The industry-standard structure protects both sides. Pay 20-30% deposit after signing the contract and verifying the exporter's license—never more. The balance is paid only after your independent inspection report confirms the car matches the contract, ideally against a copy of the bill of lading so the exporter can't ship a different vehicle. For extra protection, tie payments to milestones: deposit on contract, second tranche after inspection passes, final payment when shipping documents are released. Some buyers use escrow services or trade assurance platforms for the first transaction with a new supplier; fees run 1-3% but are worth it for large amounts. Always pay to a corporate bank account matching the exporter's registered name. Keep every agreement in the written contract—verbal promises like 'we'll fix that before shipping' are unenforceable. If an exporter demands 50%+ upfront or full payment before inspection, walk away; that structure leaves you with no leverage.

This is a key legal issue. If the inspection is conducted by a third party appointed by us, we will be the primary responsible party and provide limited compensation to you, after which we will seek reimbursement from the inspection agency; if the inspection agency is designated by you personally (such as SGS), you will need to file a claim directly with that agency according to its service terms.

We mainly collaborate with professional organizations certified by China's national CMA (Certification of Inspection and Testing Institutions). If you need the highest level of international endorsement, we can arrange for independent inspection agencies like SGS or TÜV to conduct Pre-Shipment Inspections (PSI) before loading at the port.