Ask the exporter for a copy of the vehicle registration certificate (机动车登记证书). It lists every owner change and any mortgage registration. If the car was financed, there will be a lien entry; make sure a release entry follows it. You can also verify the VIN against public records through the traffic management platform (12123) — a legitimate exporter can generate a status report on the spot. Check that the seller's company name on the invoice matches the registered owner. For extra safety, require a written statement that the vehicle is free of liens, loans, court seizures, and lease agreements, and wire payment only to the company's corporate account after ownership is transferred to the export entity. That sequence — transfer first, payment second — is your strongest protection.

Please take timestamped photos and videos at the first opportunity when picking up the car at the destination port (before leaving the port area). We will compare these with the final archived images taken at the Chinese port before shipping. If it is confirmed that we missed reporting it during the pre-shipment inspection, we will provide compensation for parts or labor costs based on the severity of the defect; if it is new physical damage incurred during shipping, the insurance claim process will need to be initiated.

If the buyer's country is under international sanctions, or if the buyer fails to provide a legitimate source of funds leading to the bank returning the payment, all transfer fees and exchange rate losses incurred during this period are to be borne entirely by the buyer.