Absolutely. Even if you clear customs through gray channels, local commercial insurance companies will refuse to cover third-party liability insurance due to the vehicle not complying with national traffic laws; additionally, the vehicle will definitely fail the annual safety inspection at the local DMV.

Odometer fraud exists everywhere, but cross-checking several data points makes it hard to fake: 1) Maintenance records: ask for service history with mileage entries. Gaps or resets are red flags. 2) Tire wear: a car showing 30,000 km should not have nearly bald tires. Compare tread depth against the claimed mileage. 3) Pedals, steering wheel, and seat bolsters: heavy wear on these with low odometer readings is a classic mismatch. 4) Diagnostic scan: request an OBD readout. Many control modules store mileage data internally — if the ECU shows 120,000 km while the dash shows 40,000, you have your answer. 5) Vehicle history report: in China, apps and platforms can pull insurance claim records and registration history, which often reveal the true mileage trail. Always request a live video showing the odometer with the engine running, and have the number written into your contract.

Common charges beyond the car price: pre-shipment inspection fee, inland trucking from the car's city to the port, export customs clearance, documentation fee, terminal handling charges (THC), certificate fees, and markups hidden inside the freight quote. How to protect yourself: ask for an itemized quotation with each charge listed separately; compare 2-3 exporters, because a very low car price is often offset by inflated fees; confirm which costs are included up to the port of loading and which you pay at destination; agree in writing on the payment currency and the exchange rate date. Your total budget should be: car price + export fees + freight + insurance + destination port charges + import duties and taxes.