Top Challenges When Exporting Luxury Cars to Indonesia | GVE London – Blog

When an individual decides to start exporting luxury cars from the UK to Indonesia, they find themselves in a peculiar situation. The proposition is extremely tempting, but the myriad of challenges that one needs to learn how to consider, from stringent import regulations to taxes. So, in this blog post, we’ll set clear the top challenges exporters face during the entire ordeal so you are prepared for them and there are no surprises.

Import Taxes That’ll Make You Blink Twice

Let’s start with the biggest shocker and probably the biggest issue with luxury car exports to Indonesia. You see, the country slaps on a massive amount of taxes upon luxury cars especially, which can be up to 60% import duty, 11% VAT, and a whopping 125–150% luxury goods sales tax depending on the engine size and emissions. So, in a real-world scenario, a buyer might end up paying half a million pounds for a £200k Bentley. Shipping a vehicle under the “used” category doesn’t help either, for your information, so ensure the buyer understands this.

Stringent Import Regulations

Just like most other countries, Indonesia wants their local companies and industries to prosper and curb the influx of foreign goods to the extent they don’t kill the local player. That is why there are strict import regulations, and importers must obtain an import licence and an importer identification number. Without these, importing vehicles is prohibited. Furthermore, there is something called the “LARTAS list,” which lists out the Restricted and Banned Goods from importation.

In fact, to add on top of things, these rules change overnight sometimes. So, if you’re not keeping active track of these, you might end up paying fines or bearing through delays. For instance, early 2025 saw fresh policies on certification for emissions and vehicle testing.

Paperwork That Feels Endless

Paperwork is nobody’s favourite thing to do, but alas, it must be done. For exporting cars from the UK to Indonesia, you’re going to need:
This isn’t just about a few customs forms. You’ll need:

• An Importer Identification Number (API)
• A goods registration certificate
• Proper HS codes
• A local partner with a valid import licence

Forget one stamp or tick box, and your car’s sitting in port — racking up storage fees by the day, so be careful.

Read Also: What Is the Best Shipping Method for Exporting Cars to Indonesia?

Not All Cars Make the Cut

All vehicles entering the country must meet their SNI standards, which includes safety, emissions, lighting and things along those lines. A supercar showroom like GVE London can assist you in ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy in Indonesia and meets all the requirements. Thankfully, by default, most UK-spec cars do meet said requirements, so there is usually not a need to modify them.

Getting Paid Isn’t Always Easy

Handling international payments, especially amounts this large, isn’t an easy feat. Between exchange rate volatility, tax concerns, and transfer limits, things can take time. In these cases, working with a luxury car exporter is really the key, as they’ve dealt with this situation plenty of times before and know how to go about the entire procedure without hiccups.

Conclusion

If you’re planning to export luxury cars to Indonesia, having knowledge about these little roadbumps throughout the journey early on is extremely helpful, as one can brace themselves for it or find another path. A fantastic way of taking out the entire hassle is by tying up with a supercar showroom who deals with luxury car exports — enter GVE London. From sell, purchase to repairs and customs, we do it all within our state-of-the-art facility; a haven for supercar enthusiasts. Contact us today to know more about us!