Comparing headline prices alone will mislead you—quotes often bundle or exclude different items. Build a like-for-like comparison before deciding. Request every exporter to break their quote into: vehicle price, domestic transport in China, export handling and documentation fees, inspection fee, ocean freight to your port, and insurance. Then add what they exclude: your country's customs duty, VAT/GST, port charges, and local delivery. Watch for common padding: "service fees" of 3-8% that appear only in the final invoice, inflated inland transport (a truck from Guangzhou to a port should rarely exceed a few hundred dollars), and freight quotes that assume a shared container while charging you for a full one. Ask each exporter to state validity (7-14 days is normal) and whether the price is FOB or CIF. Once normalized, the cheapest quote usually isn't the lowest number—it's the one with the shortest list of exclusions and the clearest terms.

During the stationary steering test, the technician will check the smoothness of the steering wheel from full left to full right, looking for any unusual noises from the steering gear; they will also inspect the hydraulic power steering pump (if present) and the seals of the steering column for any hydraulic fluid leakage.

This is one of the most common post-export surprises, so verify before buying. OTA updates: most Chinese brands push updates to cars registered on domestic servers. Many exported cars continue receiving updates normally, but some brands restrict updates by VIN region once the car leaves China. Ask the seller to confirm the update history and whether the brand officially supports your destination region. Some grey-import cars are stuck on the firmware version they left with. Companion apps: the factory app usually requires a Chinese phone number and a domestic account. After export, remote functions (preconditioning, charging status, location) often stop working or require workarounds. Some owners re-register via third-party services, but this is unofficial and can break at any time. Practical advice: before purchase, get the seller to show a screenshot of the car's current software version and connected services status. Factor in that you may lose remote features permanently, and check whether local dealers or independent shops can perform diagnostics and updates without the official app.