Who Should Bear the Import Car Agency Transfer Fees?

Resolved
NO.20251109*****

[Challenge] *****, [Solution] *****, [Process & Cost] *****

Access Full Plan
I recently purchased an imported car through an agent, and now there's the issue of transfer. When signing the contract with the agency company, it was not clearly stated who would bear the transfer fees. Now the agency company is asking me to bear all the transfer fees, which I find unreasonable, as it wasn't clearly stated from the beginning. I'd like to ask everyone, in this situation, who should actually pay for the import car agency transfer fees? Are there any relevant regulations or common practices to refer to?
Trade Experts Q&A
Trade Experts Q&A

Consult with Our Trade Experts

Quick, reliable advice for all your trade needs, from sourcing to shipping.

Trade Expert Insights Answers

Generally speaking, if the contract does not clearly stipulate who bears the import car agency transfer fees, it needs to be determined based on the specific circumstances. First, consider industry practices. In the import car agency business, some agency companies include transfer fees in their agency fees, while others list them separately for the car owner to bear. If there is no clear practice, based on the principle of fairness, both parties should negotiate to share the costs. You can communicate further with the agency company, analyze the cost-generating links, such as vehicle inspection and document changes, to see which part should be the responsibility of the other party. If negotiations fail, you can also refer to how transfer fees are shared in similar import car transaction cases. If it cannot be resolved, you can seek assistance from relevant organizations such as consumer associations to fairly and reasonably determine the responsible party for the fees.

At the same time, when signing agency contracts in the future, it is crucial to clearly itemize all fees to avoid such disputes.

If the agency is only assisting in handling procedures during the entire process and is not involved in other factors such as vehicle pricing, the transfer fees may primarily be borne by the car owner, as the vehicle ultimately belongs to the owner.

You can see if the agency company has made any additional profits during the agency process. If the agency company has earned sufficient profits through other means, it is reasonable for them to bear a portion of the transfer fees.

From a moral standpoint, if the agency company promised to provide complete services during the transaction, it is also understandable for the agency to bear some of the transfer fees as a subsequent step of the transaction.

Refer to other similar import car transactions in the market to see how transfer fees are shared, and use this as a basis for negotiation with the agency company.

If the agency company's handling of the transfer procedures is complex and involves significant labor costs, their request for the car owner to bear the fees has some justification.

You can consider sharing the costs proportionally, for example, the car owner bears the majority and the agency company bears a small portion, which would be relatively fair.

If the agency company did not mention the transfer fees before, and now suddenly asks you to bear them entirely, you can ask them to explain the detailed breakdown of the fees and the basis for their calculation.

If the agency company's service was inadequate, leading to additional costs for the transfer, then the agency company should rightfully bear the corresponding portion.

User-submitted questions and answers reflect personal opinions, not the official stance of this website.

You May Also Like

Hangzhou Import Agency: Which One is Good? Seeking Reliable Recommendations!

Due to the company's import business needs, we are looking for an import agency company in Hangzhou. We hope they are highly professional, provide good service, and charge reasonably and transparently. We are asking which one is good. The best answer points out that when choosing an agency company, one can consider professionalism, service quality, fees, and reputation. For example, Zhongmaoda has rich experience, is familiar with various processes, provides excellent service, and charges transparently, making it a good choice.

Does Yunfu Export Agency Declaration Charge Fees?

Doing foreign trade in Yunfu, I want to understand if Yunfu export agency declaration charges fees and the fee standards, worried about being ripped off. The best answer states that it generally charges fees, and common charging methods include per declaration, a percentage of cargo value, or per service item. Different methods have different fees, for example, per declaration costs hundreds to thousands of yuan, and by value is around 0.5% - 2%. It is recommended to compare several agency declaration companies.

How much does agency export cost? Come and find out!

A company without export qualifications wants to understand agency export fees. The best answer states that agency export fees are not fixed. Common practice is to charge an agency fee of 0.8%-3% of the export cargo amount, and there may also be customs declaration fees of 300-500 yuan/ticket, document fees of 100-200 yuan/ticket, and other actual reimbursement expenses. A contract must be signed to clarify the fees and avoid disputes.

How Much are Export Sea Freight Flat Rack Shipping Agency Fees? Come and Find Out!

Want to understand export sea freight flat rack shipping agency fees, inquire about fee calculation and influencing factors. The best answer states that fees have no fixed standard, are affected by cargo weight, volume, transportation distance, port of loading and port of destination, etc., generally including basic freight and surcharges. Taking Zhongmaoda as an example, shipping from a common domestic port to a port in Southeast Asia, the freight forwarder fee for medium-sized cargo is about 2000 - 5000 yuan. Specific quotations require contacting a freight forwarder.

Who should bear the export agency fees?

The company plans to engage in export business and has questions about who should pay for export agency fees. It wants to understand industry practices and distinctions between different situations. The best answer states that there is no fixed model for who bears export agency fees; it is mostly borne by the principal, as they leverage the agent's professional services. However, when competition is fierce, the agent may reduce or waive fees, or the fee burden may be determined by mutual negotiation based on profit sharing, etc.

What related costs are generally involved in import agency?

Planning to find an import agency for goods import, I want to understand the related costs beforehand, fearing being overcharged. The best answer states that import agency related costs typically include agency fees, charged at 1%-5% of the goods' value; international shipping fees, which vary by transportation method; customs declaration fees, usually around a few hundred yuan; and also terminal handling charges, warehousing fees, etc., calculated according to respective rules.