Chinnese Used Car Buying Checklist: What Documents Should You Check Before Making Payment?

When importing used cars from China, a full set of strict verification procedures must be completed before payment is confirmed. Many overseas buyers easily fall into common pitfalls: odometer-tampered vehicles, accident-repaired cars, water-damaged units, vehicles with outstanding property rights mortgages, and illegally modified ones. If these hidden risks are not identified in advance, they will not only cause financial losses, but may also lead to failed customs clearance and ineligibility for vehicle registration in the destination country.

Whether you are buying a used car from a private seller, a car dealership, or sourcing a vehicle from an overseas market, conducting a thorough inspection before making payment is a critical step to making a smart purchasing decision.

Then, exactly what aspects should be inspected before purchasing a used car?

I. Verification of Official Property Rights Documents

This set of documents is used to confirm that the vehicle has a legitimate origin, is free of property rights disputes, and qualifies for export.

Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate (Green Book | Chinese Version Title)

Focus on checking the following items:

• Registered Owner: The owner stated on the certificate must be consistent with the seller; if purchasing via an agent, a complete power of attorney shall be provided.

• Encumbrance and Discharge: Confirm that there are no outstanding encumbrances. If an encumbrance exists without being discharged, the vehicle cannot undergo export deregistration properly, and customs declaration cannot be arranged.

• Seizure and Lock: Confirm that the vehicle has not been seized or locked by a court, public security organ or regulatory authority. If there is any freezing record, the export process will be terminated directly.

• Usage Nature: Must be marked as "non-commercial". Leased vehicles, ride-hailing cars and other commercial vehicles suffer greater wear and tear, with batteries and chassis aging much faster, making them unsuitable for export.

• Transfer Record: Check the "Transfer Registration", which refers to the vehicle transfer history. The fewer transfer times, the better; if there are multiple cross-regional transfers in a short period of time, you need to be on high alert.

• VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): Verify that the vehicle identification code on the certificate is completely consistent with that marked on all parts of the vehicle body.

Reminder: Vehicles with unreleased collateral cannot legally undergo the procedures for used car export.

Vehicle License

The vehicle license is equivalent to the "road access permit" for a vehicle. It is necessary to confirm that:

• within the validity period of the inspection;

• No large number of outstanding traffic violations;

• The VIN, color and model specified on the vehicle license shall be consistent with those of the actual vehicle.

• VIN "Four-Code Alignment":

  • ① Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate (Green Book)

  • ② Motor Vehicle Driving License

  • ③ Bottom left corner of the front windshield

  • ④ B-pillar / Original Engine Compartment Nameplate

P. S.: If there is any discrepancy anywhere, it indicates that the vehicle may have altered codes, be assembled from mismatched parts or bear a false license plate, and the purchase should be abandoned directly.

II. Vehicle History Documentation

Maintenance Record (Service Shop Maintenance Report)

Retrieved via VIN, used to view:

• Check whether the mileage is continuous without sudden jumps (to prevent odometer tampering).

• Check whether the motor, battery, gearbox and chassis have undergone major overhaul or component replacement.

• BYD EV / DM-i: Confirm whether the battery pack and electronic control unit have been repaired.

Insurance Claim Report

To troubleshoot major damage, it is necessary to confirm the following:

• No major collision or structural repair claims.

• No large-scale payouts related to water immersion or fire incidents.

Even if their appearance has been restored, such vehicles are highly prone to problems during inspection and vehicle registration in the destination country.

Third-party test report

Exported used cars usually come with an independent inspection report, which is particularly critical for electric vehicles. The report shall include:

• Inspection of paint finish, structural components, cutting and welding.

• Chassis upper frame inspection (battery pack, suspension, side member).

• Cross-verify the mileage and wear conditions.

• Battery diagnosis (state of health, cycle data, fault codes).

• Test results for electrical appliances, assisted driving systems, and sensors.

III. Documents Related to Transactions and Exports

Export Sales Contract

For cross-border transactions, a formal export contract must be signed. It is recommended to specify the following in the contract:

• No major accidents, no water flooding damage, no fire damage, and no odometer tampering.

