Exporting Complete Vehicles from China to Kazakhstan: A Complete Process Guide (2026 Latest Edition)
Introduction
In the last three years, trade in cars between China and Kazakhstan has expanded a lot. Chinese brands including Chery, Changan, BYD, and Haval have steadily acquired market share in Kazakhstan thanks to lower prices and better quality perceptions. Between early 2025 and now, road freight between Kazakhstan and China surged by an incredible 82%, and rail freight grew by 13%. These numbers show how much this trade route has grown.
But for many exporters and importers, the real procedure of transferring a whole car from a Chinese manufacturer or dealer lot to a buyer in Kazakhstan is still unclear. Starting on January 1, 2026, there will be new policy changes that change what is and isn’t allowed. You will also have to deal with EAEU customs rules, and you will have to make genuine decisions about how to transport goods, what paperwork to use, and which logistical partners to work with.
This guide gets rid of the noise. This article shows you everything you need to know about China’s new export licensing system, Kazakhstan’s import duties, border crossings, and last-mile delivery. It covers everything from China’s new export licensing system to Kazakhstan’s import duties, border crossings, and last-mile delivery.
Understanding the 2026 Regulatory Landscape
China’s New Export Policy: The 180-Day Rule
On November 11, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce and three other government agencies made a big policy that went into force on January 1, 2026. The main change is that any vehicle that is less than 180 days old and is going to be sold as a “used car” must now come with an After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter from the original manufacturer. Chinese customs will not give you an export license if you don’t have this letter.
This action is aimed squarely at the “zero-kilometer used car” gray market, which has been thriving for a few years. Dealers would buy a brand-new BYD or Li Auto, register it for a short time, and then sell it as a used car to get around the rules that the manufacturer had set up for distribution. The technique messed up prices. For example, in Kazakhstan, an officially marketed BYD Song PLUS DM-i cost about CNY 235,000, but “used” versions of the same vehicle sold on the gray market for only CNY 140,000. Manufacturers couldn’t sell their own products against each other.
As of January 1, 2026, it is now formally needed to maintain export licenses for pure-electric passenger vehicles (HS Code 87038010.90). This adds another level of control that is primarily aimed at EVs, where there has been the most illegal activity. For exporters that deal in real old cars (those that have been registered for more than 180 days), the process is now easier because these cars don’t have to go through any extra checks under the new rules.
Kazakhstan’s Import-Side Tightening
Kazakhstan has also worked to make its own import lines more secure. After December 1, 2024, each person who imports a car can only bring in one car per year. If that person registers another car in the same year, it is automatically considered a commercial import. More importantly, only official dealers are allowed to bring in new cars. Non-official groups can only bring in cars that are at least three years old. This is to protect the increasing network of dealerships and investments in manufacturing in the country.
The Kazakhstan Automobile Market Monitoring and Analysis Agency (KAMMAA) has also said that there are problems with logistics at the Kazakhstan-China border, especially when it comes to delivering parts and vehicles. However, infrastructural improvements are being made at Khorgos and other crossing locations. Customs improvements, such as the ASTANA-1 system for electronic clearance, have decreased the time it takes to process transit cargo on important routes to about 12 hours. This is a real benefit for business importers.
Eligible Vehicle Categories for Export
The first stage in the export procedure is to figure out what category your unit belongs to. The 2026 policy framework sets up three important levels, each with its own rules for paperwork and licenses:
| Category | Definition | Export Requirements | Notes |
| New Vehicles | Registered < 180 days, export through official channels | Manufacturer authorization + After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter | Only via licensed exporters with factory approval |
| Near-New / Grey Zone | Registered < 180 days, intended as “used” | After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter mandatory from Jan 1, 2026 | Grey market effectively closed; non-compliant units blocked at customs |
| Genuine Used Vehicles | Registered > 180 days (6+ months) | Standard used-car export license; no manufacturer letter required | Clearest, most straightforward category for export |
| EVs (Pure Electric) | All pure-electric passenger vehicles | Export license management now mandatory (HS 87038010.90) | Applies regardless of age; effective Jan 1, 2026 |
For most small and medium exporters who don’t have direct contacts with manufacturers, selling used cars that have been registered for more than 180 days is the best and most legally clear way to get into the market in 2026. If you’re getting almost new stock from dealers, make sure your supplier can provide the manufacturer authorization paperwork before you set up any shipments.
