Yes, you can and should order spare parts together with your vehicles from China, as this is the most efficient and cost-effective way to build your initial service inventory.
Shipping vehicles and parts in the same consignment is a common practice for savvy importers, dealers, and fleet managers. The primary advantage is avoiding the high cost and complex logistics of shipping parts separately later, especially via air freight. By planning ahead, you ensure your vehicles are serviceable from the moment they arrive.
Why Bundle Spare Parts with Your Vehicle Order?
The benefits of ordering parts with your car shipment go beyond convenience. It’s a strategic decision that impacts your bottom line and operational readiness.
- Significant Cost Savings: The biggest expense in shipping small items internationally is the base freight charge. By adding a box of spare parts to a 40-foot container that already holds two or three cars, you are essentially getting them shipped for a minimal additional cost. This is far cheaper than paying for a separate air or LCL (Less than Container Load) sea shipment later.
- Simplified Customs Clearance: Including the parts on the same commercial invoice and packing list as the vehicles can streamline the import process. Your customs broker handles one consolidated shipment, potentially reducing administrative fees and paperwork.
- Immediate Service Readiness: For dealerships and fleet operators, having essential service parts like oil filters, air filters, brake pads, and common sensors on hand is critical. Bundling them with the vehicle order means you can perform initial maintenance or handle minor issues without delay, improving customer satisfaction and vehicle uptime.
How the Process Works with Starvia
Integrating a parts order into your vehicle shipment is a straightforward process. At Starvia Automotive, we manage it in a few simple steps:
- Specify Your Parts List: During the initial vehicle quotation stage, simply provide us with a list of the spare parts you need. We recommend focusing on common consumables required for the first 20,000–40,000 kilometers of service.
- Sourcing and Quoting: We source genuine (OEM) parts directly from the vehicle’s manufacturer. These are then added as itemized lines on your final Proforma Invoice, ensuring full transparency.
- Secure Packing and Loading: The parts are professionally packed into durable boxes or crates. To maximize safety and space, they are then securely loaded inside the vehicle (for RoRo shipping) or placed strategically within the shipping container alongside the cars.
- Clear Documentation: Your final export documents, including the Bill of Lading and Commercial Invoice, will clearly declare both the vehicles and all accompanying spare parts, ensuring a smooth and compliant customs process at your destination port.
While bundling is ideal for your initial stock, our After-Sales and Spare Parts Support ensures you have a reliable channel for sourcing any necessary components for the lifetime of your vehicles.