Shipping & Import Guide
How does the export process work, step by step?
A typical order takes about 5 to 12 weeks from inquiry to your port. About half of that is lead time in China and half is transit. These are the ten steps:
| Step | Typical timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inquiry | Day 0 | You send model, grade, colour, quantity, destination port and preferred Incoterm. |
| 2. Proforma invoice | Day 0–1 | We confirm stock or build slot, freight (for CFR/CIF) and issue the PI with price, lead time and validity. |
| 3. Deposit | Day 1–5 | You pay the 30% T/T deposit, or open an L/C at sight for larger orders. The lead time starts here. |
| 4. Production or allocation | 20–45 days | Stock colours are allocated from factory or dealer inventory; other colours and the 2026 model wait for a batch. |
| 5. Pre-shipment inspection | 2–5 days | Your inspector (or ours) checks VIN, grade, colour, mileage and condition at the warehouse or port. |
| 6. Export customs | 2–5 days | We file the China export declaration and the new-vehicle export documents. |
| 7. Loading | Vessel cut-off | Cars are driven onto the Ro-Ro vessel, lashed inside containers, or loaded onto rail wagons. |
| 8. Transit | 12–45 days | Depends on route and mode; see the transit table below. |
| 9. Balance and document release | During transit | You pay the 70% balance against the B/L copy; we release the original documents or a telex release. |
| 10. Destination clearance | Varies | Your customs broker clears the cars, pays duty and taxes, and arranges registration or homologation. |
Which Incoterm should I choose?
Choose CIF for your first order unless you already have a forwarder you trust, then choose FOB. The Incoterm decides who pays each cost and where the risk passes. All terms below follow ICC Incoterms 2020.
| Term | Risk passes | Who pays what | When to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Our warehouse in China | Buyer: inland transport, export clearance, loading, freight, insurance | Rarely used for cars; export clearance must be done by a Chinese exporter |
| FOB | On board at China port | Seller: inland transport, export clearance, loading. Buyer: freight and insurance | Our default quote; good if you have your own forwarder |
| CFR | On board at China port | Seller: FOB costs plus ocean freight. Buyer: insurance, destination costs | Simple freight; you should still insure |
| CIF | On board at China port | Seller: CFR plus marine insurance. Buyer: destination costs | Most common for first orders |
| DAP | Named place at destination | Seller: transport to the named place. Buyer: import clearance, duty, taxes | Quoted case by case, mainly for rail to Central Asia |
Under every term, import duty, VAT and destination port charges stay with the buyer unless the contract says otherwise. Prices for each term are explained on Prices & Export Quotes.
Should I ship by Ro-Ro, container or rail?
Ship Ro-Ro for five or more cars to a port with regular car-carrier calls, use 40HQ containers for small or mixed lots, and use rail for landlocked Central Asia. We load from Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangzhou.
| Mode | Units | Pros | Cons | Typical routes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ro-Ro vessel | From 1 unit; best from 5+ | Low cost per car, no container fees, fast loading | Fixed sailings; fewer ports served; cars travel on open decks | Shanghai, Tianjin or Guangzhou to GCC, Africa and Latin America |
| 40HQ container | 2–3 SUVs, mixed models allowed | Sealed and secure; reaches almost any port; can add spare parts | Higher cost per car; lashing and loading take time | Any main Chinese port to ports without Ro-Ro calls |
| Rail freight | Wagon or container lots | Fast to landlocked markets; no sea leg | Border handovers and gauge change; capacity varies by season | Via Khorgos or Alashankou to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan |
International shipping safety and cargo rules are set through the International Maritime Organization (IMO); carriers apply them, and we follow the carrier's rules on fuel level, battery and loose items.
How long is transit to my region?
Transit ranges from about two weeks by rail to Central Asia to about seven weeks to the Caribbean. The figures below are approximate port-to-port or border times and change with sailing schedules and transhipment.
| Region | Usual route | Approximate transit |
|---|---|---|
| Central Asia (rail) | Rail via Khorgos / Alashankou | About 12–20 days |
| Caucasus | Rail to Central Asia, then Caspian or road; or sea via Black Sea ports | About 25–40 days |
| GCC & Middle East | Ro-Ro or container from Shanghai, Tianjin or Guangzhou | About 20–30 days |
| North & West Africa | Ro-Ro or container | About 25–35 days, longer with transhipment |
| Latin America (Pacific coast) | Ro-Ro or container across the Pacific | About 30–45 days |
| Caribbean | Container, often with transhipment | About 35–50 days |
Which documents come with the cars?
Every shipment comes with a standard document set. Your customs broker will ask for most of these:
- Commercial invoice with VIN numbers, unit price and Incoterm.
- Packing list with VINs, engine numbers, colours and container or deck details.
- Bill of lading (sea) or railway consignment note (rail).
- Certificate of origin, in the form your country accepts.
- China export licence and new-vehicle export documents, filed by us as exporter.
- Certificate of conformity (COC) or other homologation papers, where the factory issues them for your market.
- Insurance certificate for CIF shipments.
- Inspection certificate, if a pre-shipment inspection was done.
Who inspects the cars before shipment?
You can appoint any independent inspection company, and we give them full access to the cars. Common choices are SGS, Bureau Veritas and Intertek. A typical check covers VIN and engine numbers, model and grade, colour, odometer reading, paint and body condition, and a short function test. Some countries require inspection under a specific government programme before the cars leave China. Tell us at the PI stage so we can book it before the vessel cut-off.
What should I check in my country before ordering?
Check import rules with your customs broker and transport authority before you pay the deposit. We cannot give duty or tax rates for your country. Use this list:
- Import licence. Some countries require a licence or dealer registration to import cars.
- Homologation and type approval. Check which technical rules apply. Many countries use UNECE vehicle regulations or a regional standard, and some need a COC or local test.
- Emissions standard. Check the level your country requires, for example Euro 5 or Euro 6 equivalency, and ask us to confirm the export build meets it.
- Vehicle age limits. Our cars are new, so age limits for used imports should not apply, but verify how your country defines a new car.
- Steering side. We supply left-hand drive only.
- Local distributor rights. Where Changan has an official distributor, check local rules on parallel imports and warranty. See Markets.
- Duty, VAT and fees. Get a written estimate from your broker for the model and engine size.
Plan your first shipment
Tell us your port or border crossing and quantity. We will suggest the mode and Incoterm and quote freight. For what else we handle, see Services.