Can I Export My Car from USA to India? Complete Guide for 2025

If you’re thinking about bringing your car from the USA to India, you’re not alone. Thousands of expats, returning NRIs, and car enthusiasts do it every year. But it’s not as simple as loading it onto a ship. India has strict rules, high costs, and technical requirements that can turn a smooth move into a bureaucratic nightmare-if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Who Can Import a Car into India?

India only allows car imports under very specific conditions. You can’t just buy a car in the USA and ship it over because you like the model. The government restricts imports to:

• Returning Indian citizens (NRIs) who lived abroad for at least two years
• People transferring their residence to India permanently
• Foreign diplomats and embassy staff (with special permissions)

If you’re on a work visa, tourist visa, or just planning to visit, you can’t import a car for personal use. You’ll need proof of residency abroad-like a work visa, tax records, or utility bills-to qualify.

What Cars Are Allowed?

Not every car qualifies. India only permits the import of:

• Used cars that are no more than three years old from the date of manufacture
• Brand-new cars (one unit per person, only if you qualify as an NRI)
• Right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles are not allowed unless converted

That means if your car is a 2022 model and you’re shipping it in 2025, you’re fine. But if it’s a 2020 model, you’re out of luck. Also, most American cars are left-hand drive (LHD). India drives on the right, so your car must be converted to RHD before customs clearance. This conversion isn’t optional-it’s mandatory. Only a few authorized workshops in India can do it legally, and the cost ranges from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3 lakh ($1,800-$3,600).

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car to India?

Shipping isn’t cheap. Here’s a realistic breakdown for a standard sedan:

• Shipping from USA to India (roll-on/roll-off): $1,200-$2,500
• Port handling and documentation fees: $500-$800
• RHD conversion: ₹1.5 lakh-₹3 lakh ($1,800-$3,600)
• Customs duty: 100%-125% of the car’s assessed value
• IGST (Integrated Goods and Services Tax): 28%
• Other charges (inspection, storage, registration): ₹50,000-₹1 lakh

Let’s say your car is worth $20,000 in the USA. After shipping and conversion, your customs duty alone could be $20,000-$25,000. Add 28% GST on top of that, and you’re looking at a total cost of $50,000-$60,000. That’s more than double what you paid for the car.

Some people think they can save money by shipping a luxury car. But the higher the value, the higher the duty. A $100,000 Porsche? You’ll pay over $150,000 in taxes alone. For most people, buying the same car in India is cheaper-even with the premium price tag.

What Documents Do You Need?

You’ll need a full stack of paperwork. Missing one and your car gets stuck at the port for weeks-or worse, returned. Here’s what you need:

• Passport with valid visa and proof of residence abroad (minimum 2 years)
• Original vehicle title (pink slip)
• Bill of lading from the shipping company
• Invoice or purchase receipt showing the car’s value
• Insurance certificate for transit
• Import license from DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade)
• NO Objection Certificate (NOC) from your bank if the car was financed
• Proof of payment of customs duty and taxes

Most people hire a customs clearance agent in India. It costs ₹50,000-₹1 lakh, but it’s worth it. One wrong document and your car sits in a port warehouse for months, racking up storage fees.

Why Is the Duty So High?

India imposes heavy import duties to protect its domestic auto industry. Companies like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, and Tata Motors produce millions of cars locally. If cheap used cars flooded in, they’d crush local manufacturers. The government wants people to buy Indian-made cars, not import foreign ones.

There’s also a safety and emissions angle. American cars often don’t meet India’s Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards. Even if your car is new, it might fail the mandatory pollution check. That’s another reason why RHD conversion and homologation are required-it’s not just about driving on the right side. It’s about safety, emissions, and legal compliance.

What About Electric Cars?

Electric vehicles (EVs) are treated differently. India offers a 15% reduction in customs duty for imported EVs under the Make in India initiative. But you still need to meet the same age and RHD rules. Tesla Model 3 or BMW i4? You can import them, but the total cost after taxes will still be over ₹1.2 crore ($145,000). That’s more than double the price in the USA.

Some people try to import EVs as “personal effects” to avoid duty. That’s a gray area. Customs officials have cracked down on this. If they suspect you’re trying to dodge taxes, they’ll seize the vehicle and fine you.

Is It Worth It?

Let’s be honest: for 95% of people, importing a car from the USA to India is not worth it. The costs, delays, and hassle far outweigh the benefits. You’ll pay 2-3 times the original price. You’ll wait 3-6 months. You’ll deal with red tape, conversion fees, and possible inspection failures.

There are only two scenarios where it makes sense:

1. You’re bringing a rare, classic, or collector car that doesn’t exist in India-like a 1967 Mustang or a Porsche 911 GT3 RS.
2. You’re an NRI with a sentimental attachment to your car and the budget to cover 3x the cost.

For everything else? Buy locally. India has more car models than ever-Tesla, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and even high-end SUVs are available. You’ll get warranty, service centers, spare parts, and resale value. And you won’t spend half a year waiting for your car to clear customs.

What Happens After Your Car Arrives?

Once your car clears customs and passes inspection, you need to register it with the Regional Transport Office (RTO). You’ll need:

• Import certificate from customs
• Proof of payment of all duties
• RHD conversion certificate
• Insurance in your name
• Proof of address in India

The RTO will issue a new registration number. Your car’s original VIN stays, but the registration plate will be Indian. You’ll also need to get a fitness certificate every five years. Unlike in the USA, where you just renew registration, India requires mandatory inspections for imported vehicles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Shipping a car older than three years-automatically rejected
• Forgetting RHD conversion-car held at port indefinitely
• Under-declaring the car’s value to reduce duty-leads to fines or seizure
• Using an unapproved shipping agent-delays, lost documents, scams
• Trying to import a modified or tuned car-customs will reject it

One person shipped a modified Subaru WRX from California. Customs flagged it for engine modifications and refused clearance. He spent ₹8 lakh on legal fees just to get it back. Don’t be that person.

Alternatives to Importing

If you love American cars, here’s what you can do instead:

• Buy a used American car in India-dealers import and resell them legally
• Choose an Indian-made car with similar specs-like the Tata Safari or Mahindra Thar
• Wait for official launches-Tesla, Rivian, and Ford are expanding in India
• Lease a luxury car for your stay-many companies offer long-term rentals

There’s a thriving market in India for imported American cars-just not directly from you. Dealers import them under commercial licenses, pay the duties, and sell them to buyers. You get the car without the paperwork.

Final Thoughts

Exporting your car from the USA to India is possible-but it’s expensive, slow, and complicated. Unless you’re bringing a rare vehicle or have deep pockets, it’s not worth the trouble. The Indian government designed these rules to protect local industry and ensure safety. Trying to bypass them will cost you more than you save.

Do the math. Compare the total cost of importing your car versus buying a similar model in India. In almost every case, buying local wins. Save your time, money, and sanity. Let the professionals handle the imports. You just enjoy the drive.