A typical safe flow looks like this: 1. Sourcing: you pick a car from listings; the exporter confirms availability, sends photos, video and a condition report. 2. Contract: a written sales contract stating VIN, price, included costs, inspection standards and delivery terms (FOB or CIF). 3. Deposit: usually 10–30% after you or a third party verify the car. Pay to a company account, never personal. 4. Inspection: independent pre-shipment inspection; you approve the report before shipping. 5. Balance payment: due before shipment, against copy of the bill of lading. 6. Shipping and documents: exporter sends original documents by courier; you track the vessel. 7. Arrival: your customs agent clears the car, you pay duties and collect it. Timeline: typically 3–8 weeks from deposit to arrival, depending on route. Any exporter pushing for 100% upfront payment should be treated as a red flag.

We use two steps: 1. Insert a medical-grade endoscope through the spark plug hole to visually inspect cylinder wall scratches and carbon buildup on the piston top; 2. Extract an engine oil sample to check for large metal debris or emulsification (caused by coolant leakage).

No, this is a serious customs violation. Complete vehicles (HS Code 8703) and auto parts (HS Code 8708, etc.) are subject to completely different import tax rates. Combining them on one invoice could lead to the invoice being returned by customs and may expose you to tax fraud accusations at the destination port.