The car has arrived and inspection reveals scratches, dents or even a cracked window. Whether you get compensated often depends on what you do in the first twenty minutes at the port.
1. Four Things to Do at Pickup
| Action | Key point |
|---|---|
| 1. Inspect before signing | Physically check the vehicle before signing any receipt |
| 2. Photograph and film | Wide shots, damage close-ups, vessel/container number, seal number — all at once |
| 3. Note it on the receipt | Write "damage found" and get the driver or port staff to countersign |
| 4. Notify the same day | Written notice to seller, carrier and insurer — the sooner the better |
The golden rule: no damage note on the delivery receipt means you confirmed good delivery, and claims get much harder afterwards.
2. Who Pays: Identify the Leg First
- Damaged before loading: the seller or pre-shipment leg — factory and loading photos are key evidence.
- Damage at sea: claim against the carrier or insurer, depending on your cover.
- Unloading and inland transport: port handling or the trucking carrier, per the Incoterm in your contract.
- Insurance cover: if you arranged insurance, file with your insurer; if the seller arranged it, require their assistance filing.
3. How Not to Get Declined
- Do not repair first: repairs before a survey prevent loss assessment and often void the claim outright.
- Watch the deadlines: policies and statutes set notification and claim windows — missing them is a waiver.
- Assemble full evidence: policy, B/L, invoice, packing list, survey report and correspondence.
- Insist on a joint survey: insurers and carriers should attend together, so no single-party assessment is disputed.
Shunwei Auto tip: Ask at order stage who insures the goods in transit and where claims are paid. A settlement in China versus in your own country changes both timing and difficulty.
Note: If pickup is rushed, wait the extra hour to finish photos and notations. That hour decides who bears a five-figure loss.
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