1
Vessel Arrival and Port Handling
The vehicle is discharged from the vessel and moved to a holding area. Port and documentation charges typically become payable at this stage.
Car Import Guide
From Customs Clearance to Registration: Receiving Your Imported Car
Published: 1 Sept 2026
Many buyers focus on the overseas purchase and the shipping, then discover that the arrival phase has its own process: customs clearance, taxes, compliance checks and registration. Knowing what happens when the vessel docks helps you plan the timeline and budget without surprises.
Here is what typically happens between your car arriving in Singapore and being ready to drive.
What Happens When Your Car Arrives
The arrival phase generally follows these stages, though the exact sequence and requirements depend on the vehicle and shipping arrangement.
2
Customs Clearance
An import permit and declaration are processed, and customs verifies the vehicle against its documentation, including the bill of lading and export paperwork.
3
Duties, GST and Assessed Value
Import duty and GST are calculated from the customs-assessed value of the vehicle. The assessed value can differ from the purchase price, so budgets should allow for this.
4
Compliance and Inspection Checks
The vehicle goes through the applicable inspection and compliance checks to confirm that its condition, specifications and emissions status match the requirements.
5
Registration and COE
Registration is completed with the applicable COE secured, ARF and other fees paid, and number plates issued for the vehicle.
6
Collection and Handover
Once registered, the vehicle is released, inspected by the owner, and handed over. Any agreed rectification or detailing work is usually done around this point.
Customs Clearance, Duty and GST
Customs assesses the vehicle’s value for duty and GST purposes. This assessed value is generally based on the vehicle’s worth including freight and insurance, and it can differ from the price you actually paid — so it is wise to budget with a margin rather than assuming the invoice figure.
Accurate, complete export documentation makes clearance smoother. Discrepancies between the invoice, the bill of lading and the vehicle documents are a common cause of avoidable delays. Our guide to understanding import costs breaks down how these charges fit into the total.
Inspection, Compliance and Registration
The vehicle then goes through the applicable inspection and compliance checks, which confirm that its condition and specification match what has been declared. Only after these checks are satisfied can registration proceed, with the COE secured, the remaining fees paid and number plates issued.
Because taxes at registration form a large part of the total cost, they should be estimated before the vehicle is even purchased. Our COE and ARF guide for imported cars explains how those amounts are calculated.
Common Causes of Delay
The arrival phase runs smoothly when the paperwork is complete and the vehicle matches its documentation. The predictable causes of delay are document discrepancies, incomplete permit information, vehicles that fail to match their declared specification, and busy periods at the port. Our guide to the car import timeline shows where these fit into the overall schedule, and our shipping methods guide covers the journey up to arrival.
Planning to Import a Car?
Start by using our car import calculator to estimate the expected costs. Our consultants can also handle the customs clearance, inspection and registration steps for you, from the moment the vessel arrives to the day you collect the keys.
Contact Us