Plain-language definitions of the shipping, customs and vehicle terms you will meet when importing a used car from China. Use this glossary as a quick reference while comparing quotes and working out your landed cost.
C
- CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight)
- An Incoterm where the seller pays the cost, insurance, and freight to bring goods to the buyer's destination port.
F
- FOB (Free On Board)
- An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods onboard the vessel and the buyer assumes cost and risk from that point.
L
- Landed Cost
- The total cost of getting a car from a Chinese port to your yard: FOB price plus freight, duty, taxes and clearing fees.
- LHD (Left-Hand Drive)
- A vehicle with the steering wheel on the left, driven on the right side of the road. All Chinese domestic cars are LHD.
R
- RoRo (Roll-on / Roll-off)
- A shipping method where vehicles are driven onto the vessel instead of being packed in a container. Usually cheaper per car, with less protection.