Payment Terms

Telegraphic Transfer (T/T): Deposit & Balance

Telegraphic Transfer, usually written as T/T, is a bank-to-bank wire and the most common way buyers pay us. We split it into stages so neither side carries all the risk at once. A deposit confirms the order, locks the price, and lets us start sourcing, inspecting, and refurbishing the trucks for export you selected. The balance is then paid against the shipping documents once the trucks are ready and loaded.

We never ask for the full amount in a single payment before anything is produced. A staged T/T keeps your money tied to real progress: you pay the deposit to commit, and you pay the rest only when there are documents and photos showing the trucks are loaded for your port. The exact split is agreed in writing on the proforma invoice before any money moves, so both sides know precisely what is due and when. If a supplier insists on full payment upfront, treat that as a warning sign rather than normal practice.

Wiring to a registered company account, not a personal one, is part of doing this safely. Your bank receipt, our proforma invoice, and the shipping documents together form a clear paper trail that protects both parties if a question ever comes up later.

Letter of Credit (L/C)

A Letter of Credit puts a bank in the middle of the deal as a neutral guarantor. Your bank issues the L/C in our favour, and we only get paid after we present documents that match the L/C terms exactly. If a single detail does not line up, the bank holds the money until it is corrected. That discipline protects you: payment is released against compliant proof of shipment, not a promise.

An L/C suits larger fleet orders where the value justifies the bank fees and the extra paperwork. For smaller orders, a staged T/T is usually faster and cheaper while still keeping your balance tied to documents. If you are weighing the two, our payment and L/C guide walks through how each one works and when it makes sense.

Why We Send Photos Before Final Payment

Before your trucks are sealed into the container or driven onto the vessel, we send you photos and video of the actual units. You see the bodywork, the tyres, the cab interior, the engine bay, the odometer, and the VIN or chassis plate. You can match every truck against the specifications on your order before you release the balance.

This step exists to protect you, not us. A buyer who can inspect the real goods before paying the final amount is a buyer in control. We would rather answer a question now, while the trucks are still in our yard, than have a surprise arrive at your port. Honest, transparent handling is how repeat customers are made, and it is the standard we hold ourselves to on every shipment.

What CIF Covers and What You Pay Locally

Most of our quotes are CIF, which stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight to your named destination port. Under CIF we arrange and pay for the ocean freight and the marine insurance that covers the trucks while they are at sea. The price you agree already includes getting the cargo to your port.

What happens after the trucks arrive is handled on your side. Customs clearance at the destination, import duties and taxes, any port handling charges, and inland transport from the port to your location are the buyer's responsibility. Duty and tax rates vary by country and by truck type, so we do not quote them; your local customs broker is the right person to confirm those figures for your market. Knowing this split upfront means there are no surprise costs after the vessel docks. Our shipping and delivery page explains the door-to-port journey in more detail.

Documents That Protect You

A clean set of shipping documents is what turns a payment into a protected transaction. Four core documents travel with every order. The bill of lading is the title to the cargo and proof that the trucks were loaded onto the vessel; it is the document that lets you claim the goods at the destination port. The commercial invoice states what you bought and the agreed value. The inspection certificate records the condition and specifications of the trucks before shipment. The packing list details exactly what is in each container.

Before you pay the balance, check these documents against your order. The truck count, models, chassis numbers, and values should all match what you agreed. If anything is inconsistent, raise it before the money moves, not after. With an L/C, the bank performs this matching for you; with a staged T/T, you do the check yourself, and we are happy to walk through each document with you.

Red Flags & Building Trust

A few patterns should make any importer pause. Be wary of a seller who demands 100% payment before anything is produced, who asks you to wire funds to a personal account instead of a registered company, or who quotes prices far below the market for a comparable second hand commercial truck. Refusing to provide a verifiable bill of lading or an inspection certificate is another serious warning sign; those documents are not optional extras, they are your protection.

The way to build trust is to start small. Place a first order you are comfortable with, or use a staged T/T so payment follows real progress. Verify the company, ask for the documents, and confirm the photos match your order before you settle the balance. A supplier confident in its trucks welcomes that scrutiny. Once a few shipments have gone smoothly, larger fleet orders and L/C terms become natural next steps. Our quality control process and our guide on how to inspect a used Chinese truck give you the tools to check for yourself.