It depends on the car's value, type and destination. RORO means the car is driven onto the vessel and secured on deck or in the hull. It is usually cheaper per car and does not involve container packing fees. The downside: the car sits exposed to salt air for weeks, and RORO service is limited to ports with dedicated terminals. Container shipping (one 20ft or 40ft container per 1-2 cars) costs more but gives much better protection. It is strongly recommended for electric vehicles (battery safety regulations), luxury cars, and vehicles going on long voyages or rough sea routes. Practical tips: whichever method you choose, ask for the car to be shipped with a full battery charge disconnected at the terminals, tire pressures adjusted, and a condition report with photos signed at loading. For EVs, confirm the shipping line accepts used electric vehicles and what state-of-charge limits apply.

EXW means you pay only for the car at the seller's yard—you handle everything else, including inland transport in China and export clearance, which is impractical from overseas. FOB includes delivery to the port and export customs clearance; you pay for ocean freight and insurance. CIF adds freight and basic insurance to a named destination port. For a first-time buyer, FOB is usually the best balance: the exporter, who knows Chinese logistics, handles the complicated part, while you control the freight booking and can shop rates among forwarders. Watch for exporters quoting unrealistically low FOB prices and making margin on inflated 'shipping services' later. Get a separate freight quote before signing, and compare the exporter's CIF offer against FOB plus your own freight estimate. Ask explicitly whether the price includes inspection, export license fees, and port charges—ambiguity here is the most common source of disputes.

The 12V battery is small but critical: when it dies, the car cannot start, unlock, or charge. Used EVs often have weak 12V batteries because they sit on lots for months. Before shipping, ask the exporter to: 1. Measure the battery voltage after the car has rested overnight. It should read around 12.4-12.8V; anything under 12.2V means the battery is degraded. 2. Start the car and check that the charging system holds 13.8-14.4V, confirming the DC-DC converter works. 3. Scan for stored fault codes related to low voltage, which indicate the battery has been deeply discharged repeatedly. During ocean freight, the battery slowly self-discharges. Ask that it be disconnected or kept on a maintainer before loading, and budget for a replacement after arrival if the battery is over 3 years old. A new 12V battery costs little compared to being stranded at the port.