The purchase price is only part of your total landed cost. Plan for these items:
- Inland transport in China: moving the car from the seller's city to the export port, plus transfer and inspection fees.
- Export fees: customs declaration, port handling, and terminal charges. Ask for an FOB (Free On Board) quote so these are included.
- Ocean freight: RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) is cheapest for regular cars, but EVs often require special containers or dedicated EV shipping due to battery regulations, which costs more.
- Insurance: marine cargo insurance, typically 1-3% of the car's value.
- Import side: import duty, VAT or sales tax, customs brokerage, port charges at destination, and any homologation or compliance testing fees.
As a rule of thumb, add 25-40% on top of the FOB price for a realistic landed-cost estimate, depending on your country's tax rates. Get a written breakdown from both your supplier and a customs broker before committing.