The purpose of this worksheet is to turn a broad model-name search into a decision that can be checked, quoted and handed over without silently changing assumptions.
Choose the valuation basis
Ask the destination broker which value, currency date, freight and insurance components enter customs calculations. Do not reuse an online duty example from another model, year or importer.
Record: Save the source, capture date and VIN reference beside this finding so another candidate cannot inherit it by mistake.
List China-side costs
Separate vehicle, inspection, diagnostics, service, repair, exporter fees, inland transport, documents, terminal and loading. This reveals whether two exporters are quoting the same scope.
Record: Enter the verified value and the evidence owner. If the seller supplied the answer, label it seller-stated until independently checked.
Use a dated freight line
Record port pair, method, quoted date, currency, included charges and validity. Add insurance and any predictable transshipment or container handling rather than rounding them into the vehicle value.
Record: Record what was inspected, what remained inaccessible and who performed the check; silence is an open item, not a pass.
Model destination charges
Include duty, VAT or equivalent tax, excise where applicable, broker, port, storage allowance, inspection, registration modifications and inland delivery. Obtain professional confirmation for classification-sensitive items.
Record: Note every destination assumption behind this conclusion and reopen it when the port, buyer country or registration route changes.
Stress-test the budget
Change exchange rate, freight, storage days and repair allowance to see which assumptions matter. A small table of low, working and high cases is more honest than a falsely exact total.
Record: Attach the supporting photograph, report page or document reference and preserve the original language where translation could alter meaning.
Update when the VIN changes
A replacement candidate can change age, engine output, emissions, value, size, condition and document route. Recalculate instead of transferring the original landed-cost sheet unchanged.
Record: State the commercial consequence: accept, reject, reprice or request more evidence, together with the person responsible and deadline.
Close the note with a decision record
Write the selected candidate, rejected alternatives, evidence reviewed, unresolved questions, responsible person and next deadline. If another vehicle replaces the candidate, reopen identity, inspection, cost and destination checks. A copied conclusion is not valid for a different VIN.
- Choose the valuation basis: confirmed / open / not applicable
- List China-side costs: confirmed / open / not applicable
- Use a dated freight line: confirmed / open / not applicable
- Model destination charges: confirmed / open / not applicable
- Stress-test the budget: confirmed / open / not applicable
- Update when the VIN changes: confirmed / open / not applicable
Questions buyers should still ask
Choose the valuation basis: what should the buyer retain?
Retain the dated document, image or test result that closes “Choose the valuation basis”, together with the VIN and the name of the person who supplied or checked it. A listing label alone is not sufficient evidence.
List China-side costs: what should the buyer retain?
For “List China-side costs”, write down what is verified and what remains an assumption. An open point may be acceptable, but it must stay visible in the price, inspection scope or handover conditions.
Use a dated freight line: what should the buyer retain?
Recheck “Use a dated freight line” if the vehicle, destination, route or responsible supplier changes. Conclusions belong to the candidate and dated evidence set; they should not be copied to a replacement VIN.