HS code by category
HS code for auto parts: HTS codes and duty for car and vehicle parts
Most auto parts sit in heading 8708, but plenty do not: a tire, a battery, a wiring harness and a windshield each classify by what they are, not by the car they fit. That single decision changes your duty and whether a China tariff stacks on top. Describe the part on the right and the AI returns the HS/HTS code, the US duty rate and its reasoning.
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Customs declaration · AI classifier
FORM TW-01
The short answer
Parts and accessories of motor vehicles classify in heading 8708 of Chapter 87, which covers bumpers, brakes, gearboxes, suspension parts, radiators and body panels. The general US duty on 8708 is 2.5 percent, and USMCA-origin parts from Canada or Mexico can enter at zero. But many common car parts are excluded from 8708 and classify elsewhere by their own nature: tires in 4011, batteries in 8507, spark plugs and lighting in Chapter 85, and glass in 7007. And auto parts from China usually carry a Section 301 tariff of 7.5 to 25 percent on top of the base rate, so the code you pick decides a lot more than 2.5 percent.
Anatomy of a code: a brake pad set
8708.30
- 87
- Chapter: vehicles other than railway, and their parts. Note that Chapter 87 excludes parts that have their own home, such as tires, batteries and engines, so not every car part lands here.
- 8708
- Heading: parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705. This is the catch-all for parts made solely or principally for cars, trucks and buses.
- 8708.30
- Subheading: brakes and servo-brakes and their parts. Brake pads, rotors, drums and calipers assembled for vehicle braking sit here.
- .50 / origin
- National digits and origin: the full 10-digit US Harmonized Tariff Schedule line sets the base 2.5 percent, but a Chapter 99 Section 301 line can add 7.5 to 25 percent for China-origin goods.
Where common auto parts classify
A starting map, not a ruling. The biggest trap is assuming everything under the hood is 8708; several high-volume parts have their own heading in another chapter. Confirm your exact part with the classifier above before you file.
8708.10 / 8708.29
Bumpers & body panels
Bumpers, fenders, doors, hoods and other body stampings made for vehicles.
8708.30
Brakes & brake pads
Brake pads, rotors, drums, calipers and servo-brake parts.
8708.40
Gearboxes & transmission parts
Transmissions and their parts made principally for motor vehicles.
8708.80
Suspension & shock absorbers
Shock absorbers, struts, control arms and suspension parts.
8708.91
Radiators & cooling parts
Radiators and cooling-system parts built for vehicles.
8708.93 / 8708.94
Clutches & steering parts
Clutches, steering wheels, columns and steering boxes.
4011.10
Tires (new pneumatic)
Tires classify in Chapter 40 by rubber, not with the vehicle. Often duty-free.
8507.10
Batteries (lead-acid)
Starter batteries sit in Chapter 85 as electric accumulators.
7007.21
Windshields & auto glass
Laminated safety glass for vehicles classifies in Chapter 70.
8511.10
Spark plugs & ignition
Ignition parts fall in Chapter 85 as electrical equipment for engines.
8407.34
Engines (spark-ignition)
A complete engine classifies in Chapter 84, not as an 8708 part.
8512.20
Lighting & lamps
Headlamps and signal lamps are electrical lighting in Chapter 85.
How to find the HS code for a car part
Ask one question before you reach for 8708: does this part have its own heading somewhere else? The Chapter 87 notes specifically exclude parts that are covered more precisely elsewhere, so a tire goes to Chapter 40, a battery to Chapter 85, an engine to Chapter 84 and vehicle glass to Chapter 70, no matter what they bolt onto. Only after you have ruled out a more specific heading do you classify a part as an 8708 vehicle part, and then you pick the subheading by function: braking, steering, suspension, transmission, cooling or body. For the general method that applies to any product, see the Harmonized System code guide.
Why origin matters more than the base rate
The base duty on most auto parts is a modest 2.5 percent, so importers sometimes treat the code as low stakes. It is not. Where the part is made can swing the real cost by 25 points. A USMCA-qualifying part from Mexico or Canada can enter free, while the same part from China usually picks up a Section 301 tariff of 7.5 to 25 percent stacked on the 2.5 percent base. The code and the country of origin work together, so a correct 10-digit HTS line plus the right origin is what actually sets your landed cost. Run it through the import duty calculator to see the gap by lane.
Parts, accessories and the sole-or-principal-use test
To classify in 8708, a part generally has to be suitable for use solely or principally with motor vehicles. A universal fastener, a generic bearing or an off-the-shelf pump that serves many machines often classifies by what it is rather than as a car part, which can change the rate. This is where a lot of auto-parts entries go wrong: a component that is really a general-purpose article gets forced into 8708 because it happened to ship for a car. Describe the part precisely, including whether it is dedicated to vehicles, and the classifier will apply the sole-or-principal-use test for you.
Auto parts HS code questions, answered
What is the HS code for auto parts?
Most motor-vehicle parts classify in heading 8708, "parts and accessories of the motor vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705," which covers bumpers, brakes, gearboxes, suspension and body parts. The general US duty is 2.5 percent. But parts with their own heading, such as tires (4011), batteries (8507) and engines (8407), do not use 8708.
What is the HS code for car parts?
Car parts made solely or principally for vehicles fall under 8708, then split by function: 8708.30 for brakes, 8708.40 for gearboxes, 8708.80 for suspension, 8708.29 for body parts. You fix the six-digit subheading by what the part does, then read the full 10-digit US HTS line for the exact duty.
What is the import duty on auto parts in the US?
The general Most Favored Nation duty on heading 8708 auto parts is 2.5 percent. USMCA-origin parts from Canada or Mexico can qualify for zero. Auto parts from China usually carry an additional Section 301 tariff of 7.5 to 25 percent on top of the base rate, so origin often matters more than the base code.
Do all car parts use HS code 8708?
No. Chapter 87 excludes parts that are classified more specifically elsewhere. Tires go in Chapter 40, batteries and ignition parts in Chapter 85, complete engines in Chapter 84, and vehicle glass in Chapter 70. Check whether a part has its own dedicated heading before defaulting it to 8708.
How do I find the HS code for a specific vehicle part?
Start by asking whether the part has a more specific heading of its own; if it does, use that. If not, classify it under 8708 and choose the subheading by function (braking, steering, suspension, transmission, cooling or body). Then confirm the 10-digit US HTS line and check for any Section 301 tariff tied to the country of origin.
Classify your part now, and check whether a China tariff stacks on top.
Related: HS code lookup by product, HS code for electronics, import duty calculator.