Importers asking how to import cars from China should begin with destination-country compliance, then verify the exporter, confirm vehicle specifications, inspect the units, and control shipping documents. China’s automobile exports grew by 19.3% year-on-year in 2024 (CAAM, 2025). RoRo shipping from China to Lagos takes approximately 30-45 days (AutoZQI logistics, 2026). A documented process reduces customs delays, specification errors, and payment risk.
TL;DR
The process has five steps and usually requires 4-8 weeks from order confirmation to port arrival, depending on stock and destination. Before starting, obtain an import licence where required, confirm age and emissions rules, prepare company documents, select a customs broker, and define your target models and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Check local eligibility before paying a supplier.
- Verify the export company and vehicle VIN.
- Compare offers using the same Incoterm.
- Require an inspection report before shipment.
- Match the bill of lading to the invoice and packing list.
- Budget for duties, port charges, and inland delivery.
Step 1: Confirm Import Rules and Vehicle Eligibility
This step prevents buying a car that cannot be registered or cleared at the destination.
- Ask your customs authority or licensed broker about vehicle age, left-hand or right-hand drive, emissions, safety standards, and import permits.
- Confirm whether battery electric vehicles require battery certificates, charging-port details, or dangerous-goods declarations.
- Check the exact model year, manufacturing date, engine capacity, VIN, and homologation status.
| Market check | Evidence to obtain | Risk if omitted |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle age limit | Registration date and production plate | Re-export or seizure |
| Emissions rule | Emissions certificate | Registration refusal |
| Drive position | Interior photos and specification sheet | Vehicle ineligibility |
| EV requirements | Battery and charging specifications | Port or inspection delay |
The Chinese automotive industry includes domestic and joint-venture models with market-specific specifications, so a familiar model name does not guarantee identical equipment.
Common mistake: Assuming a supplier is responsible for the buyer’s national import approval.
How to verify: Send the VIN, production date, and specification sheet to your customs broker for written confirmation.
Step 2: Verify the Exporter and Vehicle Offer
Supplier verification establishes whether the seller can source, invoice, and legally export the vehicles.
- Request the Chinese business licence, company bank details, export credentials, and signed sales contract.
- Confirm that the beneficiary name matches the contracting company.
- Ask for timestamped photos or a live video showing the VIN, odometer, dashboard, body panels, and storage location.
AutoZQI is operated by Shaanxi Zhongqi International Supply Chain Co., Ltd., a licensed China car export company. Buyers can also follow this guide on avoiding scams when buying cars from China.
Common mistake: Paying a personal account or an unrelated trading entity because it offers a lower price.
How to verify: Check the company name across the licence, contract, invoice, bank account, and export declaration.
Step 3: Calculate the Full Landed Cost
A landed-cost calculation allows dealers to compare vehicles on a resale-margin basis rather than purchase price alone.
- Request separate FOB, CIF, or DAP quotations.
- Add inspection, export handling, ocean freight, insurance, duty, VAT, port storage, broker fees, and inland transport.
- Confirm which costs are included and how long the quotation remains valid.
| Trade term | Seller normally covers | Buyer normally covers |
|---|---|---|
| FOB | Vehicle and export delivery to loading port | Freight, insurance, import clearance |
| CIF | FOB costs, freight, and marine insurance | Import duty, port fees, local delivery |
| DAP | Transport to named destination | Import clearance, duties, and taxes |
Independent pre-shipment checks typically cost $120-$300 per vehicle, depending on location and test scope (AutoZQI procurement data, 2026).
Common mistake: Comparing an FOB offer with a CIF offer as if both include the same services.
How to verify: Use one landed-cost worksheet and obtain written freight and destination-charge estimates.
Step 4: Inspect, Contract, and Pay Safely
This step fixes the agreed condition and specification before the vehicle leaves China.
- List model, trim, colour, production year, mileage tolerance, accessories, warranty terms, Incoterm, port, and delivery deadline in the contract.
- Order an inspection covering VIN, paint, underbody, diagnostics, tyres, fluids, battery state, charging equipment, and road test where permitted.
- Use staged payments linked to documents or inspection milestones when commercially available.
For multi-unit dealer orders, inspect one reference vehicle in full and conduct VIN, mileage, exterior, and diagnostic checks on every remaining unit. A standard inspection requires approximately 1-2 days after vehicle access is confirmed (AutoZQI inspection team, 2026).
Common mistake: Accepting showroom photos as proof of current condition.
How to verify: Require a dated inspection report with VIN-linked photos and recorded defects.
Step 5: Select Shipping and Control Documents
Choose RoRo for operable vehicles on supported routes; choose a container for higher protection, spare parts, or ports without suitable RoRo service.
- Confirm vessel schedule, loading port, destination port, insurance, and transshipment details.
- Review the commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration, certificate of origin when required, and bill of lading draft.
- Send document copies to the destination broker before vessel arrival and arrange DAP delivery separately if needed.
Common mistake: Discovering a consignee-name or VIN error after the bill of lading is issued.
How to verify: Reconcile every VIN, company name, quantity, and port across all draft documents before approval.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Customs rejects the vehicle | Age, emissions, or drive-side mismatch | Obtain broker approval before purchase |
| Shipment misses the vessel | Late port entry or incomplete export documents | Set document and gate-in deadlines in the contract |
| Landed cost exceeds budget | Destination charges were excluded | Request local port tariffs and a CIF breakdown |
| Vehicle condition differs | No VIN-based inspection | Commission inspection before final payment |
| Clearance is delayed | Invoice and bill of lading do not match | Correct drafts before vessel departure |
FAQ
Q: Can a dealer import new and used cars from China?
A: Yes, if the export documentation and destination rules permit the vehicle. Used-car exports may require additional condition, mileage, or registration records.
Q: Is RoRo cheaper than container shipping?
A: RoRo is often more economical for single operable vehicles, but availability depends on route and port. Containers may suit multiple units, non-running vehicles, or shipments with parts.
Q: Which payment method is safest?
A: Company-to-company bank transfers under a signed contract are common. Larger orders may use staged payments or a letter of credit, subject to supplier and bank acceptance.
Q: What documents does the importer normally receive?
A: The standard set includes a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, export declaration details, and vehicle documents. Requirements vary by country.
