Pre-Shipment Vehicle Inspection
The condition of a vehicle is established before it is loaded, not disputed after it arrives. We record it in writing and in photographs at the yard, so that what sails is precisely what was agreed.
Cars · trucks · machineryWritten condition reportPhotographic evidence
Risk First
Why Inspect Before Shipment
The Cost of Deferred Discovery
- A pre-existing dent presented as “arrived damaged” becomes a dispute, not a claim
- Undeclared faults surface at the destination, after the seller is paid
- A mismatched VIN or engine number blocks clearance and the storage meter runs
- A unit that will not start holds the whole operation at the ramp
What Inspection Changes
- Both parties agree the condition in writing before money moves
- The loading and discharge records form a clean chain of evidence
- Discrepancies are caught at the yard, where they are cheap to fix
- The buyer receives a verifiable record, not a promise
Scope
Inspection Scope by Cargo Type
| Item | Cars and 4x4s | Trucks and buses | Machinery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior body and glass | Full panel check | Cab, chassis, body | Structure, arms, buckets |
| Tyres, wheels and rims | Make, wear, condition | All axles | Tracks, tyres, rims |
| Odometer and hours | Recorded and photographed | Recorded | Hour meter recorded |
| Engine and fluids | Start, leaks, smoke | Start, leaks | Start, hydraulics, leaks |
| VIN / chassis / engine no. | Matched to documents | Matched to documents | Matched to documents |
| Loose items and load | Listed and photographed | Cab and load bed | Attachments listed |
Inspection is a condition record, not a mechanical guarantee. It documents what the unit is at the moment of loading; it does not certify roadworthiness for the destination market.
Deliverables
Deliverables: The Condition Record
- Photographs from all four sides, plus close-ups of any existing damage
- Odometer or hour reading and the VIN, chassis and engine numbers
- A written condition note countersigned by the terminal where required
- The same photographs reused at discharge to prove what changed in transit
- Delivered together with the bill of lading and packing list
Use Cases
When Inspection Is Justified
- Used vehicles where the buyer cannot view the unit in person
- High-value cars and machinery where one claim exceeds the fee many times over
- Shipments where two owners share one container and liability must be clear
- Any unit whose declared condition affects the price or the financing
Add Inspection to Your Next Shipment
It is a line item on the quotation, not an afterthought. Tell us the unit and we will include it.
Request a QuoteQuestions we get asked often
Is inspection the same as a mechanical warranty?
No. It records the condition at loading; it does not warrant the unit. It gives both parties a fixed reference point and the evidence a claim needs.
Can you inspect a vehicle that is not at your port?
We arrange inspection where the unit is collected or delivered. Tell us the location and we will include it in the scope.
Does inspection delay the shipment?
It adds a short step at the yard, usually the same day. It prevents far longer delays at the destination.
Do you issue the report in French for francophone markets?
Yes — for Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Madagascar we can issue the condition summary in French.