U.S. imports of Electrical Lighting & Visual Signaling Equipment for Motor Vehicles (Except Bicycles) (HS 851220) totaled $386.0M in August 2026, imported from 61 countries.
Importers of Electrical Lighting & Visual Signaling Equipment for Motor Vehicles (Except Bicycles) paid $31.3M in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 8.08% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule.
Last updated: August 2026 dataAutomotive lighting and visual signaling equipment — headlamps, fog lights, turn-signal assemblies, and related units for motorcycles, trucks, and passenger vehicles — is a high-volume input for the North American automotive supply chain. Mexico leads US imports under this heading, reflecting deep integration with OEM assembly networks under USMCA, with Taiwan and South Korea as significant additional sources. The US tariff schedule subdivides this heading by vehicle type, with dedicated lines (8512202040 and 8512204040) covering equipment for tractors, buses, trucks, and motorcycles classified under HTS chapters 8701–8705 and 8711, and residual NESOI lines for other motor vehicles. Correct vehicle-type classification is critical, as misclassification between these subheadings can affect duty liability.
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21.3K import shipments a month
The dedicated lines (8512202040 for lighting, 8512204040 for visual signaling) apply specifically to equipment designed for use on vehicles classified under HTS headings 8701.21–8701.29, 8702–8705, or 8711 — covering tractors, buses, trucks, and motorcycles. Equipment for other motor vehicles not in those headings falls into the NESOI lines. Importers should confirm the vehicle type the equipment is designed for and match it to the correct HTS vehicle heading.
Much of Mexico's supply under this heading consists of OEM-grade assemblies and subassemblies produced within integrated North American automotive supply chains, often manufactured in maquiladora facilities. This means the goods frequently qualify for USMCA preferential treatment, but importers must verify rules-of-origin compliance and obtain appropriate certification to claim the preference.
Subheading 1 of 5 in heading 8512
Subheading 851220 · $386.0M of $545.8M
ImportsExports
Imports
$386.0MYoY · free account
Exports
$118.4MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $4.4B of Electrical Lighting & Visual Signaling Equipment for Motor Vehicles (Except Bicycles) and exported $1.4B.
Through August 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Trade Directory
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HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Imports for consumption | Average duty rate | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8512202040 | Lightg.equip. for 8701.21-29,8702-8705 or 8711 | $252.4M | 8.63% | 42.76% | $21.8M |
| 8512204040 | Vis Sig. Equip. for 8701.21-29,8702-8705,8711 | $87.1M | 6.27% | 45.93% | $5.5M |
| 8512202080 | Lighting Equipment for Motor Vehicles, NESOI | $38.7M | 7.09% | 32.07% | $2.7M |
| 8512204080 | Visual Signaling Equipment for Motor Vehicles, Nes | $8.9M | 14.32% | 76.84% | $1.3M |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 8512202000 | Lighting Equipment for Motor Vehicles | $65.1M |
| 8512204000 | Visual Signaling Equipment for Motor Vehicles | $53.3M |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Mexico and South Korea together supply 58% of it. China pays 37.4% duty; Canada 0.6%.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
56.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 8.08% of imports for consumption.