Step-by-Step Export Process from China
Step 1: Procurement and Pre-Export Inspection
The first thing you need to do, no matter where you buy the car—at a dealership, an auction house, or from a private seller—is check the vehicle’s registration date, compare the VIN number to official databases, and get a comprehensive vehicle history report. An impartial pre-shipment inspection is highly recommended for used cars. It protects both the exporter and the buyer, and it provides the basis for correct customs valuation paperwork later.
At this point, check to see if the car needs an EV export license. If it does, the process of applying for an export license must start before any plans for logistics are set in stone, since approval times can change.
Step 2: Export Documentation Preparation
There are more documents needed to export an automobile from China than for most other types of merchandise. You will need to put together the following set of papers, and all of them must include the same information about the vehicle:
| Document | Purpose | Issuing Authority |
| Vehicle Title / Registration Certificate | Proves legal ownership and registration date | Local DMV / Traffic Authority |
| Export Customs Declaration (B/E) | Required for all goods leaving China | Shipper / Customs Broker |
| Commercial Invoice | States transaction value, VIN, engine no., year, color, model | Exporter |
| Packing List | Describes vehicle dimensions, weight, accessories included | Exporter |
| Certificate of Origin (Form A or CO) | May qualify for tariff preferences under applicable agreements | China Council for Trade Promotion (CCPIT) |
| After-Sales Service Letter (if < 180 days) | Mandatory for near-new vehicles from Jan 1, 2026 | Vehicle Manufacturer |
| EV Export License (EVs only) | Mandatory for pure-electric vehicles from Jan 1, 2026 | Ministry of Commerce |
| Insurance Certificate | Covers transit risk | Insurance Company |
At this point, it’s essential to have customs brokers who know how to handle car shipments between China and Kazakhstan. One of the most prevalent reasons for delays and fines at both the Chinese and Kazakhstani borders is mistakes in paperwork, such as mismatched VIN numbers or wrong customs valuations.
Step 3: Export Customs Clearance in China
The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) handles export clearance. The exporter or their customs broker sends the export declaration electronically. Customs may check the vehicle in person, especially if it is worth a lot of money or if there are problems with the paperwork. Since the new regulation went into effect, the GACC has greatly increased its surveillance of car exports. This makes it more crucial than ever to make sure that files are accurate and comprehensive.
When export clearance is given, the products are loaded and a customs stamp is put on the declaration. This stamped declaration is needed to get a VAT refund. China gives exporters a 13% VAT refund on goods they send abroad, which may be a big financial benefit for them if they have the right paperwork.
Choosing Your Transport Route: Options and Trade-offs
Kazakhstan is landlocked, therefore vehicles going from China to Kazakhstan have to go through land corridors instead of directly across the ocean. Over the past ten years, the Belt and Road Initiative has made these routes much more reliable and better built. In 2025, it was expected that more than 33 million tons of freight would move by rail between China and Kazakhstan. Transit cargo processing periods at important border crossings have also been decreased to about 12 hours.
