Customs clearance: customs clearance of a scooter or moped

The constant increase in the number of cars, endless traffic jams and the frantic pace of life are increasing the demand for motorcycles in Moscow and other large cities of Russia. Fans of motorcycles are divided into two armies: those who prefer to make a purchase at a showroom, and those who order bikes abroad. The second method provides more opportunities in terms of choice (the markets of the USA, Asia, and Europe open before you) and price (you can buy a decent used model, the characteristics of which are superior to the new one from the showroom). The only question that remains is “Is it difficult to clear a motorcycle through customs in Russia?” We will discuss in detail below how much the procedure costs and what stages you need to go through to become the happy owner of your dream.

Content

• When is it worth importing a car from abroad?
• How to clear a car through customs
• Customs clearance procedure
• What determines the amount of customs duty?
• Calculation of customs clearance costs
• Features of importing an electric vehicle
• Customs clearance of a car from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia
• Customs clearance of cars from the USA and Europe
• How much does it cost to clear a car from Japan through customs?
• "Autocode" for customs cleared cars

In 2021 (from January to October), according to the Federal Customs Service, more than 185 thousand cars and almost 18 thousand trucks were imported into Russia from abroad. Why do Russians bother so much and go to other countries to buy a car? Together with a customs clearance expert, we will figure out what are the advantages of moving a vehicle, from which countries it is more profitable to import cars, and how to properly carry out customs clearance.

Foreign trade with China

China is the most important trading partner for the Russian Federation. For several years now, trade turnover between our countries has only been growing. In 2019, it grew by 2.43% and totaled almost $111 billion. The trade balance was positive, but decreased by 30% compared to the previous year.

Cargo exports from the Russian Federation to China increased by 1.3% compared to 2018 – $1.9 billion. The main share of cargo to China fell on the following categories: mineral products, timber, food products, machinery.

In turn, imports of goods from China to the Russian Federation increased by 3.66%. The most popular industries and cargoes in China are: machinery and equipment, metals, textiles and chemical products.

China ranks first in terms of trade turnover with our state and is our most important trading partner in the world.

Recently, due to the pandemic, the demand for cargo such as medical masks, protective equipment and medical products from China has increased.

When is it worth importing a car from abroad?

It is worth moving a car from another country for several reasons:

• if you want to save money on buying an imported car;
• get a reliable car from the manufacturing country;
• purchase a rare model that is difficult to buy in Russia.

It seems that bringing a car from abroad is simple. I bought it and returned with the long-awaited new thing to Russia (or brought it with the help of an intermediary).

In fact, you will have to go through several stages of customs clearance, otherwise you will not be able to register the car with the traffic police, and therefore not use it in our country either.

Alena Khotmirova, customs clearance expert:

– Not so long ago, the business of transporting cars from abroad, clearing them through customs and then selling them on the territory of the Russian Federation was a very profitable business. In recent years, due to increased customs duties, importing cars from abroad does not bring significant profits. And compliance with all formalities during customs clearance (insurance, GLONASS, etc.) can be difficult.

For illegal movement across the Russian border, a fine of three times the price of the car is provided. The most severe punishment faces transporters who evade paying customs duties (if we are talking about non-payment of 1 million rubles or more). Here you can already earn a half-million dollar fine or go to jail for up to two years.

It is worth bringing from abroad only what is profitable. These are used cars from three to five years old, for which a minimum customs duty is established. Consider cars with an engine capacity of up to 1,800 cubic meters; they also offer loyal payments. Relocating more powerful vehicles older than seven years is considered the most expensive.

Alena Khotmirova, customs clearance expert:

— Considering that the import duty depends on the year of manufacture of the car, it is now most profitable to import cars that are 3-5 years old. At the same time, choose those manufacturers who do not have production facilities in our country, but are popular among car enthusiasts.

Also read: Review of sites for selling used cars: pros and cons for sellers

Important nuances

There are ways to bypass paying customs tax without breaking the law. But this must be done very carefully. Otherwise, problems may arise in further interaction with customs officials.

Basic methods to avoid paying tax:

1. With the help of an intermediary company that will take care of cargo clearance. In this case, the entrepreneur will have to pay the agent 6–10%.
2. Break 1 large order into several smaller ones. They can be issued to a relative or someone else.

How to clear a car through customs

Customs clearance is carried out in order to legalize a car for use in Russia. It includes an inspection of documents and the visual condition of the car.

