Export Cars
to India
UK Car Export provides professional vehicle export services to India for private buyers, trade customers and dealerships. We manage the complete process from vehicle sourcing and documentation through to international shipping and delivery support.
Request Export QuoteExporting to India
India imposes significant import duties on CBU (Completely Built Up) vehicles, making direct import of premium vehicles subject to very high total costs. However, India remains a destination for high-value prestige and specialist vehicles for clients who require specific models unavailable in the domestic market.
UK Car Source provides export services for premium vehicles to India, managing UK-side documentation, homologation support guidance and sea freight coordination to Nhava Sheva or Chennai.
Import Rules
| Drive Configuration | Right-hand drive required. |
| Vehicle Age Limit | Vehicles must be less than 3 years old at time of import for standard duty. Older vehicles face significantly higher levies. |
| Condition | Excellent condition. Homologation documentation required. |
| Customs Authority | Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) |
| Duty & VAT | Basic customs duty (100% on CIF value for CBU imports), IGST (28%) and applicable cess. Total effective duty can exceed 200%. |
| Standards | CMVR (Central Motor Vehicles Rules) compliance required. Type approval or homologation needed. |
Import regulations are subject to change. We recommend confirming current requirements with the relevant customs authority prior to shipment.
Major Ports
Shipping Options
Required Documentation
Estimated Timelines
Vehicle Sourcing & Preparation
1–3 weeks depending on specification and availability
Documentation & Export Clearance
3–7 working days
Sea Freight Transit
18–25 days sea freight
Customs Clearance at Destination
3–14 working days depending on port, standards approval and documentation
Total Estimated Process
7–13 weeks from order to delivery (subject to availability, compliance and customs)
Import Tax Breakdown
| Basic Customs Duty | 60% on CBU vehicles with CIF value up to USD 40,000; 100% above USD 40,000 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge | 10% of basic duty |
| IGST (Integrated GST) | 28% (passenger cars) + GST Cess 1–22% based on engine size/type |
| Total Effective Rate | 130–200%+ of CIF value for large petrol vehicles |
| Customs Authority | CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) handles clearance |
| Age Restriction | No age restriction on new vehicles. Used vehicles subject to additional regulations. |
| Type Approval | BIS type approval required for most vehicles — arrange 3–6 months in advance |
Tax rates are indicative and subject to change. Verify with local customs authority before shipping.
Port Guide
Nhava Sheva (JNPT — Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Mumbai) handles the majority of vehicle imports. Chennai Port serves South India. Mumbai and Chennai both have dedicated container terminals. Electronic submission via ICEGATE portal required. Customs clearance: 10–21 working days (complex for vehicles). BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) type approval is required prior to customs clearance — this is a significant bureaucratic step that must be arranged well in advance. Authorised customs broker essential. Prestige vehicle imports are scrutinised carefully on valuation.
Local Market Advice
India has extremely high import duties making CBU (Completely Built Up) imports very expensive. The Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Ferrari, and Lamborghini market is real but buyers are typically ultra-HNW (billionaires and industrialists). Most mainstream prestige vehicles are assembled locally (CKD). The BIS type approval process is the biggest practical barrier — arrange this through a specialist agent 3–6 months before shipment. UK RHD vehicles align with Indian road rules (drives on left). Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad are the primary markets. Colour: white, black, silver for prestige. India's billionaire class is growing — genuine long-term export opportunity for ultra-luxury.
Export a Vehicle to India
Contact our export team today. We handle sourcing, documentation, shipping and logistics — so you don't have to.