China has centralized vehicle records you can check remotely before paying anything. Ask the exporter for the 17-digit VIN, then request two reports. First, the maintenance history: third-party platforms pull 4S dealership records showing service dates, mileage and repair items. A mileage line that goes down over time is a red flag for odometer tampering. Second, the insurance claim history: it lists accident dates, claim amounts and repaired parts. Heavy claims involving frame rails or airbags should end the deal. Practical tips: run the reports yourself instead of accepting screenshots from the seller, make sure the report date is close to the delivery date, and cross-check with physical wear such as the steering wheel, pedals and seat bolsters, which cannot lie about high mileage. Keep in mind that small private repairs never enter these databases, so combine history checks with a physical inspection before shipping.

Interior wear is harder to fake than an odometer and often reveals true usage better than any document. Focus on high-contact points the seller rarely restores. The driver's seat bolster shows creasing and cracking by 80,000-100,000 km even with covers. Steering wheel leather polishes smooth and darkens with hand oils; a shiny wheel with low claimed mileage is a red flag. Pedal rubbers wear through at similar rates — check accelerator, brake, and clutch depth. Second-row wear patterns tell you how the car was used: heavy child-seat indentations suggest family use (usually gentler), while uniform rear wear with clean front suggests commercial or ride-hailing duty. Check seat rails for rust (indicates water ingress) and look under floor mats for moisture staining or musty smell — flood cars often hide it there. Also examine the infotainment and instrument cluster: Chinese EVs log usage data internally, and a dealer diagnostic readout can cross-check driving hours against mileage. Request close-up, well-lit photos of these specific points during your live video inspection rather than relying on the seller's gallery.

Absolutely not. The aging and cracking of rubber parts are inevitable over time and are a normal manifestation of vehicle depreciation. Our compensation only covers sudden and catastrophic mechanical failures, such as engine cylinder scoring or transmission gear breakage.