During the stationary steering test, the technician will check the smoothness of the steering wheel from full left to full right, looking for any unusual noises from the steering gear; they will also inspect the hydraulic power steering pump (if present) and the seals of the steering column for any hydraulic fluid leakage.

Ask for a specific set of photos and video taken with the car on a lift — generic walk-around videos will not show what matters. Request close-ups of: the sills (rocker panels) on both sides, front and rear subframes, suspension mounting points, brake lines, and the floor pan under the carpets. Surface rust on bolts is normal; bubbling paint, flaking metal or fresh undercoat sprayed over corrosion are warning signs. Also check for flood damage, a common hidden problem: look at the spare wheel well for water marks or mud, pull up the trunk carpet, and check the seat rails and seat belt buckles for rust or silt. A musty smell reported by the inspector is a red flag. A trustworthy exporter will provide a lift inspection report listing measured paint thickness on structural areas. If they refuse to put the car on a lift, treat that as an answer in itself.

This is one of the most common disappointments after importing a Chinese EV, so check before you buy. Many Chinese EVs rely on an embedded SIM that only works on Chinese carrier networks. Once the car leaves China, remote functions — battery status, pre-conditioning, charging control, and locating the car — may stop working entirely. Some brands let you transfer the account to a foreign phone number, but many require a Chinese ID or Chinese phone number for registration, which you cannot provide. What to do before purchase: ask the exporter to test the app functions live on video while the car is still in China, including remote air-conditioning and battery percentage reading. Ask the brand's official customer service (in writing) whether overseas account activation is supported for your specific model and year. Workarounds if the official app does not work: some functions may still operate locally through the car's own settings, such as scheduled charging from the dashboard. Third-party OBD dongles with companion apps can sometimes restore battery monitoring and pre-conditioning. The car itself drives fine without connected services, but if app functionality matters to you, treat it as a purchase criterion, not an afterthought.