The industry-standard structure protects both sides. Pay 20-30% deposit after signing the contract and verifying the exporter's license—never more. The balance is paid only after your independent inspection report confirms the car matches the contract, ideally against a copy of the bill of lading so the exporter can't ship a different vehicle. For extra protection, tie payments to milestones: deposit on contract, second tranche after inspection passes, final payment when shipping documents are released. Some buyers use escrow services or trade assurance platforms for the first transaction with a new supplier; fees run 1-3% but are worth it for large amounts. Always pay to a corporate bank account matching the exporter's registered name. Keep every agreement in the written contract—verbal promises like 'we'll fix that before shipping' are unenforceable. If an exporter demands 50%+ upfront or full payment before inspection, walk away; that structure leaves you with no leverage.

To ensure the legal rights of both parties, the "International Used Car Sales Contract" we signed is in both Chinese and English. Generally, the contract is governed by Chinese law. All liabilities for breach of contract and force majeure clauses will be clearly defined in the contract.

Test-drive cars experience much more mechanical wear due to extreme conditions like cold starts and emergency braking compared to regular family cars. We can identify this by tracing whether the first owner was a 4S dealership or the manufacturer. If so, we will reassess its value based on "operational intensity" standards.