Market guide · Bolivia

Import Chinese Cars to Bolivia

Bolivia has no sea coast, so vehicles from China arrive through ports in Chile or Peru and continue overland. We have completed deals with buyers in Bolivia. This guide covers the port options, the steering and model-year rules and the current tax treatment of EVs and hybrids.

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At a glance

  • Ports

    Arica (Chile), Matarani and Ilo (Peru), where Bolivia’s port-services agency ASP-B operates[4]

  • Steering

    Right-hand-drive vehicles only after steering conversion in a Bolivian industrial free zone[1]

  • Model year

    Minimum model year set by regulation per tariff heading and updated over time[2]

  • Electric vehicles

    Supreme Decree 5653: 0% ICE for fully electric vehicles until 31 December 2026[3]

Ports of entry and shipping from China

Bolivian import cargo is handled at Pacific ports in neighbouring countries. ASP-B, the state agency accredited as Bolivia’s official customs agent in those ports, works at Arica in Chile and at Matarani and Ilo in Peru, and has been working towards a presence in Iquique[4]. From the port, the vehicles continue to Bolivia by road under customs transit.

Ocean freight from China to these ports is by RoRo or in containers. The inland leg and Bolivian customs clearance are handled by you or your customs agent (despachante de aduana); our quote covers the vehicles and, for CIF, the ocean freight to the agreed port.

Chinese-market vehicles are left-hand drive and electric models use the GB/T charging standard; check charging equipment and adapters for your market.

Import rules to check

  • Steering: vehicles built with right-hand drive cannot be imported unless the steering is converted in a Bolivian industrial free zone[1]. The vehicles we supply are factory left-hand drive, so no conversion is involved.
  • Model-year limits: Bolivia sets which model years may be imported for each tariff heading and updates the limits over time. For example, for 2021 the Aduana Nacional only allowed passenger vehicles (heading 87.03) of model year 2020 or newer[2]. Ask your despachante for the limit that applies on your shipment date.
  • Prior authorisation: new vehicles need an Autorización Previa from the Ministry of Public Works (MOPSV) through its SIOAP system. The file includes the vehicle’s technical sheet, a manufacturer test report and an IBMETRO acceptance certificate[5]. Tell us early which manufacturer documents you need so we can check what is obtainable for your model.
  • EV and hybrid taxes: Supreme Decree 5653 of July 2026 sets the ICE (specific consumption tax) rates for electric and hybrid vehicle imports until 31 December 2026: 0% for fully electric vehicles, and between 0% and 20% for plug-in and micro-hybrids depending on the tariff heading and age[3]. Rates after 2026 may change.

Rules and tax rates change. Buyers should confirm the current rules with their customs broker before ordering. Import clearance, duties and registration are handled by the buyer or the buyer’s broker.

Inventory

Vehicles to consider for Bolivia

Fully electric models benefit most from the current ICE rates. For plug-in and range-extended models, ask your despachante which rate applies to the tariff heading before ordering.

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Prices are USD reference prices from our database, subject to real-time availability and final confirmation in your written quotation.

How ordering works

Planning an order for Bolivia? Send the models, quantity and the port your despachante prefers (Arica, Matarani or Ilo). We reply with a written FOB or CIF quote.

Payment: T/T bank transfer, 20% deposit and the 80% balance when the vehicles arrive at the Chinese port, before export shipment. Minimum order: one shipping container per order.

Prices, Incoterm and shipping option are confirmed in writing before you pay anything. How to Buy · FAQ

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Sources

Public sources checked on 28 September 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or customs advice.

  1. Decreto Supremo 28963 – vehicle import regulation (Lexivox)
  2. Aduana Nacional, Circular 263/2020 – model-year limits for 2021
  3. Red Uno (July 2026): what Supreme Decree 5653 changes for EVs and hybrids
  4. ASP-B (March 2025): Bolivian cargo in the ports of Chile and Peru
  5. MOPSV: requirements for the Autorización Previa of new vehicles (PDF)

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