Key documents to request and verify: 1. Export declaration (报关单): proves the car legally left China. Check the VIN, model and exporter name match the car. 2. Commercial invoice: must match your payment amount; customs uses it to assess duties. 3. Bill of lading: confirm the consignee is you or your agent, and the VIN/container number is correct. 4. Certificate of origin: needed for tariff preferences in some markets. 5. Condition/inspection report: ideally from an independent third party, with photos and dates. Verification tips: cross-check the VIN on every document — any mismatch causes customs holds. Ask your destination customs broker to review scanned copies before the car ships, and release the final payment only after documents pass that review. A legitimate exporter will provide all of these without hesitation.

The purchase price is only part of your total landed cost. Plan for these items: - Inland transport in China: moving the car from the seller's city to the export port, plus transfer and inspection fees. - Export fees: customs declaration, port handling, and terminal charges. Ask for an FOB (Free On Board) quote so these are included. - Ocean freight: RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) is cheapest for regular cars, but EVs often require special containers or dedicated EV shipping due to battery regulations, which costs more. - Insurance: marine cargo insurance, typically 1-3% of the car's value. - Import side: import duty, VAT or sales tax, customs brokerage, port charges at destination, and any homologation or compliance testing fees. As a rule of thumb, add 25-40% on top of the FOB price for a realistic landed-cost estimate, depending on your country's tax rates. Get a written breakdown from both your supplier and a customs broker before committing.

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.