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.

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.

Beyond the FOB price, expect: ocean freight (typically $800–2,500 depending on destination), marine insurance (about 0.3–0.5% of the car's value), port handling charges at both ends, customs duty and import tax/VAT in your country, compliance or homologation certification, and inland delivery to your city. Add currency transfer fees and the inspection fee if you hire a third party. Ask the exporter for a landed-cost breakdown and confirm exactly what the quote includes. A cheap FOB price with everything else shifted to you can add 30–50% to the real total. Budget a 15% buffer on top of the estimate, and get fixed quotes for freight and insurance in writing before paying the balance.