How to Import a New Chinese EV into Chile in 2026

Updated 26 Oct 2026. Craveuo sells new-energy vehicles through authorised Chinese exporters. By default the car is delivered to your door (DAP) and cleared by a licensed Chilean customs agent (agente de aduanas) we recommend; you pay the import duties and taxes. You can also buy FOB China and arrange the rest yourself. Nothing here is a promise or a quote from Craveuo.

Short answer

Chile accepts new Chinese electric cars, and the main import cost is 19% IVA on the CIF value plus any customs duty. Duty is 6% by default and reported to be 0% for Chinese cars under the Chile-China free trade agreement (to be confirmed with a licensed customs broker). Electric cars are exempt from the green tax, but each model must be homologated by the Chilean authority 3CV, and used cars are generally not allowed. Budget roughly USD 5,700 to 7,800 in taxes on a USD 30,000 CIF car.

New cars only, left-hand drive

• Importing used vehicles is prohibited in general. A court ruling on file at vLex cites article 21 of Law 18.483 as the basis (vLex, Tarapaca court, 2011). Customs offers narrow exceptions, for example free-zone residents and Chileans returning home after 18 months abroad (Aduanas, vehicle import page). Neither fits a commercial buyer, so buy new.
• Chile drives on the right, so left-hand drive is the sensible choice. We found no official drive-side rule, so this is to be confirmed.
• Who may import: the homologation procedure is written for manufacturers, distributors and importers, with a simplified path for up to three vehicles per year of the same model (ChileAtiende, procedure 3961). Whether other limits apply to private buyers is to be confirmed with a broker.

Duty, IVA and green tax

• Customs duty. The general rate is 6% of CIF value, and the vehicle page of Aduanas gives 6% of customs value (Aduanas, 2026 and 2017 pages). A preferential rate applies where a trade agreement gives it (Aduanas).
• China FTA. Reuters-based coverage of the 2006 agreement said duties on Chinese cars fell from 6% to zero (just-auto). A Chilean broker article says the FTAs with China, Korea and the US can reduce the duty to 0%, and warns that a wrong tariff code (it cites 8703.80.90 for battery-electric cars) can void the benefit (Datasur, broker page). We did not read the official tariff annex, so 0% is to be confirmed. Keep the certificate of origin.
• IVA. 19%, charged on CIF value plus duty (Aduanas).
• Green tax (impuesto verde). New light vehicles pay it once, based on NOx emissions, urban fuel efficiency and price. The SII lists electric-propulsion vehicles as exempt (SII; ChileAtiende procedure 39080). Whether any filing is needed to claim the exemption is to be confirmed.
• Circulation permit. One blog says electric cars of model year 2021 or later pay no annual permit in years 1 and 2, and pay 25% in years 3 to 5, under Law 21.505 (NSS, vendor page; not checked against the law).

Estimate for a USD 30,000 CIF battery-electric car

Excluded: freight, insurance, broker, port and storage, homologation fees, registration and inland transport. Confirm every line with a licensed customs broker.

Homologation and registration

• Each model needs a vehicle certificate issued by the 3CV (Centro de Control y Certificación Vehicular) of the Transport Ministry. Individual vehicles use the electronic certificate CHI-e: application form, copy of the import declaration, proof of the emissions standard, proof of electric consumption and proof of mandatory safety equipment. The 3CV also inspects a physical sample. Certificates are valid 24 to 36 months, and fees are not listed on the page (ChileAtiende, procedure 3961).
• Selling a whole model needs a separate model homologation first (ChileAtiende, procedure 3961).
• In February 2023 the Transport Ministry announced it would accept Chinese technical certification and cars sold only in China (Radio Agricultura, 17 Feb 2023). Check the current rule.
• A broker page says range must be declared under WLTP rather than CLTC, and that traction-battery safety must meet UN R100, with a manufacturer certificate (Datasur, vendor page). Charging uses Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC. To be confirmed with the 3CV.
• The role of the electrical regulator SEC (for example for charging equipment) was not found, so it is to be confirmed.
• After customs, the car is registered with the Civil Registry. Steps and fees: to be confirmed with the broker or dealer.

Ports and shipping

Standard entry ports for new EVs are San Antonio and Valparaiso (Datasur, vendor page). Container transit is about 30 to 35 days from Shanghai to San Antonio and 33 to 40 days from Ningbo (Welltrans, forwarder page). Another forwarder gives 28 to 35 days (Sino-Shipping, Aug 2026, vendor). We found no roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) transit time for Chile. Batteries are shipped as UN3556, Class 9 dangerous goods, under IMDG amendment 42-24, mandatory since 1 Jan 2026 (Britannia P&I). Allow another one to three weeks for customs, homologation and registration, which is an unsourced planning guess.

Payment and fraud

• Sign a written contract before any deposit.
• Pay only to the seller's named account, after checking the seller's identity.
• If bank details change, verify by phone using a number you already hold.
• Be wary of prices far below market and of sellers who refuse a contract.