Once the car is loaded, the exporter (or freight forwarder) should send you a booking confirmation and, after departure, the Bill of Lading (B/L). The B/L is the key document: it shows the shipper, consignee, vessel, ports, and usually the VIN and container number. You can track the vessel on the shipping line's website using the B/L number or container number, or through third-party trackers like MarineTraffic. As the shipment approaches, the agent at destination issues an Arrival Notice. To collect the car you will typically need the original B/L (or a telex release/e-release), the arrival notice, your ID, and customs clearance paperwork. Check the B/L carefully as soon as you receive it—VIN, container number, and your name must be exactly right, because correcting a B/L mid-voyage is slow and expensive.

1) Verify the company: business license, export track record, and a live video call where they show the actual car and its VIN. 2) Hire an independent pre-shipment inspection. 3) Sign a contract stating the VIN, specs, price, Incoterm, and refund conditions. 4) Pay a 20–30% deposit by bank transfer only after the contract is signed — never the full amount, and never to a personal account. 5) After the inspection passes, pay the balance against a copy of the bill of lading. 6) Track the shipment and prepare import documents. 7) Inspect the car on arrival before releasing any final documents. Each step is a checkpoint. Don't let the seller rush you past one.

The main export hubs are Shanghai, Guangzhou/Shenzhen, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Ningbo. Shanghai has the most RoRo and container sailings to Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Southern China (Guangzhou/Shenzhen) is best for Southeast Asia and Oceania. Qingdao and Tianjin serve Korea, Japan, and northern routes efficiently. Choose based on three factors: sailing frequency to your port (weekly is ideal), total inland logistics cost from the car's location to the port, and whether your exporter has used-car export qualification at that port—some only operate from one or two ports. Also confirm the terminal handles used-car export declarations, since not every port processes them. Your exporter should recommend the optimal port-to-port combination with a written quote breakdown.