Importing Cars to India
How to import a new or used car to India
Importing Cars to India
Part 1. General Rules & Regulations for Importing Cars to India
Part 2. Import of cars by persons returning to India for permanent
settlement.
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) The import of new vehicles shall be subject to the following
conditions:
(a) The new vehicle shall:
(i) have a speedometer indicating the speed in km / h
(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.
(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.
Source: Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Department of Commerce PUBLIC NOTICE NO. 3(RE-2000) /1997-2002 NEW DELHI: 31st March, 2000
