How to Calculate the Real Landed Cost of Your Tricycle Order

The most common mistake new vehicle importers make is comparing factory prices while ignoring everything that happens after the goods leave China. Two quotes that look $80 apart per unit can differ by $300 or more once they land at your port.

The five layers of landed cost

1. FOB price, the factory quote covering production and loading at a Chinese port.
2. Ocean freight, varies by container size and destination. As a reference, FCL rates move seasonally; LCL suits mixed or small shipments.
3. Insurance, typically 0.2–0.5% of cargo value. Cheap protection against total loss.
4. Duties & taxes, determined by HS code and your country’s schedule. Passenger three-wheelers and cargo three-wheelers can fall under different codes with different rates.
5. Port & inland charges, handling, clearance agency fees, and trucking to your warehouse.

Where buyers overpay

Three patterns appear repeatedly. First, ordering CBU when SKD would halve the freight bill. Second, misclassifying HS codes and paying passenger-vehicle duty on cargo vehicles or vice versa. Third, booking freight during peak season instead of planning four to six weeks ahead.

What we provide to help

WeldSen supplies the exact model specifications, gross weights, packing dimensions and HS code guidance for every quotation, so your clearing agent can compute duties precisely, before you transfer any money. Ask us for a proforma invoice formatted for bank use and customs pre-checks.

Related reading

CBU, SKD or CKD? Which Import Format Saves You the Most Money · How to Plan a Tricycle Fleet Budget · Payment Terms for Importing Three-Wheelers: TT, LC and Deposits