The Philippines has built one of the more EV-friendly import frameworks in Southeast Asia through its EVIDA law, and that has a direct, favorable impact on the cost of bringing in a new fully-electric BYD.

New BYD (fully electric): duty and tax

  • Import duty: Under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), fully electric vehicles qualify for 0% import duty during the law's defined incentive period.
  • VAT: A standard 12% VAT applies on customs value plus duty.
  • Additional EVIDA benefits: Beyond the tariff waiver, EVIDA also provides for registration and franchise-tax incentives at the point of local registration — worth checking with your broker alongside the import-side numbers.

Used BYD imports

Used passenger vehicles generally face a duty rate of around 30% — but more importantly, commercial import of used vehicles for resale is generally prohibited in the Philippines, except under narrow, government-authorized exemptions. In practice, this means a new-vehicle order is the standard and reliable route for BYD imports into the Philippine market.

How landed cost is calculated

  • FOB price of the vehicle
  • + $1,450 fixed ocean freight
  • + Insurance (1.1% of FOB)
  • + Import duty (0% for qualifying new EVs under EVIDA)
  • + VAT (12% × (CIF + duty))
  • + $650 fixed clearance and documentation fee
  • = Total Landed Cost

With duty removed from the equation for qualifying new EVs, the main variable cost driver becomes the 12% VAT applied to the CIF value. That makes cost estimation for a new BYD into the Philippines relatively straightforward compared to markets that stack duty and VAT together on a full-price base.

Shipping timeline

As with other Southeast Asian destinations, transit from China typically runs 12-20 days by sea — one of the fastest windows across the markets we serve, which helps keep total delivery timelines short even with customs processing on top.

Things worth confirming before you order

EVIDA's 0% tariff applies for a defined incentive period, so it's worth checking that the window is still open (and confirming any documentation requirements for claiming the exemption) before finalizing a purchase order. A licensed customs broker in the Philippines can confirm current EVIDA eligibility criteria and any recent updates to the incentive schedule.

Documentation buyers typically need

Standard clearance for a new EV generally requires a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and the EVIDA-specific paperwork needed to claim the duty exemption at the Bureau of Customs. Registration afterward with the LTO will have its own separate document set, including any franchise-tax incentive paperwork if applicable to your use case.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can I import a used BYD into the Philippines? Generally no — commercial import of used passenger vehicles for resale is prohibited except under narrow, government-authorized exemptions. New-vehicle orders are the standard route for this market.
  • Is the Philippines left-hand or right-hand drive? Left-hand drive (LHD) — this matches BYD's LHD export configuration used across most of the Americas and parts of Asia.
  • Does EVIDA cover plug-in hybrids? The 0% duty under EVIDA is specifically targeted at fully electric vehicles; PHEVs and combustion vehicles are taxed under separate schedules. Confirm your model's classification before ordering.
  • How does the Philippines compare to Thailand for EV imports? Both offer 0% duty on qualifying new EVs, but VAT differs — 12% in the Philippines versus 7% in Thailand. See our regional Southeast Asia EV incentive comparison for the full breakdown.
  • What happens after customs clearance — is there anything else to budget for? Yes — beyond the landed-cost figure, buyers should budget separately for LTO registration fees, plate issuance, and any local dealer-network or franchise requirements that may apply depending on how the vehicle will be used commercially. Your broker can help scope these out alongside the import-side numbers.

Rates shown are indicative only — always confirm current duty, VAT and any EV incentives with a licensed customs broker in-country before ordering.

BYD Global Export is an independent export trading company and is not an authorized dealer or representative of BYD Auto Co., Ltd.

Looking to bring a specific BYD model into the Philippines? Message us on WhatsApp for a landed-cost estimate tailored to your order.