How do I check a car imported from China before I buy it?

The VIN: what the 17 characters tell you

The VIN has 17 characters. The first three form the manufacturer code (WMI). On cars made in China, the first character is "L". The 10th character shows the model year: R for 2024, S for 2025, T for 2026. The 9th is a check digit, calculated from the others, which catches many copying errors.

Look for the VIN in at least three places: on the body, on the plate under the windshield, and in the papers. On many Chinese cars it also appears on the central screen or in the app. They must all be identical. If they are not, you stop there.

The WMI code does not tell you everything: some groups use several codes, and a code can be registered to another company in the same group. Use it as a common-sense check: a BYD with a VIN that does not start with a BYD code needs explaining.

Mileage, accidents, and water

Compare the odometer reading with the data in the car's app, with the service history, and with the wear on the tires, pedals, and steering wheel. Even manufacturers take the subject seriously: BYD's warranty excludes cars with a tampered odometer or whose mileage cannot be verified.

The same warranty excludes flood damage, water ingress from driving through deep water, and cars declared a total loss by insurers. These are exactly the risks you need to look for in an imported car.

Signs of water: dampness or mud under the carpets, rust on the seat rails and on the bolts under the dashboard, oxidized electrical connectors, a musty smell. Signs of an accident: uneven gaps between panels, mismatched paint, new welds, replaced airbags or seat belts. On electric cars and hybrids, also look at the battery casing under the floor: dents and deep scratches there matter more than on a gasoline car.

"Zero-mileage used cars" and China's 2026 rules

Many Chinese cars go abroad as "zero-mileage used cars": they are registered once in China and immediately exported as used cars. In 2024, 436,000 cars were exported this way, and industry estimates say 70–80% of cars exported as used are of this type.

Since January 1, 2026, a car exported within 180 days of its first registration must have an after-sales service confirmation issued by the manufacturer, with the destination country, the car's details, and the manufacturer's stamp. Also since January 1, 2026, China requires an export license for pure electric cars; plug-in hybrids are not covered by this rule. The authorities explained the measure by complaints about cars sold abroad through unauthorized channels, with limited updates and poor service.

For you, this means two questions. Through which channel did the car leave China? And, if it was registered there less than 180 days before export, is there a confirmation from the manufacturer? Also keep in mind that the car already had a first owner in China, and warranty benefits reserved for the first owner are no longer yours.

The battery: how to check its state of health (SOH)

SOH (state of health) shows how much capacity the battery still has compared with when it was new. As a reference, BYD guarantees in Australia that the battery keeps at least 70% of its capacity for 8 years or 160,000 km. On a nearly new car with low mileage, SOH should be close to the original; a big drop is a warning sign.

The most reliable method is a reading with a diagnostic tool from the unit that manages the battery (BMS). Besides SOH, ask for the stored fault codes, the voltage difference between cells, and the insulation test result. Some cars also show battery information in menus or in the app, but not all of them, and not always SOH.

You can do a simple test yourself: charge the car, for example from 20% to 80%, and compare the energy received, as shown by the charger, with the battery's stated capacity. The result is only indicative, because some energy is lost during charging. The check matters for plug-in hybrids and EREVs too, not just for electric cars.

Built for China: charging plug, language, apps

The plug is the first thing to check on an electric car or plug-in hybrid. In China, DC charging uses the GB/T 20234 standard, while Europe uses Type 2 (AC) and CCS2 (DC). Chinese versions usually have GB/T sockets, while export versions for Europe have CCS2. Look under the charging flap, not in the spec sheet.

In Moldova, GB/T chargers are few. At the EV Point fast-charging hub at 27 Mihai Viteazul St. in Chișinău, only the two 120 kW chargers also have a GB/T plug; the 150 kW ones have CCS and CHAdeMO. For a car with GB/T, ask which adapter you get, for AC and for DC, what power it supports, and how you will charge at home.

Then the software. A car for the Chinese market has menus, a voice assistant, maps, and apps designed for China, and OTA updates come from servers in China. In other markets, some brands have limited the app to officially sold cars: in Kazakhstan, the Zeekr app launched in 2024 only for cars from official dealers. Ask for a demonstration on the specific car: the menu language, navigation, the app on your phone, and what happens with updates.

Customs and registration in Moldova: papers and taxes in 2026

At customs, the Customs Service asks for the owner's ID, the proof of ownership (contract, invoice, or payment document), a power of attorney if applicable, and the car's registration certificate. Age is calculated from the year of manufacture, and import duties depend on age, engine displacement, and customs value.

In 2026, electric cars are exempt from excise duty, plug-in hybrids get a 50% excise reduction, and conventional hybrids 25%. There is also a customs processing fee of 0.4% of the customs value, but no more than €1,800. Passenger car imports are exempt from VAT under Art. 103(1)(24) of the Tax Code.

The rules change from 2027. In June 2026, the Minister of Finance announced 20% VAT on car imports from January 1, 2027. The fiscal policy draft put out for consultation in August 2026 also proposes a per-kilogram excise duty for electric cars and a reduction of only 25% for plug-in hybrids. The draft has not been adopted, and the details may change.

At ASP, for the first registration of an imported car you need the application, the proof of ownership, your ID, the import customs document, proof of payment, and the vehicle identification report (RIV), drawn up by an expert after inspecting the car on a lift or over a pit. The standard fee is 1,140 lei, excluding plates. Separately, in July 2026 Parliament voted on a draft law on type approval: if it takes effect as planned, from January 1, 2029, imported vehicles will go through individual approval before being placed on the market.

The warranty: what transfers to you and what doesn't

The factory warranty is tied to the market and the channel through which the car was sold. At BYD, in China, the lifetime warranty on the battery cells is for the first owner only and requires servicing at BYD dealers and verification in the official app. At Li Auto, the terms run from delivery of the new car, and extended benefits are lost when ownership changes. In other countries, official distributors explicitly exclude cars brought in through other channels, as BYD does in Australia.

A nearly new car from China already has a first owner, and the warranty clock started at the first delivery. That's why you should ask for the seller's warranty in writing and read what it covers for the high-voltage battery.

Examples from our catalog

• BYD Sealion 05BYD plug-in hybrid: the VIN should start with a BYD code (LGX or LC0). It is not covered by the export license for pure electric cars.
• Geely Galaxy E5Pure electric: since 2026 it falls under China's export license. Check the charging plug and the channel through which it left China.
• Zeekr 007Electric car for the Chinese market: check the plug (GB/T or CCS2), the app, and what updates it receives in Moldova.
• LiXiang L6EREV with no official importer in Moldova: the Li Auto warranty runs from delivery in China, and extended benefits are lost when ownership changes.
• Xiaomi SU7 MaxA car built only for the Chinese market: the language, the app, and charging are worth checking carefully.

In stock now

A selection of cars we have in stock right now, across all brands, with the final price in Moldova: shipping, customs and registration included.

BYD Seal 052025 · new · Plug-in hybrid€14,490In stockGeely Galaxy Starship 72024 · 29,000 km · Plug-in hybrid€18,990In stockBYD Sealion 052025 · new · Plug-in hybrid€18,990In stockGeely Galaxy L72026 · 2,700 km · Plug-in hybrid€22,990In stockVoyah Free2023 · 40,000 km · EREV · 4x4€27,190In stockLiXiang L62024 · 32,000 km · EREV · 4x4€32,990In stock

All cars in stock

Stock changes daily. As of October 5, 2026.

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