Sourcing vehicle lights and horns from China
Vehicle and bicycle lighting, horns, car alarms, wipers and demisters from China pay 2% UK duty, with no anti-dumping duty. Under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations a dipped-beam headlamp needs an approval mark, and the MOT manual fails halogen headlamps converted to LED or HID bulbs. Cambridge China Bridge sources vehicle lamps, bulbs, horns and wipers with approval evidence.
Vehicle and bicycle lights, horns, car alarms and wipers pay 2% UK duty from China. Headlamps need approval marks, and LED retrofits fail the MOT.
Duty at 2%
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, bicycle lighting, other vehicle lighting and signalling equipment, sound signalling equipment including car burglar alarms, windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters, and their parts carried 2% duty on goods from China, with no anti-dumping measure.
Bulbs and LED light sources on their own are classified with lamps and light sources, not here; confirm the commodity code for each part.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bicycle lighting and visual signalling | 8512 10 00 00 | 2% | None |
| Other vehicle lighting and signalling | 8512 20 00 90 | 2% | None |
| Car burglar alarms | 8512 30 10 00 | 2% | None |
| Horns and other sound signalling | 8512 30 90 90 | 2% | None |
| Wipers, defrosters and demisters | 8512 40 00 90 | 2% | None |
| Parts | 8512 90 90 00 | 2% | None |
Approval marks
Schedule 4 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 requires a dipped-beam headlamp on a motor vehicle first used on or after 1 April 1986 to carry an approval mark or a British Standard mark, and the other schedules set marking rules for other lamps. For road-use lamps, ask for the approval certificate behind each mark and check it on the sample.
Lamps sold for off-road, show or trailer use need their own honest labelling, and UK product safety law still applies.
LED retrofits and the MOT
The MOT inspection manual lists a light source and lamp that are not compatible as a major defect, which covers halogen headlamps converted to HID or LED bulbs. Complete replacement headlamp units built for HID or LED are not caught. Describe retrofit bulbs accurately, and prefer complete approved units.
Vehicle electronics also need to avoid radio interference; ask for EMC test reports.
Fit and inspection
Give the supplier vehicle models, connector types and mounting points, and fit samples to the vehicle. At inspection, check beam pattern, sealing, connectors and marks.
Cambridge China Bridge sources vehicle lamps, horns, alarms and wipers, with approval marks and fit settled before the order. See how our sourcing service works.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on car lights from China?
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 25 September 2026, vehicle and bicycle lighting, horns, alarms and wipers carried 2% duty from China, with no anti-dumping duty.
Do headlamps need an approval mark?
Yes. Schedule 4 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 requires an approval mark or British Standard mark on dipped-beam headlamps of vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986.
Do LED bulbs in halogen headlamps pass the MOT?
No. The MOT manual treats an incompatible light source and lamp as a major defect; complete units built for LED are not caught.
Where are bulbs classified?
Bulbs and LED light sources on their own are classified with light sources, not with vehicle lighting equipment.