2026 Used Truck Export Policy from China – Complete Guide
The 2026 used truck export policy China applies is the revised used-vehicle export framework that took effect on 1 January 2026, and the biggest change for buyers is simple: any vehicle registered for less than 180 days now needs a manufacturer-issued After-Sales Maintenance Confirmation before Customs will grant an export licence. Trucks themselves remain exportable, the licence process still runs 20–45 days, and the engineering-contract channel under Document No. 161 still lets a small trading company export legally without pre-registered qualifications.
Also, this guide translates the regulation into what actually happens on the ground, because most published summaries describe passenger cars and overlook the details that matter for dump trucks, tractor heads and cargo trucks. We base all of it on the announcements from the eight ministries and on our own shipments through 2026.
What Actually Changes for Used Truck Exports in 2026?
Overall, two changes matter commercially. Firstly, the after-sales confirmation requirement tightens the near-new segment, and secondly, the compliance archive has become auditable, which pushes weak exporters out of the market. Everything else continues under the same 2019 framework.
| Item | Before 2026 | From 1 January 2026 | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles registered under 180 days | No extra document | Manufacturer After-Sales Maintenance Confirmation required | Near-new units take 10–20 days longer |
| Vehicles registered over 180 days | Standard licence route | Unchanged | Most 2018–2022 stock is unaffected |
| Exporter qualifications | Annual licence | Annual licence, stricter audit | Unlicensed brokers are fading out |
| Post-export paperwork | Deregistration advised | Deregistration compulsory within 2 months | Late filing blacklists the exporter |
Overall, for an African buyer shopping 2019–2021 trucks, the rule change is therefore good news, because it removes the brokers who could never produce manufacturer paperwork in the first place.
Who Can Legally Export Used Trucks from China?
Two routes exist, and only one of them requires you to hold a licence before you start. Firstly, the qualification route covers manufacturers and distribution enterprises, and the provincial commerce authority audits it annually. Secondly, the engineering-contract route under Document No. 161 lets a company export against an overseas project contract without pre-registration.
| Requirement | Manufacturer | Distribution / trade enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| Legal status | Chinese legal entity listed in the MIIT vehicle announcement | Chinese legal entity |
| What it may export | Only self-produced vehicles | Any compliant used vehicle |
| Facilities | No specific requirement | Fixed premises plus display or storage yard |
| Staff | None specified | At least 3 certified used-vehicle appraisers with 6 months of social-security records |
| Financials | No special requirement | Audited previous-year report, or capital verification for a new company |
| Compliance record | No serious violations in 3 years | No serious violations in 3 years |
| Licence validity | One year, renewable | One year, renewable |
Meanwhile, the engineering-contract route asks for three documents only: an award notice or contract, the Registration Certificate for Foreign Contracted Projects, and the Ministry of Commerce business-system registration receipt. For a small exporter moving ten trucks a year, that route remains the most flexible compliant option.
The 180-Day Rule in Plain English
If you export a vehicle registered in China less than 180 days ago, the manufacturer must issue an After-Sales Maintenance Confirmation. The document is not a formality, because it must name the destination country, carry the full VIN, list after-sales service outlets in the destination country or a neighbouring country with addresses and contacts, and bear the manufacturer’s official seal.
Consequently, a truck without that confirmation cannot obtain an export licence, and no amount of negotiation at the port will fix it. In practice, this affects almost-new units and ex-demo vehicles, so the safe approach for African buyers is to order trucks registered more than 180 days earlier and avoid the delay entirely.
Documents You Need Before a Truck Leaves China
| Document | Issued by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle registration and transfer record | Local traffic management office | Stamped “Transfer for Export” |
| Pre-export inspection report | Licensed testing institution | Must follow the WM/T 8202 standard, valid 90 days |
| Used-vehicle export licence | Provincial commerce authority | One licence per batch, up to 20 vehicles |
| After-sales maintenance confirmation | Manufacturer | Only for vehicles registered under 180 days |
| Customs export declaration | Customs | Product name format: Used + Brand + Model |
| Bill of Lading | Shipping line | Issued after loading, needed for destination clearance |
Additionally, we publish our own yard inspection standard on the quality and inspection page, and the 30-point inspection guide shows what a buyer should expect to receive before payment.
Timeline: From Chinese Yard to Bill of Lading
Overall, a single truck typically clears the whole chain in 20 to 45 days, and the schedule below reflects the 2026 licence process rather than the marketing version of it.
| Step | Typical duration | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Stock screening and procurement | Up to 30 days | China bars scrapped, seized, mortgaged, accident-damaged and incomplete-document vehicles |
| Transfer of ownership and “Transfer for Export” stamp | 5–7 days | Inspection report valid 90 days |
| Export licence application | Approval within 3 working days | Apply immediately after transfer |
| Customs export declaration | 1–3 days after licence | One licence covers up to 20 units |
| Loading and Bill of Lading | 3–7 days | RoRo or breakbulk, because trucks exceed container height |
| Post-export deregistration | Within 2 months of departure | Late filing puts the exporter on the untrustworthy list |
Also, freight planning sits outside the licence process, so read the shipping cost guide before you fix a delivery date with your customer.
