Can You Buy a Chinese EV in Mexico and Drive It in the US?

Yes, you can buy a Chinese electric vehicle in Mexico and drive it in the U.S. if you have Mexican residency, the vehicle is registered in Mexico, and you only bring it across the border temporarily. You cannot register a Chinese EV in the U.S., except in rare circumstances. You may occasionally see a BYD, Geely, or XPeng in California or Texas, but restrictions make it too difficult for most Americans to register an EV from a Chinese automaker in their state.

This article explains some of the workarounds and limited scenarios where drivers can import or register a Chinese EV. However, for questions about automobile import regulations, talk to a local international import/export lawyer.

Why Do You See Chinese EVs in Arizona, Texas, or California?

If you see a BYD or other Chinese EVs in the U.S., most are driven in border states like Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or California. This is because Mexican residents can bring a non-U.S. vehicle into the country for personal use for a limited time. CBP rules allow residents to bring their own vehicle into other countries.

Chinese EVs are popular in the Mexican market. Chinese-made vehicles make up the majority of all EVs sold in Mexico in recent years. With regular cross-border traffic between cities like Ciudad Juárez and El Paso, or Tijuana and San Diego, Chinese EVs are not uncommon in cities just across the border.

To bring a Chinese EV over the border, drivers must provide proper identification, vehicle registration in Mexico, and auto insurance that covers the vehicle while in the U.S. Drivers can keep the vehicle in the country for up to one year. Drivers cannot sell or transfer the vehicle while in the U.S.

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Chinese EVs Don’t Fall Under the 25-Year Importation Rule

Another way vehicles not initially sold in the U.S. can enter the U.S. market is through the 25-Year Import Rule. Under this rule, you can bring a foreign vehicle that does not meet modern safety standards if it is more than 25 years old. Some vehicle importers bring vehicles from Japan, France, Germany, or the UK into the U.S. for car collectors.

You can bring a Chinese vehicle into the U.S. after it is 25 years old. However, the Chinese EV market did not really start until about 2015. Assuming the vehicle is importable under other conditions, drivers will have to wait about 10 more years before they can try to bring a first-generation Chinese EV into the U.S.

Why Are Chinese EVs so Hard To Bring to the US?

The main reason Chinese electric cars are so difficult to bring to the U.S. is the economic threat they pose to U.S. automakers and current political issues between the U.S. and China. U.S. vehicle manufacturers, including EV automakers, hybrid vehicle producers, and standard fuel vehicle makers, see Chinese automakers as a threat to the U.S. auto market.

The U.S. only has a few fully EV automakers, including Tesla and Rivian. Major automakers continue to introduce fully electric vehicles, but the overall market share remains low. Fewer than 8% of new vehicles sold in 2025 were electric. The introduction of Chinese EVs that are roughly half the price of U.S. options could devastate U.S. carmakers.

Chinese auto manufacturers are backed by the Chinese government, which allows them to sell their vehicles at a much lower price point. Major auto groups, including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, and Tesla, have urged the administration to block Chinese automakers from opening factories or importing their vehicles into the U.S.

The current tariffs on Chinese EVs also make it more expensive to try to import a vehicle into the U.S. market. The U.S. currently applies a 100% tariff rate on Chinese EVs, doubling the cost of a vehicle, which would still not be registerable in most states. However, under the USMCA free trade agreement, EVs manufactured in Mexico would have lower tariffs.

The U.S. government has also restricted Chinese EVs because of security threats. Software in these connected vehicles could collect and transmit sensitive data. Chinese-linked software in certain connected vehicles is prohibited from import or sale in the country, and Chinese-linked connected hardware will be prohibited beginning with model year 2030, regardless of where the vehicle is manufactured.

Limited Research and Development Exceptions

Vehicle manufacturers have limited options to bring foreign vehicles into the country for research and development. These options include foreign and locally based auto companies operating in the U.S. Qualifying auto companies must have manufacturer plates on the vehicles, and the vehicles cannot be sold.

Insurance Coverage and State Vehicle Registration

Even if you manage to bring a Chinese EV into the U.S., most states require minimum insurance coverage to operate the vehicle on public roads. Drivers may face problems if an insurance company denies coverage for a Chinese EV that does not meet NHTSA safety standards. The insurance company may be unfamiliar with these vehicles and deny coverage.

Your vehicle must be registered to drive on the road. If you try to register a Chinese EV with your state Department of Motor Vehicles, the state will reject your application immediately. States reject registration of any vehicle that does not meet federal safety and EPA emissions standards.

State vehicle registration requirements vary. Check your state vehicle registration process to understand other challenges and workarounds for registering a Chinese EV in your state.

Penalties and Legal Advice for Importing a Chinese EV

The Vehicle Identification Number will identify the vehicle as a Chinese-made EV. You must have the proper CBP customs documents to show you legally brought the vehicle into the country. If you do not have these documents or qualify for another exception, the government can seize and destroy the vehicle as an illegally imported product.

You can also face costly fines for bringing in prohibited Chinese vehicle software and hardware. Customs violations may carry additional fines.

An import/export lawyer can explain how to import a vehicle from overseas that isn’t currently available in the U.S. Contact a local international business lawyer for legal advice.