Electrical lighting or signaling equipment — HTS 8512
Electrical lighting or signaling equipment (excluding articles of heading 8539), windshield wipers, defrosters and demisters, of a kind used for cycles or motor vehicles; parts thereof
Chapter 85 › Heading 8512
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8512 is a broad product category for certain electrical equipment used on bicycles, motorcycles, cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles. It generally covers vehicle lighting and signaling equipment—such as lamps, turn-signal equipment, and similar devices—as well as electrically operated windshield wipers, defrosters, and demisters. It also includes parts of those goods. Articles covered by heading 8539, such as certain electric lamps, are excluded and may need classification elsewhere.
The four-digit heading is only the starting point. To reach the correct eight-digit HTSUS subheading, identify the product’s function, whether it is complete equipment or a part, the type of vehicle or use, and the product’s relevant construction or technical features. The tariff’s lower-level provisions may distinguish goods by type, design, or material, so do not choose a code based only on the product’s marketing name. Confirm the current HTSUS description, unit of quantity, and any applicable statistical suffix.
What to check
- Describe the item by its principal function: lighting, signaling, wiping, defrosting, demisting, or a part of one of these systems.
- Confirm that the product is designed for cycles or motor vehicles, rather than for general-purpose, industrial, household, or other equipment.
- Determine whether you are importing a complete device, an assembly, or a dedicated part, and check whether the tariff lists that form separately.
- Review the lower-level subheadings for distinctions based on equipment type, construction, material, or other stated characteristics; use the product’s specifications and bill of materials.
- Check the current HTSUS, relevant legal notes, and Customs rulings or obtain broker advice when the item has multiple functions, is sold as a kit, or could fall under heading 8539.
HTS heading 8512 summary
Electrical lighting or signaling equipment is a 4-digit product category containing 1 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8512.10 | Lighting or visual signaling equipment of a kind used on bicycles |
| 8512.20 | Other lighting or visual signaling equipment |
| 8512.40 | Windshield wipers, defrosters and demisters |
| 8512.90 | Parts |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8512.30.00 👉 | Sound signaling equipment | 2.5% | Free | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8512?
Electrical lighting or signaling equipment (excluding articles of heading 8539), windshield wipers, defrosters and demisters, of a kind used for cycles or motor vehicles; parts thereof. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.