Ask the exporter for a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (机动车登记证书). It lists every owner change and any mortgage registration. If the car was financed, there will be a lien entry; make sure a release entry follows it. You can also verify the VIN against public records through the traffic management platform (12123) — a legitimate exporter can generate a status report on the spot. Check that the seller's company name on the invoice matches the registered owner. For extra safety, require a written statement that the vehicle is free of liens, loans, court seizures, and lease agreements, and wire payment only to the company's corporate account after ownership is transferred to the export entity. That sequence — transfer first, payment second — is your strongest protection.

Chinese EVs ship with GB/T charging ports, which are not used in Europe (Type 2/CCS2), North America (J1772/CCS1/NACS), or most of Latin America. Plan for these extras: 1. GB/T to local standard adapter or converter box: this lets you charge at public stations. A simple passive adapter works for AC charging; DC fast charging needs an active converter, which is expensive — many owners skip it and rely on AC. 2. Portable charger swap: the included travel charger has a GB/T plug. Buy a local wallbox or a portable EVSE with your country's plug instead. 3. Home electrical check: confirm your home circuit can handle 7–11 kW, and have an electrician install a dedicated line if needed. Ask the exporter for the car's charging port photos and on-board charger capacity before buying. Budget roughly a few hundred dollars for adapters and a wallbox. Without planning, you may end up with a car that can only trickle-charge from a wall socket.

Vetting takes a day and can save you thousands. Work through this checklist. Verify the business: ask for the company registration number and check it on China's National Enterprise Credit Information system or a commercial registry tool. Confirm the registered address matches where they claim to operate, and that their business scope includes vehicle export. Check export credentials: they must hold a used-vehicle export license issued by Chinese commerce authorities. Ask for the license and a recent export declaration showing they actually ship cars. Test their knowledge: a real exporter answers detailed questions about your destination country's import rules (age limits, left/right-hand drive, emission standards) without hesitation. Vague answers about your own country's requirements are a red flag. Structure payments safely: small deposit (10-20%), balance only against inspection reports and shipping documents, ideally through a payment method with recourse. Refuse full prepayment by irreversible transfer—no legitimate exporter requires it.