A realistic timeline: sourcing and negotiation 3-7 days; deposit and booking 1-2 days; pre-shipment inspection 2-4 days; export clearance and vessel booking 7-14 days; sea freight 2-5 weeks depending on destination; import customs clearance and port release 5-10 days. Overall, plan for roughly 5-8 weeks from order to port of destination by sea. For Central Asia and Russia by rail, 2-3 weeks total is common. Tips: ask the exporter for a written schedule with milestones (inspection done, customs cleared, vessel loaded, ETA); track the vessel yourself once you have the container or booking number; and remember Chinese holidays — Chinese New Year and Golden Week can add 1-2 weeks of delay.

Vetting takes a day and can save you thousands. Work through this checklist. Verify the business: ask for the company registration number and check it on China's National Enterprise Credit Information system or a commercial registry tool. Confirm the registered address matches where they claim to operate, and that their business scope includes vehicle export. Check export credentials: they must hold a used-vehicle export license issued by Chinese commerce authorities. Ask for the license and a recent export declaration showing they actually ship cars. Test their knowledge: a real exporter answers detailed questions about your destination country's import rules (age limits, left/right-hand drive, emission standards) without hesitation. Vague answers about your own country's requirements are a red flag. Structure payments safely: small deposit (10-20%), balance only against inspection reports and shipping documents, ideally through a payment method with recourse. Refuse full prepayment by irreversible transfer—no legitimate exporter requires it.

Yes. If your country (such as Chile, Peru, ASEAN countries, etc.) has signed a bilateral free trade agreement with China, our documentation center will apply to Chinese customs or the trade promotion agency for specific versions of the certificate of origin (such as Form E, Form F, etc.), which can help you legally apply for significant tariff reductions at the destination port.