SOH (State of Health) measures the battery's remaining capacity as a percentage of its original capacity. Two EVs with the same mileage can have very different SOH depending on charging habits and climate exposure, and since the battery represents 30-50% of a used EV's value, the SOH number is effectively the real price tag. A proper certificate includes current SOH percentage, cell voltage balance, charge cycle counts, battery management system fault codes, and often a projected range estimate. In hot-climate markets like the Gulf, a degraded battery degrades even faster, so a documented SOH above 85-90% is strongly recommended. Exporters who provide verified SOH certificates close deals faster and command better prices, so treat the certificate as a core purchase document, not an extra.

A typical transaction has six steps. 1. Selection: you confirm the vehicle through photos, a video walkaround, an inspection report and the VIN. 2. Deposit: most exporters ask 20%-30% to reserve the car. Pay by bank transfer to the company's corporate account, never a personal one. 3. Inspection: an independent pre-shipment inspection verifies the condition; you receive the report before paying the balance. 4. Balance payment: usually due before loading. Request the booking confirmation and container number. 5. Shipping: the exporter sends you the draft bill of lading for checking, then the original documents by courier. 6. Arrival: you clear customs with the invoice, C/O, B/L and inspection certificate, then register the vehicle. Total timeline is usually 2-6 weeks. Use payment methods with recourse (T/T or escrow) and keep every contract and receipt.

4S dealership records are directly connected to the manufacturer's database, making the data hard to tamper with and the most reliable, with original parts guaranteed; third-party repair shops usually are not connected, making their data unverifiable. Therefore, we only consider the connected records from 4S dealerships as valid historical documentation.