For many years Uzbekistan remained one of the most closed car markets in the region: high rates protected local production, and an imported vehicle cost noticeably more than in neighbouring countries. In recent years the rules have shifted and buying a car from Canada has become realistic. But 2026 also brought tightening: some reduced rates expired and a surcharge appeared for goods from countries without most-favoured-nation treatment. To avoid an unpleasant surprise, clearance must be calculated in advance for your specific vehicle. In this article Canada Motor House breaks down the logic of the payments honestly, without invented figures.
1. Market specifics: protective duties and what changed in 2026
Uzbekistan is not part of the EAEU, so the preferential intra-union rules do not apply here. Historically the market was protected by high import duties and excise that shielded local assembly (UzAuto/GM). Excise on imported passenger cars was abolished from 1 August 2020, and cars are not on the 2026 list of excisable goods (Art. 289³ of the Tax Code).
In 2026, however, rates went up rather than down. On 1 January the reduced rates for new cars up to 1,000 cc (0% duty) and 1,000–1,200 cc (5%) expired — they now pay 15% plus $0.4–0.6 per cc (PP-181, footnotes “until 01.01.2026”). Since 28 February 2026, Article 300¹ of the Customs Code (Law ZRU-1097) has been in force: goods from countries without most-favoured-nation (MFN) treatment and goods of unconfirmed origin pay a surcharge of 5 to 20% on top of the duty, depending on the base rate.
For cars from Canada this matters more than not being in the EAEU. The surcharge depends on the country of origin — the country where the car was manufactured, not where it was bought. The published list of MFN countries (norma.uz, dated 2015 on the page) includes the US but not Canada; we have not confirmed that the list is current in 2026. Uzbekistan concluded WTO talks with Canada in November 2025, but until it joins the WTO this does not affect the calculation. So for powerful vehicles the final bill can still be substantial, which is why a preliminary calculation is critically important.
2. What clearance is made of
The final amount is a set of payments charged in sequence from the customs value of the car:
- Customs duty — for passenger cars (8703) it consists of a percentage of the customs value plus a dollar amount for each cc; both parts depend on engine size and age;
- Non-MFN surcharge — 5–20% on top of the duty if the country of origin does not enjoy MFN treatment or the origin is not confirmed;
- VAT (QQS) 12% — charged on the customs value including duty (Arts. 254 and 258 of the Tax Code);
- Recycling fee — a separate mandatory payment in base calculation amounts (BCA), depending on engine size and age;
- Customs clearance fee — from 2026 on a customs-value scale, from 1 to 25 BCA.
| Payment | 2026 rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| HS / national tariff code | 8703 — passenger cars; national code confirmed for the specific vehicle | PP-3818, heading 8703 |
| Customs duty (new, up to 1 year) | up to 1,000 cc — 15% + $0.4/cc; 1,000–1,200 cc — 15% + $0.6/cc | PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 of 11.02.2026 |
| Customs duty (new, 1–3 years) | up to 1,000 cc — 30% + $1.8/cc; 1,000–1,500 cc — 30% + $2/cc | PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 |
| Customs duty (used) | up to 1,500 cc — 40% + $3/cc | PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 |
| Electric / hybrid vehicles | duty 0% / 15% | PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 |
| Non-MFN surcharge | +5% (rate up to 10%), +10% (10–20%), +15% (20–30%), +20% (30% and above) | ZRU-1097, Art. 300¹ Customs Code |
| VAT | 12% | Tax Code, Art. 258 |
| Excise | not levied (abolished on imports under 8703 from 01.08.2020) | Tax Code, Art. 289³, gazeta.uz |
| Recycling fee | up to 1,000 cc — 30 / 90 BCA; 1,000–2,000 cc — 120 / 210 BCA; electric vehicles — 120 / 210 BCA (up to 3 years / over 3 years) | CM Resolution No. 347 |
| Customs clearance fee | 1 BCA (up to $10,000), 1.5 BCA ($10–20k), 2.5 BCA ($20–40k), 4 BCA ($40–60k), 7 BCA ($60–100k) and up to 25 BCA | CM Resolution No. 55 |
Rates for engines over 1,500 cc are set by their own lines in the same annex — we state them in the estimate for the specific car. Rates are revised periodically, so you should rely on the norms current at the time of import, not on last year's figures.
3. The role of engine size and age
Two factors affect the bill the most — engine displacement and the age of the car. The larger the displacement, the higher the duty: its dollar part is charged for every cubic centimetre. The recycling fee also depends on engine size. Age matters too: the duty has three groups — new up to 1 year, 1 to 3 years, and used — and the recycling fee has two, up to 3 years and older. For a car up to 1,000 cc the per-cc part of the duty rises from $0.4 for a new car to $3 for a used one. So a fresh vehicle with a moderate engine is often cheaper on final clearance than an ageing SUV with a big displacement. Electric vehicles pay 0% duty and hybrids 15%, but since 2025 the recycling fee on EVs has risen to 120 and 210 BCA, the same as for 1,000–2,000 cc cars, so only the duty is softer for them — they are worth calculating individually.
4. Documents for clearance
To pass customs without delays, the document set is prepared in advance:
- invoice and sale contract confirming the value;
- the Canadian title and export documents for the vehicle;
- a certificate of origin — it determines whether the non-MFN surcharge applies;
- bill of lading or CMR for the actual delivery route;
- the car's technical data: VIN, engine size and type, year of manufacture;
- the recipient's documents for clearance and registration.
Requirements for the vehicle itself are set by the general technical regulation on the safety of wheeled vehicles (CM Resolution No. 237): categories M and N must meet at least Euro-4 on import, and a single vehicle is certified and receives a certificate of conformity. The regulation contains no import age ban. The limit of “one car per year for personal use” was abolished in June 2026; certification for personal imports remains.
5. Delivery and clearance
From Canada the car travels by sea to a port and then overland to Uzbekistan, which has no access to the sea. The end-to-end transit time depends on the transshipment port, the overland route and the season, so we do not quote a universal figure: the schedule is built for each specific shipment. More on the sea leg is in our article on container shipping. Customs clearance is faster and without hold-ups when the document package is complete. We provide the exact schedule and shipping cost range for your route and specific vehicle.
6. The role of Canada Motor House
We handle the whole path: sourcing and purchasing the car in Canada, checking its history, export processing, sea and overland logistics, and supporting clearance in Uzbekistan. You receive an individual calculation of all payments for your car in advance — taking engine size, age, country of origin and current rates into account — so the budget is transparent before shipping. Prices for vehicles are by request and depend on the trim.
Want to know the exact amount for a specific car? Leave a request with Canada Motor House and we will prepare an individual calculation of clearance and delivery from Canada to Uzbekistan. You can get a rough budget in the calculator, see the cars in stock in the car catalogue, and find general information on the cars from Canada to Uzbekistan page.
Rates are given as of October 2026, based on Annex 1 to PP-3818 as amended by PP-58 of 11.02.2026, Article 300¹ of the Customs Code, CM Resolution No. 347 and CM Resolution No. 55. Rates, the MFN country list and the BCA may change; the final calculation is made on the clearance date.