A normal transaction moves through six stages. First, selection and verification: you shortlist cars, request VIN-level documents, and order an independent inspection (1-2 weeks). Second, contract signing and deposit: 10-30% is standard, paid against a signed contract listing the VIN and agreed spec. Third, export preparation: the seller handles deregistration and export licensing (1-3 weeks). Fourth, final payment against loading: pay the balance only after you receive the bill of lading or rail waybill number you can track. Fifth, transit: ocean shipping to most ports takes 3-6 weeks, rail to Central Asia or Europe 2-4 weeks. Sixth, destination clearance and registration: allow 1-2 weeks plus buffer for inspections. In total, plan for 2-4 months door to door. Any exporter promising full delivery in under six weeks is likely cutting corners on export paperwork.

Rust is one of the most underestimated problems in remote buying. Request specific evidence: photos of the underbody, wheel arches, door sills, and around the windshield seal; close-ups of suspension mounting points; and ideally paint thickness readings across panels (factory paint is typically 80-120μm; heavy patches suggest bodywork). Northern Chinese cars may have winter road-salt corrosion; coastal cars can show surface rust on exposed metal. Surface rust on exhaust and bolts is normal—structural rust on frame rails, subframes, or brake lines is a deal-breaker, especially if the car is headed to a humid or coastal market. Have the inspector tap suspicious areas during the video call: flaky or bubbling metal sounds hollow. Walk away if the seller refuses underbody photos.

If the car has been maintained at an authorized dealer, we can extract the desensitized official maintenance history (including entry time, mileage, and maintenance items) through a paid third-party data provider and provide it to you. If some year records are missing, we will honestly inform you that the "records are incomplete."