HS code for alternators and starter motors

Products described as alternators and starter motors are usually classified under heading 8511 of the Harmonized System. Pick the 6-digit subheading that matches your product, then add the importing country's national digits.

Heading 8511Ignition or starting equipment; used for spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines; generators and cut outs used in conjunction with such engines

Usual subheading

Ignition or starting equipment; generators n.e.c. in heading no. 8511, of a kind used for spark or compression-ignition internal combustion engines
Ignition or starting equipment; starter motors and dual purpose starter-generators, of a kind used for spark or compression-ignition internal combustion engines

Which one applies depends on the material, the packing or who the product is for: read each text.

Other subheadings of heading 8511

Ignition or starting equipment; spark plugs, of a kind used for spark or compression-ignition internal combustion engines
Ignition or starting equipment; ignition magnetos, magneto-dynamos and magnetic flywheels, of a kind used for spark or compression-ignition internal combustion engines
Ignition or starting equipment; distributors and ignition coils of a kind used for spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines
Ignition or starting equipment; n.e.c. in heading no. 8511, of a kind used for spark or compression-ignition internal combustion engines
Ignition or starting equipment; parts of the equipment of heading no. 8511, for use in spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines

Click a code to copy it.

How to confirm the code

Read the heading and subheading texts above and pick the one that describes what your product is made of and what it does.
Check the section and chapter notes of chapter 85, which can include or exclude products.
Add the national digits from the importing country's tariff (8 to 10 digits) and confirm with a customs broker, or ask customs for a binding ruling if the duty matters.

Search the HS code lookup →Chapter 85

Source: HS 2022 nomenclature, 6-digit level (UN Comtrade). Descriptions are in English, as in the official nomenclature. Digits after the 6th differ by country.

Other products in this category

Guides on this topic

Shipping Lithium Batteries in 2026: UN3480, UN3481, Air, Sea and PostHow to ship lithium batteries in 2026 by air, courier, sea or post: UN3480 vs UN3481, Section II, the 30% charge rule, UN38.3 test summary, marks…EU Batteries Regulation 2023/1542 for exporters: key dates 2025–2028What the EU Batteries Regulation means for exporters: producer registration since August 2025, labels from August 2026, QR code, battery passport…EU REACH SVHC and RoHS for exporters: the 0.1% rules explainedWhat exporters must know about EU chemical rules: REACH Candidate List SVHCs (253 since February 2026) above 0.1% in articles, SCIP notifications,…FCC certification for electronics: FCC ID or SDoC for US exportsWhich FCC authorization your electronic product needs for the US: Certification with an FCC ID through a TCB for wireless devices, or a Supplier's…Is My Product Dual-Use? Export Control Check for ECCN, EU, UK, AsiaHow to check if your product is a controlled dual-use item: ECCN and EAR99, EU Annex I, UK, Korean, Japanese and Chinese lists, party screening…How to Find the Right HS Code: GRI 1-6, Rulings and HS 2028How to find an HS code: the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI 1-6), GRI 3(b) sets, parts and accessories, national codes, binding rulings and…Binding tariff rulings: EU BTI, UK ATaR, US CBP, Canada, JapanHow to get a legally binding HS code decision before you ship: EU BTI (3 years, free), UK Advance Tariff Rulings (30 to 120 days), US CBP rulings…

Common questions

What is the HS code for alternators and starter motors?

Products described as alternators and starter motors are usually classified under HS heading 8511, subheading 8511.50 / 8511.40. Confirm the full national code in the importing country's tariff.

Is the HS code the same in every country?

The first 6 digits are the same in every country that uses HS 2022, and national codes are built on them: the EU's CN, the US HTS, India's ITC-HS and HSN codes and Brazil's NCM all start with these digits. Each country adds its own digits (usually to 8 or 10) and sets the duty rate, so check the destination country's tariff.

What if my product is different?

Materials, function and how the product is put up can change the heading. Search your own description in the HS code lookup, read the chapter notes, and ask a customs broker or the customs authority for a ruling when in doubt.

More free tools

Share with a colleagueWhatsApp LinkedIn X

Triplicate is free and keeps getting better. Found it useful? Support Triplicate ♥