Is it illegal to export a brand new car from China?

No. China's 180-day rule (effective January 1, 2026) doesn't ban exporting new cars — it requires a manufacturer-issued After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter for any vehicle registered less than 180 days. Vehicles registered over 180 days don't need this extra document. It's a documentation requirement, not a ban.

Why can DriveSino export Avatr, Deepal, Changan, and GAC brand new but not every brand?

The confirmation letter has to come from the manufacturer directly, tied to the specific export shipment. DriveSino has that relationship in place with these four manufacturers. For other brands we carry, the standard 180-day registration wait still applies unless we can secure the same documentation.

Does the 180-day rule apply to used cars too?

The extra documentation requirement only applies to vehicles registered less than 180 days. A genuinely used car — registered more than 180 days ago, with real mileage — was never affected by this rule; it targets specifically the practice of exporting near-zero-mileage new cars mislabeled as used.

Can I get proof of the manufacturer confirmation letter for my order?

Yes. Since the letter is issued by the manufacturer and tied to your specific export shipment, we can show it as part of the export documentation package for your order.

China's 180-Day Export Rule — Buy Brand New Avatr, Deepal, Changan & GAC With No Wait

As of January 1, 2026, China tightened the rules around exporting brand new cars. If you've been quoted a "must wait 6 months" answer by other exporters, here's what the rule actually says — and which brands DriveSino can still export brand new, with no wait.

What the 180-Day Rule Actually Says

The rule targets what China's regulators call "zero-mileage used cars" — brand new vehicles with a few hundred kilometres or less, sold through used-car export channels to dodge sales-data reporting and warranty obligations. It is not a ban on exporting new cars. Specifically: any vehicle registered for less than 180 days can still be exported, but only if the manufacturer issues an official After-Sales Service Confirmation Letter — a document naming the export destination and vehicle details, bearing the manufacturer's official seal. Vehicles registered more than 180 days don't need this extra document at all.

In practice, this means the deciding factor isn't the car's age — it's whether the exporter has a manufacturer relationship that produces this letter. Most exporters don't, which is why "you'll have to wait 6 months" has become the default answer across the industry.

The Brands DriveSino Can Export Brand New, No Wait

DriveSino has the manufacturer confirmation letter in place for four brands: Avatr, Deepal, Changan, and GAC. For these brands, we can export a genuinely brand new vehicle — delivered straight from the factory or dealer, zero prior registration — without the 180-day wait that applies elsewhere in the market. For every other brand we carry, the standard rule still applies: a vehicle needs to clear 180 days of registration (or we need the confirmation letter for that specific manufacturer) before it can export.

Avatr — All Models

Avatr 06
Avatr 06T
Avatr 07
Avatr 11
Avatr 12

Deepal — All Models

Deepal S07
Deepal SL03
Deepal Deep Blue G318
Deepal Deep Blue S09
Deepal Deep Blue L06
Deepal Shenlan L07
Deepal Shenlan S05

Changan — All Models

Changan Benben
Changan Benben E-Star
Changan CS35 PLUS
Changan CS55 PLUS
Changan CS55 PLUS PHEV
Changan CS75
Changan CS75 PLUS
Changan CS75 PLUS iDD
Changan CS95
Changan Eado
Changan Eado DT
Changan Eado New Energy
Changan Eado PHEV
Changan Hunter
Changan Ruicheng PLUS
Changan UNI-K
Changan UNI-K iDD
Changan UNI-T
Changan UNI-V
Changan UNI-V iDD
Changan UNI-Z
Changan UNI-Z New Energy
Changan X5 PLUS
Changan X7 PLUS
Changan Yida

GAC (Trumpchi) — All Models

GAC Trumpchi E8
GAC Trumpchi E8 NEV
GAC Trumpchi E9
GAC Trumpchi ES9
GAC Trumpchi Emkoo
GAC Trumpchi GA4
GAC Trumpchi GA6
GAC Trumpchi GA8
GAC Trumpchi GS3
GAC Trumpchi GS4
GAC Trumpchi GS4 PLUS
GAC Trumpchi GS8
GAC Trumpchi M6
GAC Trumpchi M8
GAC Trumpchi Vision S9
GAC Trumpchi Xiangwang M8
GAC Trumpchi Xiangwang S7
GAC Trumpchi Yingku

What This Means for Buyers

A confirmation letter tied to a specific export shipment isn't something an exporter can fake — it comes from the manufacturer, or it doesn't exist. If you're comparing quotes and another exporter promises a brand new Avatr, Deepal, Changan, or GAC with no wait but can't show you this documentation, that's worth asking about directly. Browse our current inventory or contact us to check availability for a specific model.

China's 180-Day Export Rule Explained — Buy Brand New With No Wait