Two separate protections matter: cargo insurance and contractual risk transfer. Cargo insurance: for container or RoRo shipments, buy marine cargo insurance covering total loss and damage, typically 110% of the CIF value (average cost 0.3%–0.8%). Check exclusions — many policies exclude pre-existing damage, so a pre-shipment inspection report is essential to prove the car's condition at loading. Incoterms define who bears risk and cost at each stage: 1. FOB (Free On Board): exporter pays until the car is loaded on the vessel; risk passes to you at that point. You pay ocean freight and insurance. Common and usually cheapest if you have your own freight forwarder. 2. CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight): exporter pays freight and minimum insurance to your port. Convenient but the insurance coverage is basic — consider topping it up. 3. EXW (Ex Works): you handle everything from the exporter's yard; only choose this if you have a trusted agent in China. Put the agreed Incoterm and port clearly in the contract, and never release final payment before the Bill of Lading is issued.

Parts availability depends on the brand's official presence in your market, but even unsupported brands can be maintained through direct ordering. Check three channels first: the brand's official dealer network (if any), third-party importers who specialize in Chinese auto parts, and generic equivalents. For wear items like brake pads, filters, and wipers, aftermarket suppliers usually stock cross-references by VIN. For model-specific parts — headlights, sensors, control modules — order directly from China. Ask your exporter for the parts catalog by VIN, confirm OEM part numbers, and compare prices. A turbocharger that costs $900 from a local dealer often ships from China for $350 plus $80 freight. Practical tips: bundle multiple parts into one shipment to amortize freight; ask for DDP (delivered duty paid) pricing so customs clearance is handled; and always verify part numbers against your VIN before paying, as Chinese models have running changes mid-year. Keep a small stock of common wear parts — oil filters, air filters, spark plugs — to avoid a 4-6 week wait for routine maintenance.

Chinese EVs ship with GB/T charging ports, which are not used in Europe (Type 2/CCS2), North America (J1772/CCS1/NACS), or most of Latin America. Plan for these extras: 1. GB/T to local standard adapter or converter box: this lets you charge at public stations. A simple passive adapter works for AC charging; DC fast charging needs an active converter, which is expensive — many owners skip it and rely on AC. 2. Portable charger swap: the included travel charger has a GB/T plug. Buy a local wallbox or a portable EVSE with your country's plug instead. 3. Home electrical check: confirm your home circuit can handle 7–11 kW, and have an electrician install a dedicated line if needed. Ask the exporter for the car's charging port photos and on-board charger capacity before buying. Budget roughly a few hundred dollars for adapters and a wallbox. Without planning, you may end up with a car that can only trickle-charge from a wall socket.