Beyond the FOB price, expect: ocean freight (typically $800–2,500 depending on destination), marine insurance (about 0.3–0.5% of the car's value), port handling charges at both ends, customs duty and import tax/VAT in your country, compliance or homologation certification, and inland delivery to your city. Add currency transfer fees and the inspection fee if you hire a third party. Ask the exporter for a landed-cost breakdown and confirm exactly what the quote includes. A cheap FOB price with everything else shifted to you can add 30–50% to the real total. Budget a 15% buffer on top of the estimate, and get fixed quotes for freight and insurance in writing before paying the balance.

The industry-standard structure protects both sides. Pay 20-30% deposit after signing the contract and verifying the exporter's license—never more. The balance is paid only after your independent inspection report confirms the car matches the contract, ideally against a copy of the bill of lading so the exporter can't ship a different vehicle. For extra protection, tie payments to milestones: deposit on contract, second tranche after inspection passes, final payment when shipping documents are released. Some buyers use escrow services or trade assurance platforms for the first transaction with a new supplier; fees run 1-3% but are worth it for large amounts. Always pay to a corporate bank account matching the exporter's registered name. Keep every agreement in the written contract—verbal promises like 'we'll fix that before shipping' are unenforceable. If an exporter demands 50%+ upfront or full payment before inspection, walk away; that structure leaves you with no leverage.

We maintain an extremely cautious and firm denial. Some platforms may cater to such demands for orders, but converting left-hand drive to right-hand drive involves complex steering column cutting, firewall structure changes, and wiring harness reorganization. This non-factory deep modification poses significant safety risks and is very difficult to pass vehicle safety inspections in developed countries (such as Japan's earthquake test and the UK's IVA test). Out of responsibility for safety and long-term reputation, we refuse to provide any steering conversion services that damage the vehicle's underlying structure.