Taiwan import and registration guidance
Scope: used passenger-car customs guidance and emissions verification where applicable. The personal-use document checklist is labelled separately. This is a starting point for checking a specific vehicle, not a complete approval or registration checklist.
Sources reviewedManufacturing origin and registration
Taiwan Customs describes an import framework for new and used passenger cars manufactured in WTO member countries. Its guidance also requires compliance with environmental, energy-efficiency and traffic-safety requirements before registration. Check the manufacturing origin of the specific vehicle; its sale location alone does not establish origin.
Advance permit for the specified importer category
For individuals, organizations and businesses not registered with Taiwan’s International Trade Administration, the Customs guidance requires an advance import permit when the car’s FOB value exceeds US$20,000. At or below that amount, it states that this permit is not required. This threshold is not a complete rule for all importer categories.
Emissions verification where applicable
For vehicles subject to emissions verification, the regulation provides for an emissions type certificate or an individual emissions test certificate. The applicable route must be checked for the particular vehicle.
Customs value and charges
Customs assesses the vehicle’s value and includes freight and insurance. Keelung Customs lists import duty, commodity tax, business tax, trade-promotion charges and, where applicable, specifically selected goods tax. Request a vehicle-specific assessment before purchase.
Documents and registration
Personal-use customs documents
Taipei Customs lists the import declaration, bill of lading copy, invoice, import permit where required, declaration authorization, importer’s ID card or passport copy, and vehicle specifications for personal-use car imports.
Documents for emissions verification
The regulation’s application documents include the application form, emissions type or individual test certificate, customs import and commodity-tax payment or exemption certificate, and any additional documents required by the authority. Documents already provided electronically need not be resubmitted where the regulation permits.
Translation for emissions-verification documents
Under this emissions regulation, foreign-language documents other than English require a Chinese translation certified through the channels specified in Article 10. This statement is limited to the emissions-verification procedure.
Confirm before purchase
Still unconfirmed for your vehicle. Check with the relevant authority or receiving agent before purchase.
- The exact environmental, energy-efficiency and safety approval route for the vehicle’s powertrain and specification.
- The complete registration checklist and acceptance of the specific Korean documents.
- Any applicable age, steering, damage-history or modification restrictions; no blanket limit or exemption is confirmed here.
- Vehicle-specific taxes, official testing fees, freight, destination handling and delivery dates.
Shipping & costs
Tell us your intended receiving port or city for Taiwan. Request a written quotation with the proposed route, delivery point, insurance, validity period and included services. Confirm import and registration eligibility before arranging a shipment.
What goes into the cost?
Send the vehicle listing, quantity and delivery point. Eligibility and required approvals must be confirmed before arranging shipment. Freight and departure dates need a current offer.
Vehicle purchase
Confirm the vehicle price, invoice and payment recipient.
Vehicle inspection — US$100
Our pre-purchase condition inspection; separate from required government testing or certification.
Korea-side preparation
Request itemized inland transport, export documents, handling and loading.
International freight & insurance
Confirm the route, shipping method, insurance, quote validity and exclusions.
Destination charges
Ask your receiving agent about handling, customs, taxes, registration and delivery costs.
Inspection & next steps
- Send your vehicle details. Share a listing or your preferred model, year and budget.
- Confirm eligibility, then inspect — US$100. Our vehicle condition inspection is separate from government testing or certification.
- Review the shipping offer. Confirm the route, costs and required approvals before booking.
Official sources & review dates
View 5 official sources and review notes
Source publication or amendment dates and our review dates are listed separately.
- Imported used-car tax and import guidance ↗Taiwan Customs AdministrationSource released: Reviewed: The Customs guidance was reread on 17 September 2026 for the cited origin, permit and registration points. Historical example prices are excluded.
- Personal Import of Private Cars ↗Taipei CustomsSource released: Reviewed: Personal-use document checklist; corroborated against national Customs guidance. This is not a commercial-import checklist.
- Motor vehicle air pollutant verification regulations ↗Taiwan Ministry of EnvironmentLatest text amendment: Reviewed: Current consolidated text and amendment history checked. The latest text-amendment date shown by the authority is retained; our review is not a new legal amendment.
- Duty Assessment of Imported Used Vehicles ↗Keelung CustomsSource updated: Reviewed: Article update date, not the website footer date. Checked against the July 2026 national customs guidance.
- Rules for assessing the customs value of imported used cars ↗Taiwan Ministry of Finance / Customs AdministrationLatest rule amendment: Effective: Reviewed: The current consolidated rules and the amendment order were reviewed. The latest amendment took effect on 1 January 2026. Special valuation routes are not general import eligibility rules.