Product classification
HS code for Car brakes: 8708.30
Vehicle parts, brakes, servo-brakes and parts thereof.
Classification of car brakes under HS 8708.30
HS code 870830 is the specific designation for brakes, servo-brakes, and their constituent parts for motor vehicles. This classification encompasses the entire mechanical and hydraulic assembly used to decelerate or stop a vehicle. It includes both disc and drum brake systems. For a part to be classified here, it must be a dedicated component of a vehicle's braking system. This heading is crucial for the automotive aftermarket and OEM supply chains, covering everything from the friction components to the hydraulic actuation units. The classification is determined by the part's specialized design for use in vehicles of headings 8701 to 8705. It is important to distinguish between the mounted brake linings (which stay in 870830) and unmounted friction material. The engineering complexity of modern braking systems, including Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), means that many electronic-hydraulic actuators are also classified here. The durability and safety-critical nature of these parts often lead to strict regulatory oversight, but for customs purposes, the focus remains on their mechanical identity as braking components. Whether the part is for a small passenger car or a heavy-duty tractor-trailer, if it is a brake part for a motor vehicle, 870830 is the correct subheading.
- Covers
- Mounted brake pads and brake linings
- Brake discs (rotors) and brake drums
- Brake calipers and wheel cylinders
- Brake master cylinders and vacuum boosters
- ABS hydraulic units and actuators
- Also under 8708.30
- Brembo Brake Calipers
- Bosch ABS Systems
- Akebono Brake Pads
- TRW Brake Master Cylinders
- ATE Brake Discs
Codes often confused with 8708.30
Common mistake. The most frequent misclassification involves HS code 6813, which covers friction material (like brake linings) that is not yet mounted to a metal plate. Once the material is mounted, it must move to 870830. Another error is using 8481 for brake valves; while they are valves, if they are specifically for vehicle brakes, 870830 is more specific. Unfitted hoses are also often wrongly placed here instead of 4009.
Top exporters and importers of HS 870830 (the code used for car brakes), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 870830 (the code used for car brakes) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 21% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 18% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 870830, not only car brakes.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $8.1B 21% of world exports
- 2 Germany $5.2B 13% of world exports
- 3 Mexico $4.6B 12% of world exports
World total: $38.6B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $6.9B 18% of world imports
- 2 Germany $4.7B 12% of world imports
- 3 Mexico $2.9B 7.5% of world imports
World total: $38.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
How these figures are built
109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).
Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.
Brazil NCM codes for car brakes
Brazil splits HS 8708.30 into 3 NCM codes. Pick the one that matches your product:
- 8708.30.11Mounted brake linings for tractors and dumpers
- 8708.30.19Mounted brake linings for other motor vehicles
- 8708.30.90Other brakes, servo-brakes and parts
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about car brakes
What is the HS code for Car brakes?
The HS code for Car brakes is 870830 (Vehicle parts; brakes, servo-brakes and parts thereof). The HS code for car brakes and their parts (like pads and discs) is 870830.
How do I classify Car brakes for customs?
Car brakes is classified under HS code 870830 — Vehicle parts; brakes, servo-brakes and parts thereof. This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Are brake pads classified here?
Yes, provided the brake pads are mounted on their metal backings, they are classified under 870830.
Which countries are the top exporters of car brakes (HS 870830)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 870830 (the code used for car brakes) in UN Comtrade data were China ($8.1B, 21% of world exports), Germany ($5.2B) and Mexico ($4.6B). World exports came to about $38.6B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Which countries are the top importers of car brakes (HS 870830)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 870830 (the code used for car brakes) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($6.9B, 18% of world imports), Germany ($4.7B) and Mexico ($2.9B). World imports came to about $38.4B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.
Is the HS code for Car brakes the same in all countries?
The base HS code 870830 for Car brakes is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for car brakes in Brazil?
Brazil splits HS 870830 into 3 NCM codes, so the right one for car brakes depends on the product's details: 8708.30.11 (Mounted brake linings for tractors and dumpers), 8708.30.19 (Mounted brake linings for other motor vehicles), 8708.30.90 (Other brakes, servo-brakes and parts).