Yes, consolidation is common and can cut freight cost per car significantly, especially for shared purchases or small-volume importers. How it works: 1. A 40ft high-cube container typically fits 2-4 cars depending on size and loading method (standard loading vs. specialized racking that allows 4+ cars). Confirm the loading plan with your forwarder in writing. 2. Cars are secured with wheel chocks, straps, and padded braces. Professional loading with photos before the doors close is essential — request a photo report for insurance purposes. 3. One container means one bill of lading and one customs entry, but each car still needs its own invoice, export documents, and destination customs declaration. Things to watch: - Liability: if one car shifts and damages another in transit, insurance claims get complicated. Take out proper cargo insurance covering both vehicles. - Timing: all cars in the container must be ready at the same port at the same time, or you pay storage fees. - For EVs, check the shipping line's battery and state-of-charge rules — they may limit how many EVs go in one box. For a single car, RoRo or a 20ft container is usually simpler; consolidation mainly pays off from 2+ cars.

Compliance with the law is an absolute requirement for exports. All vehicles exported through our platform must complete the following legal processes: release all domestic bank mortgages, pay all traffic fines, and complete the formal deregistration for "transfer pending export" with the Chinese public security traffic management department. Only vehicles with 100% clear ownership can be approved for export permits.

Customs clearance at destination is usually handled by a licensed customs broker, not the exporter. You can hire one yourself or use a broker recommended by your shipping agent. The typical flow: your broker files the import declaration using the documents the exporter must provide — the commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and the certificate of origin. Depending on your country's rules, you will also need to pay import duty, VAT or sales tax, and any excise or environmental levies before the car is released. Things that commonly delay clearance: mismatched VIN numbers between documents, missing pre-shipment inspection certificates (required in some African and Middle Eastern countries), or non-compliance with your country's used-car import age limits. Budget 3–10 working days for clearance after the vessel arrives, plus storage fees if documents are incomplete. Tip: send all documents to your broker for review before the ship departs China — fixing errors at origin is much cheaper than demurrage at destination.