If you want to move an imported car, first find out how much it will cost to register it. You can calculate the cost yourself using an online calculator, or contact a customs broker. Then you need to pay for customs services (customs services), which guarantees trouble-free crossing of the Russian border. Its amount is equal to the approximate cost of the car.

Funds are transferred to a customs deposit three to four days before departure abroad. After receiving the funds, the driver will be given a customs receipt. If there is an overpayment, the money will be returned upon the driver’s request within 4-6 weeks.

Alena Khotmirova, customs clearance expert:

— If the driver drives himself, he needs to fill out the passenger customs declaration TD-6. If it will be transported by container, TD-6 is not needed. You need to inform customs of the ship's name and container number.

Also read: Rules for selling a car 2021

Deadlines

Customs clearance implies a set deadline for filling out and submitting a declaration for Chinese goods, ranging from several hours to 2 working days and depending on the type of cargo, the number of items in the invoice and the number of EAEU HS codes.

Customs checks and releases the goods declaration within a few hours from the moment of its registration, if no changes are required to the declaration and all permits for the goods are provided. There are also other reasons for financial costs, which our company, having extensive experience, minimizes, thereby saving time and money for its clients.

Cases of any deviation from the planned time frame for customs clearance are fraught with downtime and additional costs for a participant in foreign economic activity, which is why it is important to minimize all risks of increasing the time frame for customs clearance of cargo.

Customs clearance procedure

The verification is carried out in several stages.

Stage 1: filling out the customs declaration. The document contains information about the owner and the vehicle. After filling out the declaration, you will be assigned a registration number, which will later be entered into the database.

Stage 2: transfer of the declaration and documents for the car to the inspector. When crossing the border you will be inspected:

• Original documents for the car and the sales contract (we recommend making copies in advance).
• Customs receipt and certificate. Issued at customs when the driver provides security for customs clearance (at least 5 days before entering Russia).
• Insurance. It cannot be done in advance, but it can be easily completed online at the representative office of the insurance company abroad or at the border. You do not need to be present in person or transport the car to obtain insurance.
• Sensor and button ERA-GLONASS.
• Vehicle Design Safety Certificate (VSSC). Some certification organizations issue it without the fact of installation, but with a signed installation agreement. The registration period is 1 day.

Inspectors will also be interested in the purpose of importing the car to check whether there are benefits in paying duties, and the mileage of the car.

Stage 3: decision making by the customs service. After checking the documents, the inspector will send the car for inspection. If the documents are not available, the employee will ask you to deliver them.

Stage 4: vehicle inspection. The check is carried out at a special site in the presence of the driver. The customs officer will check the accuracy of the data from the declaration. If violations of the rules for importing cars are discovered or the authenticity of the documents raises doubts, the inspector will draw up a protocol on the violations and send the car to a temporary storage warehouse. The car can stay there for no more than two months, during which time the driver needs to complete customs clearance.

If no violations are found, the employee will put an o in the declaration, sign it and affix a stamp. Then he will make an inventory of the documents in two copies and transfer them to the customs clearance (CTS) and currency control (VC) department. There they will check the cost of importing a car and the cost of transporting it to the Russian border, sign each copy of the inventory, put down dates and send the documents to the customs payments department (CPD).

Having calculated the total amount, the OTP employee will put a personal stamp, signature, his full name, the date of inspection, then transfer the package to the car registration department. Information about the car will be entered into the database, after which the driver will be issued an import certificate and vehicle title.

Also read: State duty for deregistration of a car in 2021

Registration with the traffic police

Driving an unregistered vehicle, even if it is cleared by customs, is prohibited. Therefore, you will still need to register with the traffic police.

All motorcycles undergo maintenance at a specialized technical control station, during which steering, brakes, lighting equipment and more are checked. After this procedure, a maintenance coupon is issued, with which you need to come to the insurance company and apply for compulsory motor liability insurance. With these documents you can go to the MREO.

Note! The motorcycle must be registered within 10 days from the date of purchase, otherwise a fine will be imposed.

Documents required:

• Russian Federation passport of the owner;
• confirmation of ownership;
• PTS;
• OSAGO;
• application for registration;
• checks confirming payment of state duties.

State duties are established for:

• registration certificate;
• issuing numbers;
• making changes to the PTS (in this case not required).

Next, on the observation deck, the inspector will check the frame and engine numbers. Now you need to submit documents for registration and wait for the certificate and license plates to be issued.

The fine for late registration is 1,500-2,000 rubles for individuals and 10,000 for legal entities. The starting date for delivery of a motorcycle by a transport company is the date of shipment in the invoice.

