What customs clearance consists of

What the payment consists of

• Customs duty
• VAT and excise where applicable
• Recycling fee
• Customs clearance fee
• Broker and temporary storage services

For one car, the payment is calculated from the documents and the import date. Two similar cars with different year, engine size or power can produce different results. That is why the lot card shows a route-based reference, not an average clearance figure for the model.

Why there is no single price per model

Age, engine size and power, fuel type, category and date all affect the calculation. An electric or hybrid car uses a different data set from a petrol version. An average clearance cost will not match your lot.

The destination city and delivery method also matter: port, rail or truck. Logistics is not part of the customs payment, but it changes the final estimate.

What data is needed for the calculation

• VIN and registration document data
• Production year and import date
• Engine size, power and fuel type
• Vehicle category
• Destination city and delivery method
• Rates and exchange rate on the calculation date

If the data is incomplete, the figure remains preliminary. We do not substitute a similar VIN or confirm a final amount before seeing the lot documents. This protects the buyer from a surprise at release.

What to check in the estimate

• VIN and vehicle data match the documents
• Rates and exchange rate are fixed on the calculation date
• Every line is visible, not only the total
• Storage, retrofits and evacuation are listed separately
• It is clear who files the declaration and who is responsible for release

A good estimate answers three questions: what exactly is paid, on which date, and what happens if the vehicle data does not match the documents. If one answer is missing, it is a reference, not an estimate.

The clearance sequence

• Check the VIN, documents and specification
• Calculate payments for the specific car
• Agree the route and destination city
• File the declaration and complete release
• Issue the EPTS and hand over the documents

The steps are sequential: the EPTS cannot be issued before release, and the final amount cannot be fixed before the data is checked. The contract records the scope, route and payment procedure; timing depends on customs and carrier workload.

What buyers often forget

• Temporary storage at the customs terminal
• Broker work and additional customs requests
• Delivery from the port to the destination city
• Recycling fee and EPTS processing
• Exchange-rate movement between estimate and payment

What to check in the contract

• The subject is a specific VIN, not “a car from China”
• Route, destination city and delivery method
• Payment order: deposit, balance and calculation date
• Who files the declaration and who is responsible for release
• What happens if the data does not match or customs refuses release

The contract should link the car, the route and the payment. If it only contains a single “turnkey” figure, the composition cannot be checked. We record the stages and responsibilities so the buyer knows what is paid at each step.

Questions worth asking

• Show the VIN and documents for this exact lot
• Which items are included in the estimate and which are paid separately?
• On which date are the exchange rate and charges fixed?
• Who performs the inspection, and can the deal be stopped before shipping?
• When is the EPTS created and who hands over the documents?

If the answers are vague, do not rush the payment. Specific VIN, route and estimate lines matter more than a polished promise that “everything is included”.

The estimate is not a public offer: the result depends on rates and exchange rate on the calculation date. Exact terms are fixed in the contract.

Inspection before payment

Before the balance is paid, we send an inspection report covering body, paint, panel gaps, brakes, tyre tread, electronics and interior. For an electric car, battery condition and charging port are added. If the condition does not match the description, the deal can be stopped.

Inspection does not replace the customs calculation: they are separate steps. First you see the actual car and documents, then the estimate and route. The decision is based on facts, not promises.