What Is Still Prohibited
- Scrapped vehicles, and any unit that has already reached the mandatory scrapping standard
- Seized, mortgaged or judicially restricted vehicles
- Vehicles written off after a major accident
- Vehicles with incomplete registration or ownership documents
- Tricycles, low-speed trucks and trailers, which fall outside the used-vehicle export definition
Notably, an exported used vehicle cannot be returned to China once it has left, which is why the pre-shipment inspection matters more than any promise made at the yard.
HS Codes and Licence Batches: Trucks Are Not Cars
Meanwhile, many online summaries quote commodity code 8703 for everything, and that is simply wrong for heavy vehicles. Trucks fall under HS 8704, while passenger cars sit under 8703, and the declared product name follows the format “Used” plus brand plus model.
| Vehicle type | HS code | Licence unit | Declaration format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dump truck, tractor head, cargo truck | 8704 | One licence per batch, max 20 units | Used HOWO 371 Dump Truck |
| Pickup and light commercial | 8704 | Same licence covers the batch | Used Great Wall Wingle Pickup |
| Passenger car | 8703 | Same licence covers the batch | Used Toyota 2.5L Sedan |
What This Means for You as an African Buyer
- First, ask your supplier for a copy of the current used-vehicle export licence, because an unlicensed broker cannot legally ship at all.
- Then confirm the registration date of each unit, so the 180-day rule never delays your vessel booking.
- Also check the emission standard and age cap in your own country, since Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia enforce import age limits independently of Chinese rules.
- Meanwhile, insist on the WM/T 8202 inspection report, because it is the document your clearing agent will ask for first.
- Finally, keep copies of the licence, the declaration and the Bill of Lading together, as customs disputes in Africa usually hinge on that trio.
Our age limits by country guide lists the current caps, and the complete import guide walks through the buyer-side process from enquiry to delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2026 policy ban used truck exports?
No. However, it raises the compliance bar, because every batch now needs a licence, an inspection report and, for near-new units, a manufacturer confirmation. Trucks registered more than 180 days ago continue to export normally.
What is the after-sales maintenance confirmation?
It is a manufacturer letter required for vehicles registered less than 180 days before export. It must list the destination country, the VIN, after-sales outlets in the destination or a neighbouring country, and the factory seal.
How long does a used truck export licence take?
Firstly, allow 5–7 days for the ownership transfer and the “Transfer for Export” stamp. Then the provincial authority approves the licence within 3 working days, and a single truck usually leaves China 20–45 days after the order.
Can a small trading company export used trucks from China?
Yes. Under Document No. 161, a company can export against an overseas project contract without holding a pre-registered licence, and it needs only an award notice, the foreign contracted project certificate and a MOFCOM registration receipt.
Which HS code do used trucks use?
Trucks use HS 8704, while passenger cars use 8703. Meanwhile, one export licence covers a batch of up to 20 vehicles, regardless of the code, so mixed orders are workable.
Quick Answer
The 2026 used truck export policy China enforces keeps the 2019 framework but adds two hard requirements: vehicles registered under 180 days need a manufacturer After-Sales Maintenance Confirmation, and you must file post-export deregistration within two months. Meanwhile, everything else runs through the usual channels, so a licensed exporter can still move a 2019–2021 truck from yard to vessel in 20–45 days, with HS 8704 on the declaration and up to 20 units per licence.
Related guides and stock
- How to import used trucks from China
- Used truck age limits in Africa 2026
- Used truck inspection guide: 30-point checklist
- Payment methods: L/C and TT guide
- How to avoid used truck scams
- How to find a reliable supplier in China
- Used dump truck prices in Africa 2026
- Used dump trucks in stock
- Ask about your export paperwork
Related reading: Importing used trucks to the UAE and How to run a VIN check.
About the Author
Wang Jianbin is the founder of HebeiCar (hebeicar.com), a China-based used truck exporter. Since 2014, he has helped 500+ fleet owners and dealers across 20+ African countries — Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, DRC, Ethiopia and more — source quality used HOWO, Shacman, FAW and FOTON trucks at factory-direct prices. Every truck is inspected in his own yard in Shijiazhuang, Hebei before shipping, and he writes about import procedures, shipping logistics, customs clearance and truck selection based on that real export experience.
Watch real inventory walkaround videos on the YouTube channel, or contact Wang Jianbin directly for current inventory and CIF prices via WhatsApp.
Related: 2026 China used-truck export market forecast — why African demand is surging.
