A Chinese history report (查博士, 精真估, or 4S-shop records) usually contains several sections. Here's how to read them. Accident records: entries tagged 重大事故 (major accident) or listings at an insurance payout above 30% of the car's value are serious red flags. Airbag deployment is a deal-breaker for most buyers. Mileage timeline: check that mileage increases logically between service visits. A sudden drop between two dates means odometer tampering—walk away. Ownership count: more than 3 owners in 5 years suggests a problem car. Also check the 使用性质 field: a car registered as 营运 (commercial/taxi use) has a much shorter legal lifespan. Maintenance entries: consistent 4S dealership records are a good sign; long gaps aren't necessarily fatal if the owner used independent shops, but ask for receipts. Cross-check the report against the VIN plate, registration certificate, and physical inspection. If the report shows no accidents but paint thickness readings say otherwise, trust the metal, not the paper.

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.

Start with the business license: every legitimate Chinese company has a Unified Social Credit Code. Ask for a copy and verify it on the National Enterprise Credit Information system or via your freight forwarder. Check that the business scope includes 'used car export'—this requires specific qualifications. Next, look for proof of substance: a real office or yard (verify via live video call, not pre-recorded), staff answering on Chinese business platforms like WeChat with consistent branding, and a corporate bank account in the company's name—never pay a personal account. Cross-check trade history: ask for recent shipping documents (blurred bills of lading with customer info hidden), references from buyers in your region, and whether they hold export licenses issued by Chinese commerce authorities. Red flags: prices far below market, pressure to pay quickly, refusal of video calls, or bank accounts in third countries 'for convenience'. Take your time—real exporters pass these checks easily.