• The vehicle is eligible for legal export and can go through deregistration and customs declaration procedures.

• If the product does not match the inspection report, the terms for return, exchange and refund shall be agreed upon.

• The milestones for down payment, balance payment, shipment, and document delivery.

Owner's identification certificate

For privately-owned vehicles: ID card of the registered owner; for company-owned vehicles: business license and power of attorney, which are used to verify that the seller has the right to dispose of the vehicle.

Keys and Vehicle Documentation

Although it is not a mandatory document for customs declaration, it is recommended to confirm it together.

• Two original vehicle keys (one missing will increase the matching cost).

• Maintenance manual, repair documentation, charging gun (for electric vehicles).

• Original manufacturer parts and modification filing certificate (if any modification is made).

IV. Preparatory Documents for Export Customs Clearance Support

These are generally provided when the balance payment is made and the shipment is arranged, but it is necessary to confirm that they can be issued normally at the contract signing stage.

IV. Supporting Pre-Documents for Export Customs Clearance

These documents are generally provided when the final payment is made and the shipment is arranged, but it is necessary to confirm that they can be issued normally at the contract signing stage.

Export Cancellation Certificate

Issued by the Vehicle Administration Office upon completion of the deregistration for used car export, it is one of the core documents for overseas customs clearance and vehicle registration.

Commercial Invoice, Packing List

Used for customs declaration and import declaration in the destination country.

Archived Vehicle Photos and Videos

Be sure to obtain a complete set of creatives for filing before making payment:

• Close-up shots of the vehicle registration certificate, driving license, nameplate, and VIN.

• Real shots of the vehicle's entire exterior, interior, chassis and battery pack.

• Odometer reading, diagnostic interface, and battery health screenshots.

In case any dispute arises after the arrival of the goods at the port, this set of footage will serve as the most important evidence to support one's claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is China's "green booklet" the same as the vehicle ownership certificate in my country?

Yes. The Motor Vehicle Registration Certificate (commonly known as the "Green Book") is equivalent to what is commonly referred to as a "Title" in the markets of North America, Georgia, and Central Asia. It records the complete ownership history of the vehicle, including its original information, transfer of ownership, mortgage, and modifications.

However, there is one key difference: once the export deregistration of the used car is completed, the Vehicle Administration Office will take back the original certificate. What will be delivered to you is a complete set of documents including high-definition scanned copies, deregistration certificates, inspection reports, battery diagnosis reports, etc. , which are used for customs clearance, registration and license plate application in the destination country.

If there is still a mortgage, is it still possible to proceed with the export?

No.

As long as there is a "mortgage registration" on the green title certificate and no "mortgage release" endorsement, the export deregistration and customs declaration cannot be processed. Even if the seller tells you that "the loan has been paid off", you must confirm that the mortgage release has been completed in the registration column. This is one of the most common pitfalls when purchasing used cars in China.

What does "transfer registration" mean?

It's just the transfer of ownership.

Each "transfer registration" indicates that the actual owner of the vehicle has changed. The "number of owners" that overseas clients care about refers exactly to this statistic.

Note: Spousal name change, replacement of vehicle certificate, and color modification recordation fall under "change registration" and will not be counted in the number of ownership transfers.

When buying a used electric vehicle, which items should be prioritized for thorough inspection?

In addition to the routine checks for accidents, water damage and chassis conditions, new energy vehicles have several unique inspection items.

• Battery Diagnosis

• Drive Motor and Electronic Control

• Charging System

• Assisted driving and sensors.

Remember the safety principles for purchasing used cars in China in one sentence

First confirm that the formalities are in good order, then verify the vehicle's history; obtain an independent inspection report before confirming the actual vehicle; make payments in stages only after the export qualification, deregistration procedures and contract terms are all fully implemented.

For overseas importers, the top priority is not securing an attractive low price, but ensuring that the vehicle in question has clear ownership, no major structural damage, genuine mileage, a healthy battery condition, and can smoothly go through export customs clearance, ocean freight and registration in the destination country.