For vehicle exporters, the three main ways to move goods are rail, road trucking, and RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) rail flatcar. The latter one is a type of rail that is made just for moving wheeled cargo. This is how they stack up:
| Transport Mode | Transit Time | Cost Level | Best For | Key Border Crossing |
| Rail (Container / Flatcar) | 15–20 days | Medium | Bulk vehicle shipments, cost-sensitive cargo | Alashankou / Dostyk or Khorgos / Altynkol |
| Road (Truck) | 10–15 days | Medium-High | Single vehicles or small lots, flexible routing | Khorgos (Horgos) or Alashankou |
| Rail RoRo Flatcar | 15–20 days | Medium | Multiple vehicles per shipment, efficient loading | Alashankou / Khorgos |
| Multimodal | 18–25 days | Variable | Complex routes, onward delivery to Central Asia | Aktau port (Caspian) + rail |
Alashankou/Dostyk and Khorgos/Altynkol are the two most important rail border crossings. Each has its own pros and cons. Alashankou is the oldest corridor with a higher capacity, transporting about 18 million tons a year. Khorgos, the newer crossing, handled about 14 million tons in 2024 and is growing quickly with a dedicated dry dock and bonded warehousing zone. Khorgos is becoming the favored entry point for vehicle exporters because it has sophisticated customs facilities that are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and bonded warehousing space.
It’s important to know that China utilizes standard gauge rail that is 1,435mm wide, whereas Kazakhstan and the rest of the former Soviet Union use broad gauge rail that is 1,520mm wide. Because of this difference in gauge, containers and cargo must be moved across the border. In the current situation, this usually takes 24 to 36 hours at Alashankou or Khorgos. Rail flatcars for moving cars include specific bogies that can be changed at the border, which makes it easier to move vehicles.
Kazakhstan Import Customs: Duties, Taxes, and Clearance
Kazakhstan’s EAEU Membership and Duty Framework
Kazakhstan is part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which implies that its customs tariffs are the same as those of Russia, Belarus, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan. When you bring a car into the country, you have to pay import charges. These are either a percentage of the customs value or a certain amount per cubic centimeter of engine displacement, whichever is higher. This approach can lead to higher effective duty rates for cars with bigger engines.
Kazakhstan also charges a 12% VAT on the CIF (Cost + Insurance + Freight) value of all imports. Kazakhstan has dropped the import tax on electric cars (EVs) to help speed up the adoption of EVs and support the country’s aims for a greener future. This is a big help for people who want to buy EVs. In Kazakhstan, Chinese electric vehicles from BYD, Chery’s JAECOO brand, and others are especially cheap.
| Vehicle Type | Age / Displacement | Duty Rate | Minimum Rate | VAT |
| Used Gasoline | > 7 years, 1500–3000ml | 15% of customs value | 0.6 EUR/cc | 12% |
| Used Gasoline | > 7 years, > 3000ml | 15%–18% of customs value | 0.5 EUR/cc | 12% |
| Used Gasoline (5+ years) | 1800–3000ml | 4 EUR/ml tariff | — | 12% |
| Used Gasoline (5+ years) | > 3000ml | 5.8 EUR/ml tariff | — | 12% |
| New Gasoline / Hybrid | < 3 years, all displacements | EAEU standard rate (varies) | Refer to EAEU tariff code | 12% |
| Pure Electric Vehicle | Any | Import duty waiver (current policy) | — | 12% |
The WTO Valuation Agreement is usually followed when valuing goods in Kazakhstan, which means that the declared invoice value is the starting point. But Kazakh customs officials keep a close eye out for under-invoicing and may use their own database of reference prices for cars that are widely traded. It is best to make sure that the disclosed values are based on real market transactions and are the same on all documents.
The Kazakhstan Import Clearance Process
Starting in January 2025, only official dealers will be able to bring new cars into Kazakhstan. Individuals can only bring in one vehicle per year, and non-official importers can only bring in automobiles that are more than three years old. For businesses that import goods, the clearance process involves sending the import declaration through Kazakhstan’s ASTANA-1 electronic system along with a complete set of documents. These documents include the original export customs declaration from China, the commercial invoice, bill of lading or CMR, insurance certificate, vehicle title, and a structural safety certificate.
Not only is it a good idea to hire a local Kazakhstani customs broker, it is almost necessary for seamless clearance. They will take care of HS code categorization, checking the value with customs, and any inspections that need to be done. More and more, people crossing the border need bilingual documents in Chinese and Russian or Kazakh. Having these ready ahead of time will help you avoid delays.
