Importing car to India

General Rules for importing a car to India: Import of New Cars

Cars can be imported without a license. The import of vehicles shall be subject to the following guidelines of the Government of India:

1. (I) A new imported vehicle shall mean a vehicle that:

(a) has not been manufactured/assembled in India; and

(b) has not been sold, leased or loaned prior to importation into India; or

(c) has not been registered for use in any country according to the laws of that country, prior to importation into India.

(ii) have right hand steering, and controls (applicable on vehicles other than two and three wheelers)

(iii) have photometry of the headlamps to suit "keep-left" traffic; and

(iv) be imported from the country of manufacture.

(b) In addition, the new vehicle shall conform to the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the rules made there under, as applicable, on the date of import.

(c) The import of new vehicles shall be permitted only through the Customs port at Mumbai (Nhava Sheva), Kolkata, Chennai, ICD Tughlakabad and Delhi Air cargo.

The importer shall also have a valid certificate of compliance as per provisions of Rule 126 of the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989, issued by any of the testing agencies specified in the said rule.

For Information on Car Imports by Non Resident Indians CAR IMPORTS BY NRIs

Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Department of Commerce PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 3(RE-2000) /1997-2002 NEW DELHI: 31^st March, 2000

 PLEASE NOTE: The conditions discussed above for import of new and used cars may not apply to Individuals returning to India for permanent settlement.

Import of cars by NRIs returning to India is discussed on the next page. Continued on next page>>>

Imports of used cars to India 

A second hand or used vehicle refers to a vehicle that :

(a) has been sold, leased or loaned prior to importation into India; or

(b) has been registered for use in any country according to the laws of that country, prior to importation into India;

(II). The import of second hand (used vehicles) shall be subject to the following conditions:-

(a) The second hand or used vehicle shall not be older than three years from the date of manufacture;

(b) The second hand or used vehicle shall:

(i) have right hand steering, and controls (applicable on vehicles other than two and three wheelers);

(ii) have a speedometer indicating the speed km / h; and

(iii) have photometry of the headlamps to suit "keep left" traffic.

(c) The used car shall conform to the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 and the rules made there under, as applicable, on the date of import.

(d) Import of second hand vehicles shall be allowed only through the customs port at Mumbai.

(e) The second hand or used vehicles imported into India should have a minimum roadworthiness for a period of 5 years from the date of importation into India with assurance for providing service facilities within the country during the five year period. For this purpose, the importer shall, at the time of importation, submit a declaration indicating the period of roadworthiness in respect of every individual vehicle being imported, supported by a certificate issued by any of the testing agencies, which the Central Government may notify in this regard.

(f) On arrival at the Indian port. Before clearance for home consumption, the vehicle has to be submitted for testing to Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (VRDE), Ahmednagar, of the Ministry of Defence or the Automotive Research Association of India, Pune or the Central Farm and Machinery Training and Testing Institute, Budni, Madhya Pradesh, and such other agencies as may be specified by the Central Government, for granting a certificate by that agency as to the compliance of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and any rules made there under.

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