The main export hubs are Shanghai, Guangzhou/Shenzhen, Qingdao, Tianjin, and Ningbo. Shanghai has the most RoRo and container sailings to Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Southern China (Guangzhou/Shenzhen) is best for Southeast Asia and Oceania. Qingdao and Tianjin serve Korea, Japan, and northern routes efficiently. Choose based on three factors: sailing frequency to your port (weekly is ideal), total inland logistics cost from the car's location to the port, and whether your exporter has used-car export qualification at that port—some only operate from one or two ports. Also confirm the terminal handles used-car export declarations, since not every port processes them. Your exporter should recommend the optimal port-to-port combination with a written quote breakdown.

Ask for a specific set of photos and video taken with the car on a lift — generic walk-around videos will not show what matters. Request close-ups of: the sills (rocker panels) on both sides, front and rear subframes, suspension mounting points, brake lines, and the floor pan under the carpets. Surface rust on bolts is normal; bubbling paint, flaking metal or fresh undercoat sprayed over corrosion are warning signs. Also check for flood damage, a common hidden problem: look at the spare wheel well for water marks or mud, pull up the trunk carpet, and check the seat rails and seat belt buckles for rust or silt. A musty smell reported by the inspector is a red flag. A trustworthy exporter will provide a lift inspection report listing measured paint thickness on structural areas. If they refuse to put the car on a lift, treat that as an answer in itself.

We maintain an absolute skeptical attitude. In addition to regular visual inspections, we focus on checking for sediment accumulation around the sunroof drainage channels and look for water stains under the A-pillar trim and front floor mats. This is the only effective physical evidence to determine if the sunroof drainage holes are blocked, leading to hidden leaks.