Calculation of customs clearance costs

Payment No. 1: recycling fee

This is a mandatory payment for all cars imported into Russia. Using this money, the car will be scrapped in the future. The one-time fee amounts are fixed. They do not depend on the size and power of the vehicle. Only age affects:

• 3,400 rubles - for new cars (less than three years old);
• 5,300 rubles - for a car (over three years old.

Payment No. 2: money for installing the ERA-GLONASS system

All cars crossing the Russian border must now have the ERA-GLONASS security system. She independently calls rescuers in the event of an accident. If the car is not initially equipped with EROY-GLONASS, you will have to spend about 30 thousand rubles plus for installation.

Payment No. 3: customs duty

Customs fees are charged for processing documents. It depends on the cost of the car.

Payment No. 4: Customs duty

The final price tag for customs clearance, as mentioned above, depends on several characteristics of the car:

• car prices;
• Year of release;
• engine power;
• carrying capacity (applies only to trucks).

Rates in Russia:

Let us show with an example how much it costs to clear a car through customs. For example, you buy a 2021 Renault Logan with a 1.2 liter engine for 4,500 euros. Less than three years have passed since its release, which means we use the first table.

In terms of cost, the car ranks first (up to 8,500 euros), calculations are made from 54% of the price, at least 2.5 € per 1 cubic meter. cm.

We first calculate by percentage. We multiply the cost of the car by 54%: 4500 euros x 54% = 2430 euros. Then we multiply the cost per 1 cubic meter. cm per engine capacity: 2.5 euro x 1200 cc. cm = 3000 euros.

Of the two amounts, it is better to choose the larger one, since the amount of the duty is constantly changing. In case of overpayment, after the inspectors calculate how much it costs to clear the car through customs, the amount can be returned back.

Payment No. 5: excise tax

The larger the engine capacity and the older the car, the higher the excise tax. This is an indirect tax that is levied during customs clearance.

Payment No. 6: VAT

Value added tax is also calculated separately depending on the year of manufacture, type of fuel, and so on.

Calculate how much it costs to clear a car through customs in Russia, taking into account taxes, excise taxes, etc. not so easy. The approximate cost can be calculated using a special calculator or contact a customs broker. He charges 10-15 thousand rubles for his services.

Alena Khotmirova, customs clearance expert:

– Considering the innovations in the legislation regarding the mandatory installation of the GLONASS button, insurance and other things, I would advise you to contact professional brokers. It is extremely difficult to clear customs on your own.

Also read: How to register a car sale

Features of importing an electric vehicle

The procedure for customs clearance of electric vehicles is almost no different from customs clearance of conventional cars. The difference is possible only in the amount of customs duties, which consists of the following indicators:

• customs clearance fee (tied to the customs value of the electric car): from 500 (at a price of 200 thousand rubles per car) to 100 thousand rubles (at a price of 30 million rubles per car);
• import duty 15%;
• VAT 20%;
• standard recycling fee;
• excise tax rates calculated from engine power.

Also read: How to communicate with a car buyer by phone

Customs clearance of groupage cargo

If the consignment is small, special transportation of groupage cargo is used. You can fill the container with cargo from another supplier. The customer simply pays for the weight and volume of the goods. For this type of cargo, air delivery from China is often used. This is the best way for small companies, in the absence of the ability to freeze money in goods. However, the delivery and customs clearance procedure for consolidated cargo takes longer, since cargo from several senders is collected for shipment in China. Also, customs clearance of groupage cargo has more formalities.

Customs clearance of a car from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia

These countries are members of the Eurasian Economic Union and provide for a single customs territory. Belarus and Kazakhstan have the same amount of duties. After paying for them, upon entering Russia, all that remains is to pay the recycling fee and equip the GLONASS system. Belarus is also popular because of its proximity to Europe; good models go there.

There will be no significant savings with Armenia and Kyrgyzstan, although preferential customs clearance rules apply there. But at the border with Russia, you will most likely be asked to pay the remaining amount for registration, recycling fees and installation of GLONASS.

Customs clearance of cars from the USA and Europe

Importing cars from America and European countries is considered profitable, because prices on the secondary market there are much lower than in Russia. At auctions in the USA there are even very budget options. For example, a Chevrolet Bolt with all customs clearance costs will cost 16-18 thousand dollars. This is a little more than a million rubles. It is difficult to buy a model in Russia, and the price tag for it is set at around two million.

