Product classification
HS code for Car horn: 8512.30
Sound signalling equipment, electrical, used on cycles or motor vehicles (excluding articles of heading no. 8539).
Classification of car horn under HS 8512.30
Sound signaling equipment for motor vehicles is classified under HS code 8512.30. This classification is found in Chapter 85, which deals with electrical machinery and equipment. Heading 8512 is dedicated to electrical lighting or signaling equipment for cycles or motor vehicles. Subheading 8512.30 specifically covers sound signaling equipment. This includes the standard electric horns found in most passenger vehicles, as well as more specialized sound-producing devices like sirens for emergency vehicles or backup alarms for commercial trucks. The classification is determined by the device's function—providing an audible warning or signal—and its electrical operation within the context of a motor vehicle. Even if the horn uses compressed air (an air horn), if it is triggered or controlled by an electrical mechanism within a vehicle, it typically remains within this classification.
- Covers
- Standard electric car horns
- Emergency vehicle sirens
- Reversing (backup) alarms for trucks
- Electronic horns for motorcycles
- Anti-theft sirens (when imported as signaling units)
- Also under 8512.30
- Hella Supertone Horns
- Bosch EC6 Horns
- PIAA Sports Horns
- Fiamm Horns
- Wolo Bad Boy Air Horn
Codes often confused with 8512.30
Common mistake. Car horns are sometimes misclassified under HS code 8512.20, but that code is reserved for visual signaling (lights). Another common error is using HS code 8531, which covers electric sound or visual signaling apparatus like bells, sirens, and indicator panels for general use. However, because 8512.30 is specific to motor vehicles, it takes precedence over the general category of 8531. Additionally, purely mechanical horns (non-electrical) would be classified under 9208 as musical instruments or whistles.
Top exporters and importers of HS 851230 (the code used for car horn), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 851230 (the code used for car horn) in UN Comtrade data was China, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 14% 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 851230, not only car horn.
Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports
- 1 China $406M 28% of world exports
- 2 Italy $132M 9.2% of world exports
- 3 United States $92M 6.5% of world exports
World total: $1.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 United States $179M 14% of world imports
- 2 Germany $112M 8.9% of world imports
- 3 Thailand $58M 4.6% of world imports
World total: $1.3B 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 code for car horn
Brazil classifies car horn under NCM 8512.30.00: HS 8512.30 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about car horn
What is the HS code for Car horn?
The HS code for Car horn is 851230 (Sound signalling equipment; electrical, used on cycles or motor vehicles (excluding articles of heading no. 8539)). The HS code for electrical sound signaling equipment, such as car horns, is 8512.30.
How do I classify Car horn for customs?
Car horn is classified under HS code 851230 — Sound signalling equipment; electrical, used on cycles or motor vehicles (excluding articles of heading no. 8539). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
Does this code include the horn relay?
No, electrical relays are generally classified under HS code 8536, as they are considered apparatus for switching or protecting electrical circuits.
Which countries are the top exporters of car horn (HS 851230)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 851230 (the code used for car horn) in UN Comtrade data were China ($406M, 28% of world exports), Italy ($132M) and the United States ($92M). World exports came to about $1.4B, 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.
Which countries are the top importers of car horn (HS 851230)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 851230 (the code used for car horn) in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($179M, 14% of world imports), Germany ($112M) and Thailand ($58M). World imports came to about $1.3B, 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 horn the same in all countries?
The base HS code 851230 for Car horn 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 horn in Brazil?
In Brazil, car horn (HS 851230) is classified under NCM 8512.30.00.