Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed — HTS 8703
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading 8702), including station wagons and racing cars
Chapter 87 › Heading 8703
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8703 is a broad product category for motor vehicles principally designed to transport people, other than vehicles covered by heading 8702. It generally includes passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, certain vans, station wagons, and racing cars. The heading describes the vehicle’s primary design and use—not simply how the importer or customer happens to use it.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first confirm that heading 8703 applies, then follow the subheadings and tariff lines for the vehicle’s characteristics. These commonly distinguish factors such as propulsion or engine type, cylinder capacity or other technical specifications, whether the vehicle is new or used, and sometimes other defined features. Read the legal notes, section and chapter notes, and the complete wording of each successive subheading; the final classification may require technical product details and customs-broker judgment.
What to check
- Confirm the vehicle is principally designed for transporting persons and is not classified under heading 8702 or another heading.
- Collect the vehicle’s technical specifications, including propulsion system, engine details, seating configuration, body style, and new-or-used status.
- Compare the vehicle with the exact wording of each 6-digit subheading and 8-digit tariff line; do not choose based only on a general label such as “SUV” or “car.”
- Check the HTSUS section notes, chapter notes, legal definitions, and any applicable classification rulings before finalizing the code.
- Have a customs broker or classification specialist review unusual vehicles, modified vehicles, racing vehicles, or products with mixed passenger-and-cargo features.
HTS heading 8703 summary
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed is a 4-digit product category containing 6 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8703.10 | Vehicles specially designed for traveling on snow; golf carts and similar vehicles |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8703.40.00 👉 | Other vehicles, with both spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine and electric motor as motors for propulsion, other than those capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | 2.5% | Free | 10% |
| 8703.50.00 👉 | Other vehicles, with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine and electric motor as motors for propulsion, other than those capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | 2.5% | Free | 10% |
| 8703.60.00 👉 | Other vehicles, with both spark-ignition internal combustion piston engine and electric motor as motors for propulsion, capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | 2.5% | Free | 10% |
| 8703.70.00 👉 | Other vehicles, with both compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) and electric motor as motors for propulsion, capable of being charged by plugging to external source of electric power | 2.5% | Free | 10% |
| 8703.80.00 👉 | Other vehicles, with only electric motors for propulsion | 2.5% | Free | 10% |
| 8703.90.01.00 👉 | Other | 2.5% | Free | 10% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8703?
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons (other than those of heading 8702), including station wagons and racing cars. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.