Customs clearance of cars from Germany is also in demand. For example, to drive a German Volkswagen Polo from 2010, you will have to pay about 4,200 euros (about 370 thousand rubles). The total, including the price, will be about 600 thousand. Due to the exchange rate, this is not very profitable now; cheaper options can be found in Russia.

Alena Khotmirova, customs clearance expert:

– Many foreign manufacturers have opened production facilities in Russia. Therefore, if you compare the cost of a foreign car plus customs clearance and the cost of a similar model assembled in the Russian Federation, it turns out that the difference is small. In some cases, used models are even cheaper on the Russian market.

Also read: How to prepare a car for sale: expert advice

Where to buy a motorcycle

You can buy a motorcycle abroad in person or online, using photographs or videos. There are not many options:

• private sellers and motorcycle shops on all continents;
• specialized auctions in Japan (BSD, Aucnet, etc.);
• main flea market Japanese Yahoo auction;
• American insurance auction Copart + collateral sites throughout America;
• international platform Ebay, etc.

ATTENTION!
We work only with legal entities. When choosing a custom motorcycle, you must first decide on the model, and only then choose the market where you can buy it. For example, there are few Honda Hornet motorcycles in Japan, and it is very difficult to bring them from there. They should be purchased in Europe because they are made there. At the same time, Yamaha Drag Star motorcycles are produced for the domestic Japanese market, and accordingly, there are more of them in Japan. There are more large motorcycles like the Yamaha Stratoliner on the American market. Harley-Davidson is also better to buy in the USA.

There is a large selection on American sites. Motorcycles are sold on insurance websites (iaai.com, copart.com). This is a vehicle with some damage. Undamaged motorcycles for sale at npauctions.com, manheim.com. There are few motorcycles on the latter, but there are interesting examples. Or on message boards, for example, cycletrader.com, you can pick up something.

To determine the approximate cost, you need to look at the place where the equipment is sold. It is preferable to ship your motorcycle from New Jersey. The closer the motorcycle is to the place of shipment, the cheaper the transportation will cost. You can ship from Los Angeles, but delivery from there is more problematic.

To understand how much you can buy a motorcycle on insurance websites, you should look at sales statistics on specialized resources: bidfax.info, poctra.com, autoastat.com. You need to select a motorcycle model and sales period. The cost of the motorcycle will be shown, the cost with all fees, photos from which you can determine the condition. To this are added the auction fee, logistics in America, logistics in Russia, brokerage services and customs duties.

Motorcycles on the Japanese market can be viewed on the website 8190.jp. But the difficulty is that the interface is in Japanese. However, you can figure it out by looking at the instructions on the Internet. In the Japanese market, even used motorcycles are like new, but their cost is significant.

In Europe, motorcycles are purchased on the websites otomoto.pl, mobile.de (you can turn on the Russian language). Again, the cost of the product on the website is not the final amount you will have to pay. Delivery, brokerage services, and the cost of the certificate are added.

Delivery time from America is approximately 2-3 months, a motorcycle from Europe will be delivered to the recipient in 2-3 weeks.

Note! It is cost-effective to independently import motorcycles older than 5 years into Russia. New vehicles can ultimately cost even more than those from dealers, because customs payments to dealers are calculated based on the wholesale factory price, excluding VAT, at the net price.

How much does it cost to clear a car from Japan through customs?

There are also auctions in Japan where you can bargain and bring a car to Russia through an intermediary. But this is not always beneficial. For example, a resident of Irkutsk managed to get a Japanese Toyota Aqua for 670 thousand rubles including all customs expenses (at that time the price tag in Russia was approximately the same). Plus, the entire process of delivery and customs clearance took 3.5 months.

But in Japan you can find cars that are not officially supplied or have ceased to be supplied to Russia (Toyota Succeed, Nissan Serena, Toyota Mark X and others).

Alena Khotmirova, customs clearance expert:

— Where is the best place to drive your car from depends on your location. If you live in Vladivostok and plan to sell cars there, then, of course, it is more profitable and convenient to import the Japanese auto industry. Europe is suitable for central Russia. As for American models, it is worth carefully calculating the logistics. Due to long distances, transporting a car can be quite expensive.

Also read: How to increase the price of a car when selling

Customs clearance and clearance of general cargo

General cargo is that which is delivered separately in one container.

If we talk about general cargo, then they are suitable for large consignments of goods, when the container is filled with goods from one customer. It must be sealed and not opened. The buyer can be confident in the safety of goods, especially during multimodal transportation, when containers are reloaded on different types of transport to speed up delivery of goods. For China, sea + rail transportation is optimal in terms of time and cost.