Sourcing wiper motor assemblies from China
The relevant wiper system and parts lines carry 2% UK duty from China, with no listed trade remedy. Confirm classification for a motor supplied separately. Consumer replacement parts must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Cambridge China Bridge sources windscreen wiper motor assemblies.
Duty and classification for wiper assemblies
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 21 October 2026, heading 8512 covers vehicle lighting and signalling equipment, windscreen wipers, defrosters, demisters and their parts. The relevant complete-wiper and other-parts lines both carry 2% duty from China. Neither has a listed anti-dumping or countervailing measure, suspension or import control in the supplied tariff record.
The table separates buying configurations within the same tariff lines; these are not separate commodity codes. Do not assign a motor supplied separately to the complete-wiper line simply because it drives a wiper. The published motor-parts guide places complete motors in heading 8501. Give your broker the assembly drawing, function and supplied contents, then confirm the commodity code.
Suspensions elsewhere in this heading concern specifically described products, including mirror-heating foil, rather than these wiper lines. For the wider heading, see windscreen wiper blades.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complete front windscreen wiper systems | 8512 40 00 90 | 2% | None |
| Wiper linkage parts, subject to classification | 8512 90 90 00 | 2% | None |
Specify fit, drive and park position
State the target vehicle models, steering position and front or rear application. Define whether the supply includes the motor, gearbox, crank, linkage, mounting bracket and fasteners. Provide mounting dimensions, shaft details, connector drawings and pin assignments. Agree the supply voltage, operating modes, rotation direction, loaded performance and parked position against a fitted sample.
For consumer replacement parts sold in Great Britain, the product must be safe in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Ask for safety evidence covering the supplied assembly and its intended vehicle installation. Confirm applicable electromagnetic compatibility requirements with the relevant authority and request electromagnetic compatibility test reports, as the published vehicle-equipment guide advises.
The MOT inspection manual requires windscreen wipers to continue operating automatically when switched on. Use that functional requirement alongside the vehicle specification when checking a fitted sample; a motor spinning freely on a bench does not establish performance with the linkage and blades attached.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 100 complete windscreen wiper systems with motor and linkage under 8512 40 00 90, invoiced at £3,000 free on board, with £600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £3,600. Duty at 2% is £72. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £3,672, so it is £734.40. Import taxes total £806.40; a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim the VAT, so the lasting cost is the £72 of duty. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Fit: compare mounting points, shaft engagement, crank orientation and linkage clearance with the approved drawing and fitted sample.
Electrical: verify connector keying and pin assignments, then run the agreed operating modes under representative load; record current, speed, noise and temperature against agreed acceptance criteria.
Parking and sealing: check repeated return to the agreed parked position, inspect seals and cable entries, and examine samples for water entry after the agreed exposure test.
Arrival condition: check bent brackets, damaged connectors, loose joints, corrosion and batch identification. Record findings through quality inspection before releasing stock.
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What goes wrong
An assembly can share the mounting pattern yet have a different connector, crank angle or parking circuit. It may bolt into place but sweep the wrong area, strike surrounding trim or stop in the wrong position. Approve the fitted assembly and its electrical connections together, rather than approving the motor housing alone.
Watch for worn or poorly fitted gears, loose linkage joints, leaking seals and motors that slow down or overheat under load. Keep the approved sample and test record available when investigating returns, and compare returned assemblies with the supplied batch.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on wiper motor assemblies from China?
The supplied tariff lists 2% for complete wipers under 8512 40 00 90 and other parts under 8512 90 90 00, with no listed trade remedy. Confirm classification for a motor supplied separately.
Does a wiper motor supplied separately use the complete-wiper code?
Do not assume so. The published motor-parts guide places complete motors in heading 8501. Ask your broker to classify the actual supplied assembly from its drawing and function.
What should I send the factory before ordering?
Send vehicle applications, mounting and shaft drawings, connector pin assignments, operating modes, loaded performance criteria and the required park position. Define every component included.
Is a bench test enough to approve a wiper motor assembly?
A free-running bench test does not establish vehicle fit or loaded performance. Test with the intended linkage and blades, checking clearance, operating modes and repeated parking.