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.

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.

Under FOB terms, booking is a legal obligation of the buyer. If your freight forwarder fails to provide the shipping order (S/O) in time, resulting in vehicles exceeding the free storage period at our warehouse or port, the buyer will have to pay the high daily storage fees before shipment.