From the Chinese seller, expect these documents: 1. Vehicle registration certificate (the green book) 2. Driving license/registration card for the vehicle 3. Commercial invoice and sales contract 4. Export declaration documents (packing list, declaration forms handled by their forwarder) 5. Bill of lading, issued once the car is on the vessel You prepare on your side: 1. Import permit or approval, if your country requires one 2. Proof of compliance - emissions, safety, or type-approval certificates your customs authority asks for 3. Bill of lading release documents (original B/L or telex release) 4. Customs declaration through your broker, with your tax ID 5. Payment records - keep the bank transfer receipt, as some customs offices verify the declared value Practical tips: insist the seller removes any lien from the green book before export; verify the VIN on all documents matches the physical car; and confirm your country's age/emissions limits before paying a deposit, not after.

Under normal circumstances, it takes 15 to 25 working days. This includes: domestic transfer of ownership (3-5 days), applying for an export license (3-5 days), inland trucking to the port (2-5 days), customs inspection and waiting for loading schedule (5-10 days). Do not trust false promises from other channels claiming 'loading within a week.'

Chinese EVs ship with GB/T charging ports, which are not used in Europe (Type 2/CCS2), North America (J1772/CCS1/NACS), or most of Latin America. Plan for these extras: 1. GB/T to local standard adapter or converter box: this lets you charge at public stations. A simple passive adapter works for AC charging; DC fast charging needs an active converter, which is expensive — many owners skip it and rely on AC. 2. Portable charger swap: the included travel charger has a GB/T plug. Buy a local wallbox or a portable EVSE with your country's plug instead. 3. Home electrical check: confirm your home circuit can handle 7–11 kW, and have an electrician install a dedicated line if needed. Ask the exporter for the car's charging port photos and on-board charger capacity before buying. Budget roughly a few hundred dollars for adapters and a wallbox. Without planning, you may end up with a car that can only trickle-charge from a wall socket.