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United States Import Duty Rate for Passenger Cars

HS 8703 · Motor vehicles for transport of persons

United States MFN Import Duty Rate

Live

2.5%

on FOB value

CUSMA/KORUS: 0%

HTS 8703, 2.5% MFN. Section 232 adds 25% on imported cars (15% all-in for the EU, Japan and Korea under their 2025 deals); USMCA-qualifying vehicles pay the 232 tariff only on non-US content.

How duty is calculated

FOB value

Product transaction value at port of export

Import duty (2.5%)

Applied to FOB value. US uses FOB (transaction value).

Sales Tax (state-level) (0%)

Applied to FOB value + duty. Collected at customs.

Use our Landed Cost Calculator to compute the full cost including freight, brokerage, and last-mile delivery.

Worked example: passenger cars worth US$10,000

A commercial shipment invoiced at US$10,000 with US$900 of international freight and insurance. United States charges duty on the FOB value (the price of the goods), so freight does not attract duty and the duty base is US$10,000. Customs converts the amount to USD at the official exchange rate on the day of import.

Charge	At 2.5%
Import duty	$250
Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%)	$35
Total paid at the border	$285

Excise, anti-dumping duties and broker fees are not included.

Classifying passenger cars correctly

Heading 8703 covers motor cars and other vehicles principally designed to carry people, split by engine type and size: petrol, diesel, hybrid and fully electric (8703.80).

Pick-ups and vans built mainly for goods go to 8704
Electric vehicles have their own subheading and often a different rate or incentive
Vehicles shipped as CKD kits may qualify for lower assembly rates

Compliance. Cars must meet the destination's homologation and emissions rules (EU whole-vehicle type approval, US FMVSS and EPA certification) before they can be registered.

Importing into United States: what you need

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collects duty; rates are set in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS) published by the USITC, with trade-remedy duties in Chapter 99.

Registration. An importer of record number (IRS EIN or CBP-assigned number), a customs bond for formal entries over $2,500 and, for ocean freight, an Importer Security Filing (ISF 10+2) at least 24 hours before loading.

Low-value shipments. There is no de minimis any more. The $800 Section 321 exemption was suspended for all countries on 29 August 2025 and written into CBP regulations as an indefinite suspension on 24 June 2026; the statutory exemption ends on 1 July 2027 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Every parcel needs an entry and pays duty.

Documents customs will ask for

Commercial invoice with HTS code, country of origin and value
Packing list
Bill of lading or air waybill
CBP Form 7501 entry summary (filed by the broker)
Agency forms for regulated goods (FDA prior notice, FCC, EPA, CPSC certificates)

Charges on top of duty

Merchandise Processing Fee: 0.3464% of value, within an annual minimum and maximum
Harbor Maintenance Fee: 0.125% on ocean shipments
Section 301 forced-labour tariffs since 24 July 2026: 10% or 12.5% on most origins, capped net of MFN for the EU, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Switzerland
Section 301 China tariffs (Lists 1–4A, 7.5–100%) and Section 232 duties on steel, aluminium, copper, vehicles and parts
State sales tax when the goods are sold, not at the border

Watch out. The MFN rate on the HTS line is rarely the whole bill. Check the Chapter 99 lines for your origin first — for Chinese goods the Section 301 layers often exceed the base duty.

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty rate for Passenger Cars in United States?

The MFN (Most Favoured Nation) import duty rate for Passenger Cars (HS 8703) in United States is 2.5% on the FOB value. HTS 8703, 2.5% MFN. Section 232 adds 25% on imported cars (15% all-in for the EU, Japan and Korea under their 2025 deals); USMCA-qualifying vehicles pay the 232 tariff only on non-US content.

Is Sales Tax (state-level) charged on Passenger Cars imports to United States?

No. United States has no import VAT; state sales tax is charged when the goods are sold to the end customer, not at the border.

Are there FTA rates available for Passenger Cars in United States?

Yes. CUSMA/KORUS: 0%. CUSMA/USMCA (Canada, Mexico), US–Korea FTA (KORUS), US–Japan Trade Agreement, US–Israel FTA are the key agreements — verify origin requirements with your customs broker.

How is import duty calculated for Passenger Cars entering United States?

Duty is calculated on the FOB value of the goods. FOB value is the transaction value at the port of export. The MFN duty of 2.5% is applied to this value.