Key points
- Classify each part on its own line: brake pads, filters and lamps have different HS codes.
- Counterfeit parts are prohibited in the UAE and checked by China Customs on export.
- Lead-acid batteries, lithium packs, airbags, aerosols and paint ship as declared DG.
- Parts are dense: LCL is often charged by weight, and a 20ft can beat a 40ft.
- For re-export, keep goods in a free zone or move them under a transit declaration.
HS codes for common auto parts
A parts order often mixes dozens of item types, and each needs its own HS code on the invoice. The Harmonized System puts most parts made specifically for vehicles under heading 8708, but many common items sit elsewhere, because the code follows what the item is, not what it fits. The first 6 digits match in China's 10-digit and the UAE's 12-digit codes, so our Dubai broker confirms the full UAE code from your list.
| Part | HS heading | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Bumpers, brakes and mounted brake pads, gearboxes, axles, radiators, shock absorbers, steering parts | 8708 | Describe the part and the vehicle type, not just car parts |
| Unmounted brake linings and pads | 6813 | Friction material without a backing plate is classified separately |
| Pistons, cylinder heads and other engine parts | 8409 | Must be parts of an engine, not complete engines (8407/8408) |
| Oil, fuel and air filters | 8421 | Top target for counterfeits; brand marks are checked |
| Spark plugs, starters, alternators, ignition coils | 8511 | State the voltage and model |
| Headlamps, tail lamps, wipers | 8512 | LED units may need conformity checks |
| New tyres | 4011 | Need ECAS conformity from MOIAT before arrival |
| Lead-acid starter batteries | 8507 | Dangerous goods, Class 8, unless non-spillable and exempt |
| Engine and gear oils | 2710 | Some blends fall under 3403; SDS required |
Counterfeit risk: the fastest way to lose a shipment
Counterfeit goods are prohibited imports in the UAE, and fake auto parts are a known problem. In 2024 one authorised distributor reported raids across Sharjah, the Northern Emirates and Al Ain that found more than 2.5 million counterfeit parts worth about AED 7.46 million, with oil filters the largest single category. China Customs also enforces trademarks on exports: brands recorded with customs are checked, and suspected fakes are detained and can be confiscated. Aftermarket parts are legal, but they must not carry a carmaker's trademark, logo or look-alike packaging without authorisation.
- Made by or for the carmaker, in its packaging
- Exporter should hold a brand authorisation or distribution letter
- Declare the brand and brand type correctly in China
- Legal when sold under the maker's own brand
- Packaging must not imitate the carmaker's logo or design
- Check whether the part needs ECAS or other conformity, for example tyres
- Carries a brand without authorisation, or copies its packaging
- Detained by China Customs on export and seized in the UAE
- Can lead to fines, criminal liability and loss of the whole container
- We do not ship it, and we check marks before loading
Batteries, oils and airbags: what counts as dangerous goods
Sea dangerous goods follow the IMDG Code, whose Amendment 42-24 has been mandatory since 1 January 2026. A DG item needs an SDS, a DG declaration, UN-approved packaging with the Chinese DG packaging certificate, and the carrier's approval. Undeclared DG risks heavy fines and refusal by the line, and in 2026 several carriers suspended DG bookings to many Gulf ports, so we check acceptance before booking. For hybrid and EV lithium packs, also ask us about China's export controls: extra controls on certain high-energy lithium batteries were suspended only until 10 November 2026, and as of late October no extension had been published.
| Item | Usual DG status | What is needed |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-acid batteries filled with acid | UN2794, Class 8 corrosive | DG declaration, terminals protected, upright packing |
| Non-spillable (AGM/gel) batteries | UN2800, Class 8, can be exempt when test conditions are met | SDS and test proof; carrier decides |
| Lithium-ion packs for hybrids and EVs | UN3480, Class 9 | UN38.3 test summary, SDS, state of charge rules |
| Airbag modules and seatbelt pretensioners | Usually UN3268, Class 9; some are classed as explosives | The maker's classification and SDS |
| Spray paint, cleaners, lubricant sprays | UN1950 aerosols, Class 2 | Declared as DG, often limited quantity |
| Paints and solvents | Class 3 flammable liquids, for example UN1263 paint | DG declaration and UN packaging |
| Engine and gear oils, most brake fluids | Usually not DG for sea | SDS to confirm; some additives differ |
DG documents to request from your supplier
0/7Consolidating parts from several suppliers
Parts buyers rarely use one factory: filters come from one supplier, lamps from another, brake parts from a third. Our Guangzhou warehouse receives everything under your shipping mark, counts and photographs the cartons, keeps DG separate and loads one shipment under one B/L. Parts are dense, so check the weight as well as the volume. LCL is charged per W/M, the greater of CBM or tonnes, and a heavy 20ft often reaches its payload limit before it is full.