Total Cost Structure: What to Budget For
One of the biggest mistakes first-time vehicle exporters from China to Kazakhstan make is not fully understanding the landing cost. The price of the car is just one part of the deal. This is a realistic list of the costs for a mid-range sedan or SUV:
| Cost Component | Typical Range (USD) | Notes |
| Vehicle purchase price | $8,000 – $35,000+ | Varies widely by brand, model, age |
| China inland transport to border / port | $200 – $600 | Depends on origin city |
| China export customs + documentation | $200 – $500 | Broker fees + official charges |
| Rail or road freight (China to Kazakhstan) | $800 – $2,500 | Depends on mode and vehicle size |
| Border crossing / transshipment | $150 – $400 | Gauge change handling at Khorgos/Alashankou |
| Kazakhstan import duty | Variable | See duty table above; can be significant |
| Kazakhstan VAT (12%) | 12% of CIF value | Applied on top of CIF |
| Kazakhstan customs broker fee | $200 – $600 | Local agent handling clearance |
| Insurance (transit) | $100 – $350 | Based on vehicle value and route |
| Last-mile delivery within Kazakhstan | $100 – $400 | Almaty to Astana or other cities |
A typical Chinese-brand mid-size SUV that costs about $15,000 can cost an extra 25–40% in Almaty, which includes all customs, freight, and fees. Before you make a deal, you have to run a thorough cost model. This is the most important part of a successful import firm.
How Topway Shipping Supports Your China-Kazakhstan Vehicle Exports
Topway Shipping, based in Shenzhen, China, has been a professional provider of cross-border logistics solutions since 2010. The China-Central Asia route is one of the most complicated freight corridors in Asia, and Topway has a founding team with more than 15 years of experience in international logistics and customs clearance.
Topway’s services cover the whole logistics chain. For automobile exporters who want to send their goods to Kazakhstan, this involves getting them from any Chinese city to the right border crossing or export port, clearing customs and getting the right paperwork, managing the transit through Khorgos or Alashankou, and coordinating the last mile inside Kazakhstan. Topway also provides flexible ocean freight services from China to key ports around the world for full-container-load (FCL) and less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments. These services can be combined with overland connections for multimodal routes.
What makes Topway stand out in the China-Kazakhstan vehicle corridor is that they know about the regulatory changes that will happen in 2026. The team can tell you if your car inventory needs the new After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter, what the process for getting an EV export license looks like in real life, and how to organize your paperwork so that it meets the requirements of both Chinese export customs and Kazakhstan’s ASTANA-1 import system. Having a logistics partner who knows more than just the freight rates is a real operational advantage for importers and exporters who are going through this regulatory change.
Topway can help firms that want to set up regular volume flows instead of one-time shipments by providing dedicated routing plans, regular rate benchmarks for rail and road choices, and working with customs brokers on both sides of the border. Contact the Topway team in Shenzhen to talk about your specific vehicle export needs and get a customized logistics proposal.
Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced freight workers are surprised by things that happen on the China-Kazakhstan route. The following are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them.
The most risky thing you can do in 2026 is try to export a car that has been registered for less than 180 days without getting permission from the manufacturer. Chinese customs has made it much harder to export cars, and shipments that don’t follow the rules are being stopped at the border, even if the vehicles are already loaded in containers. Before making any logistics plans, make sure you check the first registration date of each vehicle.
Another common problem is that the documents don’t match. The VIN number, engine number, year of production, color, and reported value must all be the same on the invoice, the customs declaration, the certificate of origin, and the insurance certificate. If there is any difference, customs will ask questions and clearance may be delayed, possibly for weeks. Make a list of all the papers you need and have your customs broker check each one before you send it in.
On the Kazakhstan side, it is becoming more dangerous to under-invoice in order to lower import duty responsibility. The customs administration in Kazakhstan can look up reference prices for Chinese vehicles that are often traded and actively marks declarations that seem too low. If you commit customs value fraud, you could lose your car, pay a lot of money in fines, or be banned from bringing goods into the country. Accurate valuation gets rid of this danger completely, even though it raises duty costs.
