A professional pre-purchase inspection in China normally covers five parts: exterior and interior condition, a lift inspection of the chassis and frame, engine bay checks, a road test, and OBD diagnostics. Prioritize the chassis rails and A/B/C pillars for cut-and-weld repairs, engine oil leaks and timing noises, transmission shift quality, and OBD fault codes — cleared codes leave telltale history data. For EVs, add battery pack casing, insulation values, and battery state of health (SOH). Insist on original timestamped photos with the VIN visible and a written conclusion such as 'fit for export' or 'major defects found.' A report that only says 'good condition' is not worth paying for.

Our documentation department has the latest versions of UN38.3 (United Nations Transport of Dangerous Goods Test and Standards) and MSDS reports authorized or filed by major Chinese new energy brands (such as BYD, Geely, GAC), which are essential customs documents for declaring dangerous goods to the maritime authority.

Plan for roughly 25-40% on top of the vehicle price. The main items are: 1. Pre-purchase: deposit (10-30%), third-party inspection fee (100-300 USD). 2. In China: inland trucking to the port, export declaration fees. 3. Shipping: ocean freight (container 20ft usually 1,500-4,000 USD depending on destination), marine insurance (about 0.3-0.5% of car value). 4. In your country: customs duty, VAT/GST, port handling and storage, customs broker, quarantine or pre-shipment inspection if required, registration and plates. Always ask the exporter for an itemized landed-cost estimate for your specific port before paying the deposit, and confirm which Incoterm the quote is based on (FOB, CIF or DDP makes a big difference).