A Chinese car export quote is useful only when it identifies the exact vehicle, the delivery scope and the costs you will still have to pay. Two offers for the same model can cover different trims, battery arrangements, shipping routes or destination charges. Comparing the headline price alone can leave you with an incomplete budget.
Use this checklist to request comparable quotations before committing to an order. It applies to individual buyers, dealers and fleet enquiries. Vehicle eligibility and local charges still need to be confirmed for the exact destination.
1. Match the model, trim and vehicle condition
Start with one written specification for every supplier. Include the manufacturer, model year, exact trim, powertrain, steering position, quantity and required equipment. For a used or already registered vehicle, request the VIN, registration history, odometer reading and available inspection records. For an unallocated new order, establish when the VIN and final equipment list will be supplied.
A range figure in a model name is not a substitute for a specification. For example, the 2025 XPeng G7 702 Max has an equipment-dependent CLTC rating. A quotation for the 2025 ONVO L90 RWD six-seat should clarify the trim and battery ownership. Ask suppliers to price the same requirement.
2. Write the trade term and the named place
FOB, CFR, CIF and FCA describe different delivery arrangements. Put the chosen rule, the precise named port or handover point, and the version in writing, for example “FCA [agreed terminal], Incoterms® 2020.” A three-letter label without a place leaves an important part of the quotation unclear.
| Rule | Main arrangement | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FCA | Seller completes export clearance and delivers at the agreed carrier handover point. | Exact handover point, loading responsibility and buyer-arranged main freight. |
| FOB | Seller completes export clearance and loads the goods aboard the vessel at the named departure port. | Buyer-arranged main freight and cargo insurance; use for sea or inland waterway transport. |
| CFR | Seller pays freight to the named destination port; risk normally passes aboard the vessel at origin. | Cargo insurance and destination import costs. |
| CIF | Seller pays freight and arranges the required insurance to the named destination port; risk normally passes aboard the vessel at origin. | Insurance coverage and exclusions, plus destination import costs. |
ICC Academy explains that FCA suits container and multimodal transport. FOB, CFR and CIF are maritime rules. Ask your freight provider which rule fits the actual handover and route. Under CFR and CIF, the place to which freight is paid is different from the point at which transport risk passes.
3. Separate the price into costs you can compare
Request an itemized quotation with a currency, validity date and quantity basis. Where an amount is still provisional, ask what determines the final charge. Use the same list for each offer:
- Vehicle price and any selected options.
- Collection or inland transport in China.
- Agreed inspection and vehicle preparation.
- Export documentation and handling.
- Terminal handling, loading, securing or container arrangements.
- Main freight and any stated carrier surcharges.
- Cargo insurance, if arranged.
- Destination port handling, broker services and inland delivery.
- Import duties, taxes, approval and registration costs.
Some items may be included in another line, payable directly to a local provider or excluded from the supplier’s scope. Label them clearly to avoid counting the same charge twice. Ask your destination broker for the remaining local estimate before deciding which offer has the lower total cost.
4. Confirm insurance and inspection separately
CIF includes a seller insurance obligation, but that does not automatically mean every kind of damage is covered. Request the policy details, insured value, coverage period, exclusions, deductible and claims procedure. For the other rules above, identify who will arrange cover and when it begins. An insurance arrangement is separate from a vehicle condition inspection.
For the inspection, agree the checks to be performed and the records to be delivered. Request photographs, recorded findings and a process for handling issues before shipment. Review our vehicle inspection service for the enquiry information needed to establish the scope.
5. Check destination requirements before payment
Provide the proposed vehicle specification and available documents to your local importer or customs broker. Ask them to confirm eligibility, document requirements, duties, taxes and registration steps. An export quotation does not establish that a particular China-market vehicle can be registered in every country.
For an EV, include the charging connection, supported charging equipment, software language, connected services and local warranty or repair arrangements in the enquiry. For a vehicle with a battery subscription, establish the battery ownership and contract position. Do these checks for the quoted vehicle rather than relying on a general brand description.
6. Ask for a timetable with separate stages
Request estimates for sourcing or stock preparation, inspection, documents, carrier booking, departure and transit. Then add the destination broker’s clearance estimate. Ask which dates are estimates, what is still unconfirmed and how you will receive updates if the schedule changes. Read our vehicle shipping and logistics service page when preparing the route enquiry.
A request you can send to compare quotations
Please quote [model, model year and exact trim], [quantity], for [destination country and port]. State the vehicle condition, battery ownership where relevant, currency and quote validity. Please itemize the vehicle, inspection, export handling, freight and insurance costs, identify the trade term and named place, and list destination charges and other exclusions. Please also confirm the available documents and estimated preparation and shipping timetable.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CIF car quote include import tax?
CIF concerns freight and insurance arrangements. It does not by itself include destination import clearance, duties, taxes or vehicle registration. Check the quotation and obtain the destination costs separately.
Is FOB always better than FCA for shipping a car?
The actual transport and handover determine the appropriate rule. FCA can suit a container or multimodal shipment; FOB uses delivery aboard a vessel. Confirm the arrangement with the freight provider.
Can I use a China launch price as my import budget?
Request a current quotation for the exact version and order. Add the quoted services and remaining destination costs, and confirm the currency and validity. A domestic launch price is only a reference point.
Related buying checks
To turn this comparison into an acceptance record, use the vehicle-specific landed-cost worksheet. Keep the vehicle price, origin services, freight, insurance and destination charges in separate dated lines before comparing the total.
Request an itemized vehicle export quote
Send your model, trim, quantity and destination to Auto From China. We can assess availability and the agreed sourcing, inspection and shipping scope. You can also review our vehicle import order process before preparing the enquiry.
References: ICC Academy’s FCA and FOB explanation, CFR and CIF explanation, and guidance on the limits of Incoterms rules. Use the agreed sales contract and the full rule for the transaction; payment, quality and ownership provisions also need to be stated.