Lastly, a lot of people who are new to importing don’t realize how long it takes for customs clearance on the Kazakhstan side. The ASTANA-1 electronic system has made things run more smoothly, although physical inspections are still done based on risk. After the vehicle gets to the border in Kazakhstan, it will take at least 5 to 10 working days for customs to clear it. Don’t promise delivery to end buyers until the vehicle has cleared.
Conclusion
In 2026, the China-Kazakhstan automotive corridor is more controlled and easier to use than it has ever been. China’s new 180-day regulation and EV export licensing requirements have shut down the grey market routes that messed up prices and hurt relationships between manufacturers. For exporters who follow the rules and deal with real used cars or fully permitted new inventory, the rules are actually clearer and more predictable.
The basic things that make Kazakhstan’s market work are still strong. There is a steady demand since salaries are going up, the number of older cars on the road is going up, and people are buying more Chinese brands. The Belt and Road infrastructure developments, especially at Khorgos and throughout Kazakhstan’s own rail network, keep making travel faster and more reliable. The EAEU duty regime is complicated, but it gives electric vehicles good reasons to buy them that fit with the way Chinese car exports are going.
In 2026, the key to success on this corridor is being ready. This means having careful records, knowing how to correctly value customs, knowing which vehicle category each unit belongs into under the new policy, and having a dependable logistics partner with real experience with China-Central Asia automotive traffic. Topway Shipping has been building that knowledge since 2010, and now they can assist you move automobiles via this corridor with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can I still export “zero-kilometer” or near-new Chinese cars to Kazakhstan in 2026?
A: Yes, but the journey has gotten a lot harder. As of January 1, 2026, every vehicle that is exported as a “used car” and has been registered for less than 180 days must come with an After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter from the manufacturer. Chinese customs won’t give you an export license without this letter. In practice, this means that only exporters who work directly with manufacturers may get to this group. For most independent exporters, the best way to go to market is to sell real old cars that have been registered for at least 180 days.
Q: Do I need a special license to export electric vehicles from China to Kazakhstan?
A: Yes. Pure-electric passenger vehicles (HS Code 87038010.90) need export license management as of January 1, 2026. This implies that the vehicle manufacturer must give permission for the export to go ahead. This is true no matter how old or registered the car is. To get through the licensing procedure, work with a customs broker who knows the new EV export rules, or a logistics partner like Topway Shipping.
Q: How long does a China-to-Kazakhstan vehicle shipment typically take door-to-door?
A: In the real world, plan on 25 to 35 days for a full door-to-door shipment in normal conditions. It takes 3 to 7 days for Chinese export customs to clear and load the goods. Then it takes 15 to 20 days for the goods to travel by rail or road. At the border, it takes 1 to 2 days to change the gauge and enter Kazakh customs. Finally, it takes 5 to 10 days for Kazakh customs to clear the goods and deliver them to the last mile. It’s a good idea to add extra time to your delivery promises because there can be delays at border crossings or because of problems with paperwork.
Q: What is the most cost-effective transport mode for vehicle exports?
A: Rail freight through the Khorgos or Alashankou border crossing is usually the cheapest way to ship vehicles. It strikes a good balance between cost and transit time (15–20 days). It takes about 10 to 15 days longer to ship by road, but it costs about a third more. Road trucking might be worth it for one expensive vehicle if speed is important. Rail is usually the best business solution for consistent volume flows of numerous vehicles, especially on dedicated vehicle flatcars.
Q: Is Kazakhstan’s EV import duty waiver still in place in 2026?
A: As of early 2026, Kazakhstan’s import tariff waiver for pure-electric vehicles is still in effect and is being utilized to encourage people to buy EVs. Duty rules can change, though, so we suggest checking with a local Kazakhstani customs broker to be sure you know the current situation before you finish any EV import deal. The EAEU tariff structure can be changed by a group agreement.
