Stories & guides
Used Car Inspection Checklist UAE
A practical pre-purchase sequence covering bodywork, mechanical and electronic checks, a safe test drive, vehicle history, paperwork and when to use an independent inspector.
Insights
Car news, explainers on models and technology, advice on choosing and maintaining a car, and practical guides to buying and importing a used car from China.
Stories & guides
Buying a Used Car in the UAE: How to Spot a Good Deal, Check History and Avoid Costly Mistakes
A buyer's process for comparing total value, checking records before negotiating, using an independent inspection and documenting the final transaction.
Stories & guides
Used Chinese Cars: What They Offer and What to Check Before Buying
Used Chinese cars can be worth considering, but “well equipped,” “hard to service” and “good value” are starting impressions, not conclusions about a particular vehicle. A buying guide from Renaissance Insurance emphasizes model differences, vehicle history and inspection.
Stories & guides
How to choose a used Chinese car with fewer surprises
Before paying, verify seller authority and match VIN, registration papers and contract. Use official checks in the car’s registration country. France’s HistoVec shows only part of administrative history; it is not a service record or mechanical inspection. Resolve ownership issues first.
Stories & guides
Trouble beneath the shine: what to inspect on a used car with a history
A polished exterior tells you little about condition A wash, polish and tidy cabin can make a car more appealing, but none proves that it has avoided an accident, structural repair or mechanical wear. Buyers do not need to reject every repainted panel, and they should not treat a spotless finish as evidence of reliability.
Stories & guides
How to inspect a used car before buying: a step-by-step guide
Check the identity and history before arranging a viewing Before travelling to see a car, ask the seller for the registration papers, VIN and available service or repair records. Use official checks offered where the vehicle is registered to look for relevant registration status, title restrictions or recorded history.
Stories & guides
CCR Algeria: bringing a vehicle back during a permanent return
CCR is a change-of-residence procedure, not a general import route The Certificate of Change of Residence, known by the French abbreviation CCR, is intended for Algerian nationals living abroad who are returning to Algeria permanently. It is separate from ordinary commercial imports and from the personal import procedure used by people who already reside in Algeria.
Stories & guides
What are Chinese electric-car warranties really worth?
Separate the different kinds of cover When comparing electric-car warranties, whole-vehicle cover and high-voltage battery cover are not the same promise. A vehicle warranty generally concerns defects in materials or workmanship and is limited by time, mileage, covered parts, and exclusions.
Stories & guides
Choosing an affordable Chinese car in France: how to read Autohero’s five picks
Start by checking the source and its scope Autohero’s buying-advice page lists five Chinese-brand or China-market-related models: the MG 3, MG ZS, MG EHS, Lynk & Co 01, and BYD Dolphin. The page says it was updated on 3 February 2026.
Stories & guides
How to buy a used car in France: a practical guide
Start with the record, while remembering what it leaves out Ask the seller to share the vehicle’s HistoVec report before arranging a viewing. It is generated from French registration records and can show administrative information such as first registration, ownership changes, certain reported accidents followed by a controlled repair process, and mileage recorded at technical inspections.
Stories & guides
Technical inspection when buying a used car in France: what the report can tell you
Separate the inspection report from the vehicle’s history Before viewing a used car in France, ask the seller for its HistoVec report and the technical-inspection report. They serve different purposes.
Stories & guides
How to Buy a Used Car from China, Step by Step
From choosing a car to clearing customs at home: each stage of buying a used car from China, what you receive along the way and what to check before you pay.
Buyer guides
How to buy a car from China
The six steps from choosing a car to collecting it at your port, and what you receive along the way.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers on buying, payment, inspection, shipping, documents and electric cars.
Payment and deposit
How to pay safely: a written proforma invoice first, the bank details to check, and where deposit terms are set out.
Prices and costs explained
The listed price is the FOB price in US dollars. It includes the car, inspection, export documents and customs clearance, domestic transport, port charges and service fee. CFR adds estimated ocean freight to the FOB price. CIF adds estimated cargo insurance to CFR. Import duties, taxes, destination charges, customs broker fees and registration costs are not included.
The 180-day date explained
How the date on each listing is calculated from the registration date, and where to find it.
How to choose a car
Match a car to your budget and how you will use it.
Used electric and hybrid cars
Battery health, charging standards and screen language: what to check before buying an electric or hybrid car from China.
Glossary of trade terms
FOB, CFR, CIF, RoRo, bill of lading and the other terms you will meet.