A supplier sends over a batch of available cars — a good price, fresh production dates, and a shipping slot that still works. With an order like this, it is tempting to move straight to the deposit. In Algeria, a dealer should first confirm which approved entity and brand authorization this batch falls under.
The trouble is usually hiding in a few documents that look "about the same". The brand authorization corresponds to one entity, the proforma invoice names a different buyer, and the certificate of conformity covers a version that does not match the actual car's nameplate. While the cars are still in China, these issues are just a few emails. Once the cars reach port, payment, customs clearance and delivery can all grind to a halt at the same time.
Confirm the authorized entity on the Algerian side first
Algeria's current new-car dealership framework is set out in Executive Decree No. 22-383. New-car dealership activity is based on contracts between approved dealers and manufacturers holding the brand franchise, and the source of supply must also fall within the manufacturer or its affiliates.
A Chinese company's export capability only solves part of the transaction. The local company name, the approved brands, the vehicle categories, the specific model versions and the overseas contracting party all have to line up as one chain. If a trading company is added in the middle, the local dealership entity should confirm that the contracts and documents still fall within the approved scope. A supplier's business license and export capability cannot replace dealership access on the Algerian side.
Same model year, different inventory status
"2026 model" in the purchase contract only describes the product version. The cars may have just come off the line, or they may have been sitting in inventory for a while. Before locking in the order, obtain the VIN list, nameplate photos, production dates, odometer photos and a vehicle status declaration, then confirm whether the cars were ever registered, plated or used as display vehicles in China. The model names on the contract, invoices and packing documents should also match the actual cars.
Algerian rules have their own definition of a new car and their own delivery requirements, and whether a batch fits the current import arrangement also depends on how the specific license, banking and customs processes are applied in practice. The purchase contract should state the earliest acceptable production date, the permitted mileage and whether stock vehicles are accepted, and the local dealership entity should confirm this in writing before the deposit is paid. That is easier to enforce than arguing about how "new" the model year is after the cars have already shipped.
The certificate of conformity has to correspond to this actual batch
The annexes to Executive Decree No. 22-383 require that delivered new cars come with documents such as the vehicle reception record, descriptive documents and the certificate of conformity. In practice, you can lay the procès-verbal de réception, the notice descriptive and the certificat de conformité alongside the type-approval material and check whether the engine or powertrain, body category, number of seats, tires and key safety equipment correspond to the current version.
Once you have a Certificate of Conformity (CoC), check it back against the actual cars. Who issued it, which model it applies to, and how the certificate number is linked to the VIN all have to be explainable. If the same model comes in several powertrains, displacements or configurations, the supplier should also state exactly which version this certificate covers. If the commercial invoice, bill of lading, packing documents and the VIN table use different names, they should be aligned before shipment.
Have the bank review the order before payment
The Bank of Algeria's rules on import registration require that the bank registration of an import contract comes before the physical and financial execution of the contract. The commercial contract used for registration can be a formal contract, a proforma invoice, a firm order, and so on, but it should clearly list both parties, the country of origin, the nature and quantity of the goods, the unit price and total price, the pricing and payment currency, additional costs, delivery terms and the payment schedule.
The buyer, seller, amount, currency, trade terms and beneficiary account on the proforma invoice should be checked with the account-holding bank before signing and kept consistent with the final contract. Whether to use an advance payment, a letter of credit or staged payments is also confirmed by the bank under the rules in force. The Ministry of Commerce's explanation of the import compliance file also lists the import declaration, a copy of the extract from the commercial register, a copy of the invoice and other applicable compliance documents.
Shipping release can be tied to one clear condition. Only pay each milestone when the local admission confirmation, the VIN-level vehicle list, the conformity documents, the commercial documents and the bank registration version are all consistent. Checking versions item by item is more reliable than chasing a single "complete document list".
Document matrix before payment and shipment
| Stage | What to check | Basis for release |
|---|---|---|
| Local admission | Dealership entity, brand authorization, import eligibility | Current valid documents consistent with the contractual relationship |
| Vehicle identity | Model year, production date, VIN, inventory status | VIN-level list matches the actual cars |
| Technical documents | Certificate of conformity, reception record, descriptive documents | Powertrain, body, seats and tires correspond to the version |
| Commercial and banking | Invoice, contract, currency, account, payment milestones | Version confirmed by the account-holding bank is consistent |
Frequently asked questions
Can the overseas contract be signed by a Chinese trading company?
It depends on where that trading company sits in the contract chain and on whether its documents are accepted by the local dealership entity and the bank. Before signing, review the manufacturer, the trading company, the local buyer and the beneficiary account together.
The stock cars have very low mileage — do we still need to check their first registration status?
Yes. Low mileage only shows how much a car was used; it does not prove the car was never registered. Production date, first registration status, VIN, invoice and the vehicle declaration need to corroborate one another.
Can one batch of cars share a single CoC?
It depends on the certificate's scope and on how it is linked to the VINs. If the model name is the same but the powertrain or configuration differs, you cannot simply assume that one document covers them all.
What if the proforma invoice changes after the bank registration?
The buyer and seller should not simply swap in a new invoice and keep paying. When the amount, currency, parties or delivery date change, they should first ask the account-holding bank whether the registered documents need to be updated.
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This article is compiled from public information published by the Algerian government and the Bank of Algeria. Regulations, licenses and bank execution requirements may be updated; before signing and paying, a locally licensed entity should re-verify against the documents in force. Information verification date: 2026-08-18.