Ask for a specific set of photos and video taken with the car on a lift — generic walk-around videos will not show what matters. Request close-ups of: the sills (rocker panels) on both sides, front and rear subframes, suspension mounting points, brake lines, and the floor pan under the carpets. Surface rust on bolts is normal; bubbling paint, flaking metal or fresh undercoat sprayed over corrosion are warning signs. Also check for flood damage, a common hidden problem: look at the spare wheel well for water marks or mud, pull up the trunk carpet, and check the seat rails and seat belt buckles for rust or silt. A musty smell reported by the inspector is a red flag. A trustworthy exporter will provide a lift inspection report listing measured paint thickness on structural areas. If they refuse to put the car on a lift, treat that as an answer in itself.

A typical payment structure looks like this: 1. Deposit: 10-30% after you confirm the car and price, often to reserve the vehicle and start the inspection. 2. Balance: paid after you approve the inspection report, but before or at shipment. A common safeguard is paying against a copy of the bill of lading, with telex release of the original B/L after funds arrive. 3. Never send 100% upfront to a new supplier. Use traceable methods (T/T bank transfer to a corporate account matching the company name, or escrow for first orders) and keep every agreement in writing. 4. Timeline: quote within days, inspection 3-7 days, booking and loading 1-2 weeks, ocean transit 3-6 weeks, customs clearance 3-10 days. Red flags: personal bank accounts, pressure to skip inspection, prices far below market.

FOB (Free On Board): Includes the purchase price of the vehicle, transfer fees for registration in China, export license fees, logistics costs for trucking to the port within China, and port handling and customs fees. CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight): In addition to FOB, it includes the shipping cost from China to your designated destination port (RoRo or container), as well as cargo insurance during international shipping.