What Importing a Car Costs: The Price Structure
The most common question we get is: "The site shows a price, but what will it cost me in Tbilisi?" The answer is simple once you know what the final figure is made of.
Component one: the car itself
The price shown in our catalogue is the full cost of the car on site in China. It is the amount the car actually sells for there.
This distinction matters. Many intermediaries show an auction or starting price, and then add commission, inland transport within China, storage fees and several other line items. The final figure ends up 20-30% above the one first quoted. There are no such add-ons in our catalogue - the price you see is complete.
Component two: transport and documents
This is what it costs to move the car from China to Tbilisi and handle the paperwork. It depends on the vehicle type:
- Sedan and crossover - $4,000 to $5,000
- SUV and minivan - $6,000 to $7,000
Why a range instead of one number
China is a large country. A car may sit on the coast, a few hundred kilometres from the rail terminal - or deep inland, where inland haulage costs twice as much. That difference is what creates the range.
So when you pick a specific car, we check where it is and give you an exact figure rather than a range.
Customs
Customs duty is a separate line and depends on vehicle type, engine capacity, age and other parameters. Because this figure differs for every car, we calculate it in advance and send it to you before anything is agreed. For a rough estimate, use the calculator on the site.
An example
Say you pick a crossover listed at $22,000:
- Car price on site: $22,000
- Transport and documents: $4,000-$5,000
- Total to Tbilisi: $26,000-$27,000
Customs is added on top, calculated for that specific car.
What to watch for
Ask any intermediary three questions: is the price you show complete or a starting figure? What is included in the transport charge? Is customs separate or inside it? If you get a concrete answer to all three, there will be no surprises.