Apply for a certificate of origin from the local customs or trade promotion agency, proving that the country of manufacture is China. This is a necessary document for customs clearance in regions like the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

A compliant shipment from China includes a standard document set. Verify you receive all of them before the ship departs, because correcting documents mid-transit is slow and expensive. The core set: commercial invoice, bill of lading (original, if your country requires presentation for customs), packing list, certificate of origin, and the export customs declaration. For used cars, also expect the Chinese registration certificate copy, deregistration proof, and a condition/inspection report. Some destinations require additional certificates — GCC states need GSO conformity, EU countries need COC or individual approval, several African nations require BESC/ECTN tracking numbers issued before loading. Your customs broker will typically need the invoice and bill of lading at minimum, plus proof of vehicle age and emissions where age limits apply. Ask your exporter for scanned copies the day the vessel sails, not when it arrives: pre-clearance can cut port storage fees significantly. One caution: the invoice value must match your payment records. Under-declaring to save duties is customs fraud in most countries and risks seizure.

It must be stated objectively: used cars in China are produced according to national standards (GB) and have not been originally certified by Saudi SASO or GSO of Gulf countries. Buyers must find a local agent with customs clearance capabilities to complete the clearance through exemption documents or compliant modifications after arrival (such as wrapping or adding specific alarms).