Most models adjust through the central control screen menu, while a few models (like some BYD or MG) retain physical levers or paddles on the center console or steering wheel. We will check if the drag feel when the system engages is linearly normal.

A clean title check has three layers. First, run the VIN through maintenance records: dealers in China log service visits with mileage, and gaps or mileage rollbacks are red flags. Second, pull insurance claim history — major accidents, fire and flood damage usually leave claim records even if the car was repaired well. Third, verify registration status: confirm the car is not under finance, court seizure, or theft report. From overseas, you can engage a local inspection agency or law firm to retrieve these records and issue a written report. Cross-check the VIN and engine number on the report against the registration certificate; any mismatch means walk away.

A professional pre-shipment inspection typically costs a small fraction of the vehicle price and routinely pays for itself. A thorough inspection covers: paint thickness measurement across 30+ points to map body repairs; structural assessment of pillars, rails and crossmembers for accident damage; engine and transmission operation; a full electronic scan for fault codes; suspension and underbody checks for leaks and rust; and, for EVs, battery SOH and thermal management performance. You receive a written report with photos before the car is loaded — if the car fails, you can stop the shipment or renegotiate. Skipping the inspection to save a small fee is the classic false economy in used car importing: discovering a problem after arrival is far more expensive than preventing it at origin.