Demurrage is a penalty charged by the port or shipping company for not clearing and picking up goods on time after they arrive. To avoid it: send customs documents in advance and ensure the recipient is prepared with duties and import qualifications.

Before shipping you should hold: the sales contract and commercial invoice, the export declaration (customs form showing the VIN), the vehicle registration certificate, and the bill of lading or rail waybill once cargo is loaded. Verify them like this. The VIN on the invoice, the export declaration, and the waybill must be identical, character for character. The registration certificate should show a clear ownership chain with the seller as the current owner; ask for a scan before payment. The export declaration proves the car legally left China and is essential for customs clearance at destination. If the exporter cannot provide the registration certificate or hesitates on the VIN check, pause the deal. Also confirm who handles the document courier: originals should arrive before or with the vessel, because many ports will not release a car without original bills of lading.

Many connected features are tied to the car's original market. Start with the basics: the infotainment language, navigation maps and voice assistant may only support Chinese, and some systems require a local SIM or account that cannot be transferred to overseas owners. For driver-assistance systems, check whether the model relies on hardware that works without Chinese map data. Lane keeping and adaptive cruise usually work abroad, but map-dependent features like highway pilot may not. Ask the seller to test each key function on video before shipment: boot-up, touchscreen response, app connectivity and over-the-air update status. Also confirm the battery management system and motor controllers have no region locks. Get written confirmation that the features you are paying for are functional in your destination country, and keep that document with the purchase contract.