The registration certificate will show whether the previous owner was an individual (registered with ID) or a company (registered with a business license). Vehicles under a company may be driven by multiple people, so we will focus on checking the uniformity of interior wear and the condition of the chassis.

Complete records represent underlying trust and zero odometer adjustment risk. In the used car market, solid data history itself carries a high premium. The extra few hundred dollars buys you an impeccable endorsement when selling overseas.

Two main shipping methods are used for used cars from China: 1) Container shipping: the car is loaded into a 20ft or 40ft container. Safer, protects from weather and damage, and allows personal items inside the car. Slightly more expensive. 2) RoRo (roll-on/roll-off): the car is driven onto the ship. Cheaper for single units, but no protection and no personal belongings allowed. Typical transit times from major Chinese ports (Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Qingdao): - Middle East: 12-20 days - Europe: 25-40 days - East/West Africa: 30-45 days - South America: 35-50 days - Southeast Asia: 5-12 days Add 5-10 days on each side for port handling, customs, and inland delivery. Peak season (before Chinese New Year and summer) can add delays, so book space 2-3 weeks ahead.