, outriggers, controls and safety systems, lighting and markings for GB, spare parts, manuals in English and operator training.
Worked duty example
For a made-up shipment of a truck-mounted concrete pump under 8705 90 30 00, add the £9,500 of freight and insurance to the £185,000 free-on-board price and customs sees £194,500. Duty on concrete pump truck is zero, leaving import VAT of £38,900, 20% of the customs value. For a VAT-registered buyer that is a cash-flow cost rather than a lasting one. The duty and VAT guide walks through the calculation.
Inspection checklist
Function: witness a factory test of the crane load chart or pump output, outriggers, limiters and emergency stops.
Road compliance: check the chassis certificate, emissions level, lighting, mirrors and plates against the GB approval route.
Documents and shipping: check the declaration of conformity, manuals, spare parts list and roll-on or flat-rack shipping arrangements.
What goes wrong
Special vehicle orders fail on approval, documents and support. Vehicles arrive with a chassis or lighting that cannot be approved without rework, load charts or limiters do not match, manuals are not in English, and parts and service are unavailable locally.
Plan the approval route first, witness tests, and agree parts and service. See our quality inspection guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources special purpose vehicles for UK contractors and plant hire firms, checking the builder's approvals and test records first. See factory verification.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on concrete pump trucks from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 27 September 2026, concrete-pumping vehicles (8705 90 30 00) carried 0% from China.
Do these vehicles need approval for UK roads?
Yes. They need GB type approval or Individual Vehicle Approval before first registration.
Are crawler cranes the same heading?
No. Cranes that are not road vehicles are under heading 8426.
What applies to cranes in use?
Thorough examination under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998.