Be sure to purchase cargo insurance (all-risk or water damage insurance). In case of damage, claim with the bill of lading, insurance policy, and proof of damage at the destination port.

Two separate protections matter: cargo insurance and contractual risk transfer. Cargo insurance: for container or RoRo shipments, buy marine cargo insurance covering total loss and damage, typically 110% of the CIF value (average cost 0.3%–0.8%). Check exclusions — many policies exclude pre-existing damage, so a pre-shipment inspection report is essential to prove the car's condition at loading. Incoterms define who bears risk and cost at each stage: 1. FOB (Free On Board): exporter pays until the car is loaded on the vessel; risk passes to you at that point. You pay ocean freight and insurance. Common and usually cheapest if you have your own freight forwarder. 2. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): exporter pays freight and minimum insurance to your port. Convenient but the insurance coverage is basic — consider topping it up. 3. EXW (Ex Works): you handle everything from the exporter's yard; only choose this if you have a trusted agent in China. Put the agreed Incoterm and port clearly in the contract, and never release final payment before the Bill of Lading is issued.

Usually yes, but with conditions. The seller must transfer the vehicle's account binding to you — without that, the app stays locked to the previous owner. Ask for a screen recording showing the unbinding and re-binding process. OTA updates and remote functions depend on the manufacturer keeping servers accessible from your region. Most major brands now support overseas accounts, but features like voice assistants or map data may be limited outside China. In-car navigation may default to Chinese maps, so plan to use Android Auto, CarPlay, or phone mirroring instead. Before purchase, confirm with the exporter in writing: which connected functions work in your country, and whether a regional account conversion is included in the price.