Before shipping you should hold: the sales contract and commercial invoice, the export declaration (customs form showing the VIN), the vehicle registration certificate, and the bill of lading or rail waybill once cargo is loaded. Verify them like this. The VIN on the invoice, the export declaration, and the waybill must be identical, character for character. The registration certificate should show a clear ownership chain with the seller as the current owner; ask for a scan before payment. The export declaration proves the car legally left China and is essential for customs clearance at destination. If the exporter cannot provide the registration certificate or hesitates on the VIN check, pause the deal. Also confirm who handles the document courier: originals should arrive before or with the vessel, because many ports will not release a car without original bills of lading.

No, we are not responsible. The high salt and humidity of the marine environment do have an impact on the chassis surface. We recommend buyers in tropical islands or countries that use salt for winter snow removal to perform a thorough chassis anti-rust spray locally immediately after the vehicle arrives.

A proper pre-shipment inspection is more than photos — it is a documented technical examination covering four areas. 1. Structure: paint thickness readings across the body, weld inspection of pillars and chassis rails, rust assessment underneath. 2. Mechanical: engine compression or at least a cold-start video, transmission shifts through all gears, suspension noise test on uneven roads, brake pad and disc thickness measurements. 3. Electronics: full OBD diagnostic scan with printed fault codes, all lights, windows, AC, infotainment, and driver-assistance functions tested. 4. Documentation: VIN and engine number physically matched to the registration certificate, photos of the certificate itself. Insist on a written report with photos, measured values, and a clear pass/fail conclusion per section. Make final payment conditional on this report, not on the seller's word or showroom-condition photos.