Remote mechanical assessment relies on documented evidence: 1. Cold-start video: Ask for a video of the engine starting from cold — listen for rattles, watch for smoke (blue = oil burning, white = possible head gasket issue). 2. OBD scan: A full diagnostic scan reveals fault codes in the engine, gearbox, and electronics. Request the raw scan report, not a screenshot summary. 3. Service records: Cross-check mileage against maintenance records and inspection stickers; consistent records indicate a cared-for car. 4. Fluid check: Photos of the oil dipstick and coolant color tell a lot — milky oil or rusty coolant are red flags. 5. Test drive video: A short drive video shows gear shifts, braking, and steering behavior. Combine these with the pre-shipment inspection report. A seller who refuses to provide cold-start video or OBD data is a warning sign.

Water damage is one of the most common hidden problems in used cars, and it often escapes basic photo reviews. During a live video inspection, ask the inspector to check these specific points: 1. Smell test: A musty or moldy odor inside the cabin is the first red flag. Have them open all doors, run the AC briefly, and smell the air from the vents—musty AC often indicates water in the HVAC system. 2. Under the carpets: Lift the floor mats and look for water lines, rust stains, or dampness on the carpet backing and the metal floor underneath. Sediment or silt residue is a giveaway. 3. Seat rails and bolts: Pull the seats fully forward and backward. Rust on seat rails or fresh-looking bolts suggests the seats were removed for cleaning after flooding. 4. Trunk area: Check the spare tire well and under the trunk carpet for standing water marks or rust. 5. Electronics: Test every window, seat adjustment, and the infotainment screen—water-damaged electronics behave erratically. Also request a scan report: flood cars often store history codes for multiple control modules that failed simultaneously. Cross-check the car's origin; vehicles from flood-prone southern regions deserve extra scrutiny.

Plan for roughly 25-40% on top of the vehicle price. The main items are: 1. Pre-purchase: deposit (10-30%), third-party inspection fee (100-300 USD). 2. In China: inland trucking to the port, export declaration fees. 3. Shipping: ocean freight (container 20ft usually 1,500-4,000 USD depending on destination), marine insurance (about 0.3-0.5% of car value). 4. In your country: customs duty, VAT/GST, port handling and storage, customs broker, quarantine or pre-shipment inspection if required, registration and plates. Always ask the exporter for an itemized landed-cost estimate for your specific port before paying the deposit, and confirm which Incoterm the quote is based on (FOB, CIF or DDP makes a big difference).