Buy car parts from China without the guesswork
Most buyers do not struggle to find a Chinese factory. They struggle to know what happens after they send the enquiry. This page walks through a real order from first list to delivered pallet, so you can see exactly what you are signing up for before you commit a cent.
The part is the easy bit. The terms are what decide your margin.
Two factories can quote the same brake disc within a few cents of each other and leave you with completely different landed costs. One price is EXW at the factory gate. The other includes inland transport to the port. One includes the export carton, the other charges for it later. One holds the price for thirty days, the other for a week.
When you buy car parts from China through us, the quote you receive is written so those differences are visible. You see the unit price, the incoterm it applies to, the minimum quantity behind it and how long it stands. If a factory will not put that in writing, we do not send you their number.
What actually happens between your enquiry and your pallet
1. Your list, priced
Send part numbers, an OEM reference, photos or even a scribbled list. We come back with factory pricing, minimums and lead times, usually inside one business day.
2. Samples where it matters
For a part you have not bought before, order samples first. It costs little and it settles fit, finish and packaging before you commit to a full batch.
3. Order confirmed in writing
You approve a proforma invoice listing every line, the quantity, the price, the incoterm and the delivery window. That document is what the factory is held to.
4. Deposit, then production
A deposit starts production. Most factories work to thirty percent up front, with the balance due once the goods pass inspection and before they leave China.
5. Inspection before payment
We check the finished batch against your order, count it, and photograph it. If something is wrong it gets fixed in China, while the factory still has your balance to earn.
6. Consolidation and shipping
Parts from several factories come into one warehouse, get combined into one shipment and go out under a single bill of lading with the documents your customs broker needs.
The real answer on MOQ is almost never the one on the website
Published minimums are an opening position. A factory that lists one thousand pieces will often run three hundred if the order sits inside a production run they have already scheduled, or if the colour and packaging match something they are making anyway.
Mixed orders change the maths again. Twenty different service items at modest quantities each can add up to a container that any decent factory will take seriously, even though no single line would have cleared their minimum on its own.
Send the whole list rather than one line at a time. We would rather tell you that four of your twenty items are not economical yet than quietly price them at a level that kills your margin.
How payment normally works
Bank transfer against a proforma invoice is still the standard for factory orders, typically a deposit to begin and the balance against inspection. For a first order with a new supplier, that split matters more than the discount you negotiated, because the balance is your leverage.
Letters of credit make sense on large orders where your bank wants the protection, though many smaller factories will price them higher to cover the handling. For small sample orders, card or a low value transfer is usually simpler than either.
Whatever the method, payment goes against documents you have seen. You get the invoice, the packing list, the inspection photos and the bill of lading. Nothing is released on a verbal promise.
What every quote from us contains
- Unit price with the incoterm it applies to, EXW, FOB or CIF
- The minimum quantity that price depends on
- Lead time for production, separate from shipping time
- Packaging, carton size and how many pieces per carton
- The HS code we expect your customs to use
- Our commission, agreed before you order, not buried in the price
- How long the price holds
Questions buyers ask before the first order
Can I buy car parts from China in small quantities to start?
Yes, and we would encourage it. A first order that fits on a pallet tells you more about a supplier than any amount of email. Once you know the parts arrive as promised, scale up with confidence.
Do I need my own import licence?
In most countries a business can import parts without a special licence, though you will need a customs registration number and a broker. We prepare the documents in the form your broker expects and can talk to them directly if that is easier.
What if the parts arrive wrong?
That is what inspection before the balance payment is for, and it catches almost everything. If a problem still gets through, we take it back to the factory with the photos and the order documents and press for replacement or credit on your behalf.
How long from order to delivery?
Production is commonly two to four weeks depending on the part and the season. Sea freight then depends on your port, rail is a middle option to much of Europe and Central Asia, and air is there when a customer is waiting.
Can I visit the factory before I order?
You can, and buyers who do tend to order with more confidence afterwards. We arrange the visits, handle the travel between plants and translate. If you cannot travel, we go and send you the video and the report.
Can I put my own brand on the parts?
On many service items, yes. Custom cartons, labels and part numbers are routine at moderate volumes. Tell us early, because packaging artwork usually needs longer than the parts themselves.
Price your first order
Send the list. We come back with real factory pricing, honest minimums and the lead time you should plan around.
- No cost and no obligation
- Real manufacturer prices
- An answer within one business day
Request a wholesale quote
Tell us what you need. We reply within one business day with factory pricing and lead times.