A clean title check has three layers. First, run the VIN through maintenance records: dealers in China log service visits with mileage, and gaps or mileage rollbacks are red flags. Second, pull insurance claim history — major accidents, fire and flood damage usually leave claim records even if the car was repaired well. Third, verify registration status: confirm the car is not under finance, court seizure, or theft report. From overseas, you can engage a local inspection agency or law firm to retrieve these records and issue a written report. Cross-check the VIN and engine number on the report against the registration certificate; any mismatch means walk away.

Unless the previous owner retained the original parts and provided them to us, we usually keep the existing modifications and clearly state in the report "includes non-original modifications." Since the standards for illegal modifications vary by country, buyers should assess whether these modifications can legally pass inspection in their destination country.

Chinese passenger cars produced after 2005 have fully transitioned to asbestos-free brake pads, clutch plates, and gaskets. However, for export to countries with strict regulations, buyers must pay for sampling and testing by a NATA-accredited laboratory before shipment, and obtain an asbestos-free certificate.