- Send the entry noticeEach supplier gets the warehouse address, your mark and the delivery cut-off.
- Check marks and packingWe photograph labels and packaging so brand issues are found in China, not in Dubai.
- Separate DGBatteries, aerosols and paint are packed and documented as DG; the rest ships as general cargo.
- Weigh and measureGross weight and CBM decide LCL W/M or the right container size.
- Export and sailExport declarations are filed and the cargo sails with updates at each port call.
- Land and clearAs of November 2026 the cargo lands at Khor Fakkan and moves under bond to Jebel Ali or a free zone.
Usable space: 20GP ~25–28 CBM, 40GP ~55–58, 40HQ ~65–68.
Duty, VAT and re-export to the GCC and Africa
Parts cleared into the UAE mainland pay 5% customs duty on the CIF value and 5% VAT on CIF plus duty, with the VAT reverse-charged for registered importers whose customs code is linked to their TRN. Invoices of AED 10,000 or more need MOFA attestation. Much of the parts trade through Dubai is re-exported, and here the declaration type matters: goods stored in a free zone such as JAFZA stay duty-suspended until they enter the mainland or leave the country, and goods passing through to another country can move under a transit declaration with a deposit or guarantee released on exit. Every re-export is screened for sanctions and export controls.
- For selling in the UAE
- 5% duty plus 5% VAT at clearance
- A refund may be claimed if goods are later re-exported unchanged within the allowed period
- Duty suspended while the goods stay in the zone
- Suits regional distribution to the GCC, Iraq and Africa
- Duty and VAT are paid only when goods move to the mainland
- Goods cross the UAE to another country without clearance
- Truck sealed; deposit or guarantee held until exit is confirmed
- Duty and VAT are paid in the destination country
Quick check before you order
Auto parts shipping quiz
Frequently asked questions
What is the customs duty on auto parts in the UAE?
Most auto parts pay 5% customs duty on the CIF value, plus 5% VAT on CIF plus duty. Goods kept in a free zone or moved in transit are duty-suspended.
What is the HS code for car spare parts?
Many parts made specifically for vehicles fall under heading 8708, but filters are 8421, spark plugs 8511, lamps 8512, tyres 4011, batteries 8507 and engine parts 8409. Each part needs its own line on the invoice.
Can I ship car batteries from China to Dubai?
Yes, as declared dangerous goods: wet lead-acid batteries are UN2794 Class 8 and lithium packs UN3480 Class 9, with SDS, DG declaration, approved packaging and carrier approval. Some carriers suspended DG to Gulf ports in 2026, so we check first.
Are aftermarket parts allowed in the UAE?
Yes, when they are sold under the maker's own brand and do not copy a carmaker's trademarks or packaging. Counterfeit parts are prohibited and seized. Tyres and some other items also need conformity approval.
Can I re-export auto parts from Dubai to Africa without paying UAE duty?
Yes, if the goods are held in a free zone or moved under a transit or re-export declaration. The onward sea or road routing is confirmed case by case, and every re-export is screened for sanctions.
How long does shipping auto parts from China to the UAE take?
Typically 18–30 days door to door by sea. As of November 2026 cargo lands at Khor Fakkan and is trucked under bond to Jebel Ali.
Sources
- UAE ICP: Customs union for GCC (common external tariff)
- IMO: International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
- Kerry Logistics: IMDG Code Amendment 42-24 mandatory from 1 January 2026
- Khaleej Times: over 2.5 million counterfeit auto parts worth AED 7.46 million seized in the UAE (December 2024)
- Lloyd's List Intelligence: Strait of Hormuz Brief, 22 October 2026
- Gulf News: invoice and origin certificate attestations via MOFA eDAS (August 2026)
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.