Chile has no import age limit and a flat 6% duty, making it one of Latin America's easiest markets. A practical guide to importing Chinese used cars through Iquique.
2 min read
1. Why the Chilean market suits Chinese used cars 2. Duty and clearance through Iquique 3. Documents for Chilean clearance 4. Landed cost example 5. Ordering your car
Chile stands out in Latin America for one simple reason: it has no import age limit for used cars, and a flat 6% duty. For buyers who want flexibility on model year and a duty bill they can calculate before ordering, Chile is hard to beat.
Chileans already know Chinese brands well — BYD, Chery, Geely and MG have strong local presence, and used versions of these models resell quickly. With no age cap, you can choose a recent low-mileage vehicle without racing a deadline, or pick a slightly older model purely on price.
Import duty is 6% plus VAT. Most used-car clearance runs through the Iquique free trade zone, which also acts as a re-export hub for Bolivia and northern Chile. If you are a trader rather than an end buyer, the FTZ makes Chile a practical base for regional distribution. Full detail is in our Chile import guide.
The invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin and export certificate cover most of what Chilean customs needs. Each document is explained in the export document checklist. Because there is no age rule to verify, the documentation process is simpler than in most markets.
Add the 6% duty and VAT to your FOB price, then freight to the west coast port. The FOB vs CIF guide shows how these components fit together, and we can give you a CIF estimate per model.
Browse available models or send a quote request with your target model. We reply with an FOB price within 24 hours and a CIF estimate including duty and freight to Chile.
