Separate the truck price from the delivery scope
Two quotations with different totals may not cover the same responsibilities. Before comparing prices, confirm the selected vehicle, condition, refurbishment, loading port, destination port, quantity, shipment method, validity date and named Incoterm.
Incoterms describe delivery responsibilities between buyer and seller; they do not automatically describe vehicle quality, payment safety, import eligibility or every local charge. Those points still need separate written agreement and destination-country advice.
- Selected truck or production specification
- Condition and preparation
- Named ports and quantity
- Trade term and validity date
What an FOB quotation normally needs to identify
Under an FOB quotation, the seller's stated scope should take the goods to the named Chinese port and place them on board under the agreed term. The buyer normally arranges the main ocean transport and insurance, subject to the contract and applicable Incoterms version.
Ask the quotation to show whether Chinese inland transport, export handling, terminal costs, loading method and documentation are included. A headline vehicle price is not automatically an FOB price.
- Named Chinese loading port
- Inland and export handling
- Loading method
- Documents included
How CFR and CIF differ from FOB
A CFR quotation adds the seller-arranged ocean freight to the named destination port. A CIF quotation also includes insurance at the contractual level. In both cases, destination customs clearance, taxes, port charges, storage and inland delivery may remain outside the quoted amount.
Insurance coverage and claim procedures deserve specific attention. Ask for the insurer, coverage basis, insured value and documents rather than assuming that the word CIF protects every type of loss or damage.
- Ocean freight
- Insurance basis for CIF
- Destination charges excluded
- Customs and inland delivery responsibility
Request an itemized, time-limited shipping offer
Ocean freight changes with route, vessel schedule, vehicle dimensions, fuel charges and market conditions. A useful CFR or CIF quotation names the destination port and validity date and distinguishes freight assumptions from the truck price.
Confirm whether the truck ships by RoRo, container, flat rack or breakbulk and whether partial disassembly, fuel reduction, battery isolation or special packing is required. The shipping condition should match the acceptance and reassembly plan.
- Freight validity
- RoRo, container or breakbulk
- Packing or disassembly
- Estimated schedule assumptions
Compare landed cost without hiding uncertainty
Create one comparison table with the truck, refurbishment, inland delivery, export handling, ocean freight, insurance, destination port charges, customs, taxes and onward transport. Mark every unknown instead of treating it as zero.
Use a qualified broker or importer at the destination to confirm current rules and local costs for the exact vehicle. A supplier can explain its own quotation scope but should not replace destination-country legal or customs advice.
- Known supplier charges
- Estimated freight
- Destination charges
- Taxes and onward transport