Other

Motorcycles with 500 cc to 800 cc internal combustion engine

DGFT CLEARANCE

HSN 8711 40 90 (motorcycles with internal combustion piston engines exceeding 500 cc but not exceeding 800 cc, other variants) is governed by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy administered by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with port-of-entry restrictions and homologation compliance mandated under Conditions 1, 2 and 7 of Chapter 87. Compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 — including right-hand drive, kilometre speedometer, and headlamp photometry requirements — is verified at customs clearance.

What this is

HSN code

8711 40 90

Chapter

87 · Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling-stock; parts and accessories

Primary regulator

DGFT · ITC (HS) Restricted import policy, Conditions 1, 2 and 7 of Chapter 87

Customs documentation

Homologation certificate from competent authority
Import compliance declaration to DGFT
MV Act 1988 compliance documents

Compliance steps

1
Ensure the consignment arrives only through one of the 18 notified entry points — 11 seaports, 3 airports, and 4 ICDs — specified under DGFT Notification 18/2015-20 dated 12-07-2018 and DGFT Notification 59/2023-24 dated 12-02-2024. New vehicles routed through any other port or ICD are liable to detention and re-export.
DGFT Notification 18/2015-20 dated 12-07-2018 · DGFT Notification 59/2023-24 dated 12-02-2024 · ITC (HS) Chapter 87, Condition 1
2
Obtain and present a Homologation Certificate — or Type Approval documentation per Condition 7 — confirming right-hand drive configuration, kilometre speedometer fitment, and photometric compliance of headlamps as required under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and its Rules. These documents must be verified by the proper officer before out-of-charge.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 · ITC (HS) Chapter 87, Conditions 2 and 7

A word of counsel

The single most common error on this tariff line is selecting a port of discharge that is not listed in the DGFT-notified port schedule — particularly smaller seaports or ICDs not covered by Notifications 18/2015-20 and 59/2023-24. A consignment offloaded at an unlisted port cannot be regularised by subsequent transfer; it is treated as a Restricted-import violation and faces re-export or confiscation. Additionally, second-hand vehicles carry a further restriction: they may be imported only through Mumbai port, subject to Condition 1.

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Frequently asked

Does HSN 8711 40 90 require BIS certification?

No, no BIS Quality Control Order covers this motorcycle sub-category. Import is governed by the ITC (HS) Restricted-import policy under the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, with port-of-entry restrictions and homologation conditions under Chapter 87 Conditions 1, 2 and 7.

Are second-hand motorcycles under HSN 8711 40 90 subject to different port restrictions?

Yes. Second-hand vehicles may be imported only through Mumbai port, as stipulated under Condition 1 of ITC (HS) Chapter 87; the broader list of 18 notified entry points applies to new vehicles only.

What happens if the homologation certificate covers a left-hand drive variant?

A left-hand drive configuration does not satisfy the right-hand drive requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and the consignment will be denied out-of-charge clearance; the importer faces detention, demurrage, and potential re-export at their own cost.

Last verified against gazette notifications: 2026-05-16. Source: DGFT / Indian Customs CUSDATA.