Start by asking the seller for a photo of the full vehicle registration certificate. Check that the registered owner matches the seller's company name. Any change of ownership should appear with a transfer stamp and date. Second, request a lien check. In China, vehicle mortgages are registered with the vehicle management office. A clean certificate shows no mortgage registration; if one exists, the car cannot be legally exported until the loan is settled and the lien released. Third, verify there are no unpaid traffic fines and no gaps in compulsory insurance, since these can block export clearance. Ask the platform to include a title verification step in the transaction flow, and only pay the balance after the title transfer to the export company is confirmed.

We use quantitative standards. Minor scratches less than 3 cm that do not reach the base coat (which can be polished) are considered normal wear; scratches over 3 cm deep to the base coat or dents larger than 2 cm in diameter will be highlighted in the inspection report's "Appearance Defect Distribution Map" with close-up photos.

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).