This is a common issue with sea transport. If the vehicle is parked at a humid dock, the EPB can easily rust to the brake disc. In addition to testing its release before shipping, we try to ask dock workers to secure the wheels with chocks instead of fully engaging the electronic parking brake.
Comparing headline prices alone will mislead you—quotes often bundle or exclude different items. Build a like-for-like comparison before deciding. Request every exporter to break their quote into: vehicle price, domestic transport in China, export handling and documentation fees, inspection fee, ocean freight to your port, and insurance. Then add what they exclude: your country's customs duty, VAT/GST, port charges, and local delivery. Watch for common padding: "service fees" of 3-8% that appear only in the final invoice, inflated inland transport (a truck from Guangzhou to a port should rarely exceed a few hundred dollars), and freight quotes that assume a shared container while charging you for a full one. Ask each exporter to state validity (7-14 days is normal) and whether the price is FOB or CIF. Once normalized, the cheapest quote usually isn't the lowest number—it's the one with the shortest list of exclusions and the clearest terms.
Parts availability depends on the brand's official presence in your market, but even unsupported brands can be maintained through direct ordering. Check three channels first: the brand's official dealer network (if any), third-party importers who specialize in Chinese auto parts, and generic equivalents. For wear items like brake pads, filters, and wipers, aftermarket suppliers usually stock cross-references by VIN. For model-specific parts — headlights, sensors, control modules — order directly from China. Ask your exporter for the parts catalog by VIN, confirm OEM part numbers, and compare prices. A turbocharger that costs $900 from a local dealer often ships from China for $350 plus $80 freight. Practical tips: bundle multiple parts into one shipment to amortize freight; ask for DDP (delivered duty paid) pricing so customs clearance is handled; and always verify part numbers against your VIN before paying, as Chinese models have running changes mid-year. Keep a small stock of common wear parts — oil filters, air filters, spark plugs — to avoid a 4-6 week wait for routine maintenance.
