LHD vs RHD: What Importers Need to Know Before Buying Cars from China

China drives on the right, so almost every car built for the Chinese market is left-hand drive (LHD). If your country also drives on the right, you can import from the full range. If it drives on the left, you normally need a right-hand drive (RHD) vehicle, and the choice of models is narrower.

Which countries need right-hand drive?

Countries that drive on the left include the UK, Ireland, Japan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, and in Africa Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia, among others. Most of these require or strongly favour RHD vehicles.

Right-hand traffic (LHD vehicles) covers the rest of Africa including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco, the Middle East, Central Asia, Russia, continental Europe and the Americas apart from Guyana and Suriname.

Can a left-hand drive car be converted?

Conversion is possible on some vehicles but is expensive, affects safety systems and may not be accepted for registration. For modern cars with driver-assistance systems, a factory RHD model is the safer route. Check with your registration authority before considering conversion.

Are GAC vehicles available in RHD?

Most vehicles we supply are LHD. RHD models can be supplied upon request, depending on availability. Tell us your country at the start so we only quote vehicles you can register. See our notes by region or ask in the FAQ.