Beyond the FOB price, expect: ocean freight (typically $800–2,500 depending on destination), marine insurance (about 0.3–0.5% of the car's value), port handling charges at both ends, customs duty and import tax/VAT in your country, compliance or homologation certification, and inland delivery to your city. Add currency transfer fees and the inspection fee if you hire a third party. Ask the exporter for a landed-cost breakdown and confirm exactly what the quote includes. A cheap FOB price with everything else shifted to you can add 30–50% to the real total. Budget a 15% buffer on top of the estimate, and get fixed quotes for freight and insurance in writing before paying the balance.

The inspection report only represents the physical condition of the vehicle at the moment the inspection was completed (down to the minute). Once the vehicle begins long-distance inland towing or international shipping, the report no longer guarantees the future condition due to drastic environmental changes.

Two separate protections matter: cargo insurance and contractual risk transfer. Cargo insurance: for container or RoRo shipments, buy marine cargo insurance covering total loss and damage, typically 110% of the CIF value (average cost 0.3%–0.8%). Check exclusions — many policies exclude pre-existing damage, so a pre-shipment inspection report is essential to prove the car's condition at loading. Incoterms define who bears risk and cost at each stage: 1. FOB (Free On Board): exporter pays until the car is loaded on the vessel; risk passes to you at that point. You pay ocean freight and insurance. Common and usually cheapest if you have your own freight forwarder. 2. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): exporter pays freight and minimum insurance to your port. Convenient but the insurance coverage is basic — consider topping it up. 3. EXW (Ex Works): you handle everything from the exporter's yard; only choose this if you have a trusted agent in China. Put the agreed Incoterm and port clearly in the contract, and never release final payment before the Bill of Lading is issued.