TIPS FROM VICO: HOW TO IMPORT CARS INTO VIETNAM

The process of importing cars into Vietnam is very complex and detailed, so companies or anyone interested in such methods needs to be informed. The required documents and procedures regarding vehicle import are vital to avoid any customs issues or errors.

Prerequisites Conditions on How to Import Cars into Vietnam

Foreign Driver Conditions

• Foreign drivers must obtain a valid passport or an alternative document such as a valid visa, which is at least six months from the issue date.
• Must have a visa in regulation with the temporary residence law of Vietnam. However, there are exceptions for those with visa exemptions.
• Must hold an appropriate driver's license compatible with the vehicle they intend to import.

Foreign Vehicle Import Conditions

• The vehicle must be of less than nine seats or be a motorbike.
• The vehicle must be equipped with a steering wheel on the left side.
• The ownership of the vehicle must be registered in the owner's or company's name.
• An overseas registration plate must be present.
• The vehicle must be of safety standards in the origin country.

After a foreign driver has met such standards, they must assess if they own a vehicle that meets the import criteria into Vietnam.

Vehicle Requirements for Import into Vietnam

• When bringing an automobile into Vietnam, the vehicle's owner must be the original owner; if the vehicle has changed ownership at any point, then the car cannot be imported into Vietnam.
• The vehicle wishing to be imported into Vietnam must not exceed five years old; in turn, the automobile must have been registered in the owner's home country for at least six months and have a minimum mileage of 10,000 km.
  It is also important to note that cars should be disassembled when transported into Vietnam. Furthermore, any alterations to the vehicle, such as engine swaps or vehicle identification numbers, will delay and complicate the process, so it is best to avoid such things for this reason.

Required Documents and Procedures for Import into Vietnam

When bringing a vehicle into Vietnam, there are several ports in which they may pass, such as:

• Cai Lan situated in Ha Long City
• Hai Phong
• Da Nang
• Ho Chi Minh City

After deciding which port is best for the desired import, individuals should be registered with Vietnam customs, in which the following documents should be submitted to go through customs declaration:

• Application form for importing the allocated vehicle.

• Automobile import license.

• Bill of lading.

• Customs declaration for export/import.

• Vehicle registration declaration.

• A valid passport.

• Visa that is valid for at least three months.

• Valid work permit.

• Household registration book.

A vehicle inspection will also need to take place for import to be able to take place, and import duties will need to be paid before any further action can be taken.

When the vehicle arrives in Vietnam, it must be inspected by Vietnam Customs. A customs officer will check the automobile import license, bill of lading (BL), a customs declaration for import/export, and conduct a physical inspection of the vehicles. Vehicle owners can request to see the vehicle before presenting it for inspection, but this process must be supervised by a customs officer. Import duties will have to be paid to Vietnam Customs before the vehicle can be shipped. Automobiles are taxed with a Special Sales tax of 50 percent or more of the vehicle's value unless the importer has diplomatic status, in which case the Special Sales Tax is waived.

Learn more about Special Sales Tax

Registration

Once the vehicle has passed customs, the vehicle owner has 3 working days to submit the vehicle registration document in Vietnam. Vehicles need to be tested to safety and environmental standards and receive certificates of technical safety and environmental protection. These certificates will need to be submitted to Vietnam Customs to complete the processing of the vehicle.

The next step is to register the vehicle at the designated local traffic police department. All required documents, including Vehicle Inspection Certificate, Vehicle Registration Declaration, proof of insurance and a valid passport, visa and work permit will have to be presented to the traffic office.

License plates

After the vehicle has successfully passed through customs and been registered with the police traffic office, Vietnamese license plates will be issued. Foreign license plates may not be used in Vietnam. Once the application for license plates has been submitted, temporary plates, valid for 20 days, will be issued. If necessary, the temporary plates may be extended once for an additional 20 days. Once the permanent plates have been issued, they must be affixed to the vehicle.

Shipping Methods

There are various shipping methods available when it comes to importing and exporting; however, there are methods that work best for importing such significant components as a vehicle.

The best methods for shipping an automobile into Vietnam are as follows:

• Roll on or Roll-off- Where the vehicle or parts are driven onto one end at departure and the other side at arrival.

• Less Than Container Load (LCL): A cost-effective way of sharing containers with multiple freight shipments.

• Full Container Load (FCL): Where the entire shipment takes up the entirety of the container.

It is also important to note that different vehicles and transport alongside starting locations can affect the logistics cost of importing.

To conclude, many components of importing a vehicle into Vietnam should be noted to avoid unwanted delays, issues, and problems. Obtaining the correct documentation as well as vehicle conditions is sure to ease the operation of importing such an enormous cargo amount from an international country into Vietnam.

Contact VICO LOGISTICS to find out more and how to get the best deal for your situation.

Read more:

>> The In-and-outs of the Logistics Shipping Process

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