What does CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) mean?
CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) is an international trade term where the seller covers the cost of the goods, marine insurance, and freight to the destination port. For vehicle imports from China, CIF value = Vehicle Price (FOB) + Marine Insurance + Shipping Freight to your port. CIF matters because import duty is calculated on the CIF value in most countries — not on the vehicle price alone — so it directly affects how much you'll pay in customs.
| Component | Example amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price (FOB, China) | $15,000 |
| Marine insurance | $200 |
| Shipping freight to destination port | $3,000 |
| CIF value | $18,200 |
In this example, if your country charges 25% import duty, that duty is 25% of $18,200 (the CIF value) — $4,550 — not 25% of the $15,000 vehicle price. DriveSino provides both FOB and CIF quotes on every listing so you can calculate your real landed cost before committing.
What's the difference between CIF and FOB for a car import?
FOB only covers the vehicle up to being loaded at the Chinese port. CIF adds freight and insurance to get the vehicle to your destination port. Most countries' customs authorities use the CIF figure, not the FOB price, to calculate the import duty you owe.
How do I calculate the CIF value of a car I'm importing?
Add three numbers: the vehicle's FOB price, the marine insurance cost (typically 0.5–1.5% of the vehicle's value), and the freight cost to your destination port. DriveSino's cost calculator on each listing does this automatically and shows the resulting CIF value used for your duty estimate.
Does CIF include import duty and destination port charges?
No. CIF stops at the destination port — it does not include the import duty itself, VAT/sales tax, or local port/customs handling fees. Those are calculated on top of the CIF value, not included within it.
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