The original Chinese license plates are obscured to protect the previous owner's personal privacy, and also because the plates have been forcibly reclaimed by Chinese traffic management after the vehicle completed the "transfer pending export" registration. This serves as physical proof that the vehicle has legally and compliantly completed the upgrade.
Key documents to request and verify: 1. Export declaration (报关单): proves the car legally left China. Check the VIN, model and exporter name match the car. 2. Commercial invoice: must match your payment amount; customs uses it to assess duties. 3. Bill of lading: confirm the consignee is you or your agent, and the VIN/container number is correct. 4. Certificate of origin: needed for tariff preferences in some markets. 5. Condition/inspection report: ideally from an independent third party, with photos and dates. Verification tips: cross-check the VIN on every document — any mismatch causes customs holds. Ask your destination customs broker to review scanned copies before the car ships, and release the final payment only after documents pass that review. A legitimate exporter will provide all of these without hesitation.
Europe and some developed countries have very strict regulations on greenhouse gases. If required by customs, we will specify the exact refrigerant type and charge amount according to the vehicle's air conditioning compressor nameplate in the remarks section of the packing list and commercial invoice.
