History
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Car Tariff?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

A car tariff is a fee which is imposed on imported vehicles. The tariff can be assessed in a number of ways, depending on the policies of the nation instituting the tariff, and it is usually based on a percentage of the declared value of the vehicles. Tariff rates for cars, trucks, and other types of vehicles are usually different, with a schedule being established and periodically reevaluated to determine whether or not the car tariff is appropriate in the current market.

Like other types of tariffs, a car tariff is designed to promote the welfare of domestic industries. The car industry may not be able to compete with cheaper imports, but once tariffs are assessed, they level the playing field slightly, giving domestic cars an edge in the marketplace. Car tariffs can also sometimes be used to penalize car importers who bring in inefficient products, with the car tariff being reduced for vehicles with low emissions or high fuel efficiency.

A person buying an imported car.
A person buying an imported car.

Importers often criticize car tariffs because they add to the cost of doing business, and some argue that consumers have their freedom of choice restricted by tariffs. Some nations have responded to such criticism by abolishing or lowering their car tariffs to make the business climate more friendly to importers, while others have upheld high tariffs, arguing that their domestic automobile industries need the protection provided by tariffs.

Car tariffs are generally reduced for vehicles with low emissions.
Car tariffs are generally reduced for vehicles with low emissions.

Determining an appropriate tariff is a delicate balancing act. If a tariff is too high, importing nations may lodge a protest, which could damage trade relations. Importers might also refuse to bring in vehicles, which could lead to protests from consumers who want to buy cars from foreign manufacturers. If a tariff is too low, on the other hand, the domestic auto industry may not be able to compete, and it could experience financial instability. Tariffs can promote a trade imbalance; the United States, for example, has a relatively low car tariff which has allowed millions of cars to be imported from Korea, while only thousands of American cars have been sold in Korea due to that nation's high tariffs.

A car tariff is a fee imposed on imported vehicles.
A car tariff is a fee imposed on imported vehicles.

Cars from foreign manufacturers can be less expensive for a variety of reasons, including more lax labor laws in some nations, cheaper raw materials, or government subsidies to car manufacturers which allow them to sell their goods at low cost. Some advocates of free trade have suggested that eliminating tariffs allows the market to balance itself out, and that a lack of tariffs would encourage the failure of businesses which are not running effectively, while promoting businesses with good business models.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a WiseGEEK researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Drentel

@Laotione-Whether you have tariffs or don't have tariffs is not important as long as the countries you are trading with are playing by the same rules. If another country is charging high customs tariffs for our goods then we have to charge high tariffs on their goods. We are buying too many products from countries where the governments will not allow our products to be sold freely in their countries.

This is why we have had so many problems with our car companies in this country keeping their heads above water. Next time you are stuck in traffic, look around and notice had many of the cars on the road are made in other countries.

Feryll

@Laotionne-In a perfect world, what you say about free trade among all countries makes sense. The problem is this is far from a perfect world. For starters, you would need to have a world where all countries used the same money, and a world where working conditions and salaries were the same.

There is no way a country where workers are making $30 an hour to do the job that workers in another country are making $5 an hour to do can compete in a system of free trade. However, I agree that lower tariffs create more options for people buying cars, and in the U.S. some of the top selling cars are from other countries largely because the cars are well built and less expensive than U.S. made cars.

Laotionne

Countries should eliminate all car tariffs and trade fees in general. This way consumers will get to choose whatever they want to buy, and they will be able to pay less for the things they buy. All manufactures will have to compete on the same terms and this will force them to compete for customers, and lower prices.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • A person buying an imported car.
      By: Kzenon
      A person buying an imported car.
    • Car tariffs are generally reduced for vehicles with low emissions.
      By: Mastrofoto
      Car tariffs are generally reduced for vehicles with low emissions.
    • A car tariff is a fee imposed on imported vehicles.
      By: EvrenKalinbacak
      A car tariff is a fee imposed on imported vehicles.