We will use a megohmmeter (insulation resistance tester) to measure the insulation resistance of the high-voltage bus. If the resistance value is below the national safety standard, it indicates a risk of leakage, and the vehicle will be deemed unqualified.

A complete service history tells you more about a car than its mileage. In China, most maintenance is done at authorized (4S) dealers, and each visit is recorded in the brand's national database. First, ask the seller for the service booklet and maintenance invoices, then have your inspection agent call the brand's 4S network with the VIN to pull the full service record. This shows oil changes, major repairs, recall work and accident-related repairs. Second, check that the mileage recorded at each service visit increases logically. A gap between the database mileage and the dashboard reading is a red flag. Third, ask for the annual inspection (nianjian) records, which are mandatory in China and show whether the car passed emissions and safety checks on time. If the seller claims a full service history but the database shows no records, assume the car was maintained at small independent shops or neglected. Adjust your offer accordingly — plenty of used cars in China have documented histories.

Rules differ by country. Many markets limit the age of imported used cars (commonly 3-5 years), require left-hand drive, and set minimum emission standards such as Euro 4, 5 or 6. Some regions additionally require a local conformity certificate before the car arrives. Practical steps before any deposit: check your customs authority's official website, or spend 20 minutes with a local customs broker who imports vehicles regularly; give the exporter your country's requirements and the VIN, and ask for proof of the car's emission level (China's standards map roughly to Euro equivalents); confirm the exact model was legally exportable from China. A short verification call at the start can prevent the car being refused entry — or impounded — months later.