Opening a Chinese car parts shop

Genuine, OEM or aftermarket: which quality should a new shop stock?

They are three different parts, not one part at three prices. Genuine carries the carmaker's brand; OEM-quality parts come from the same kind of supplier without the carmaker's logo; aftermarket runs from good brands down to economy parts. A common mix for a new shop is OEM-quality or good aftermarket for wear and service items, and genuine for electronics or wherever customers insist on it.

One practical detail: OEM-quality parts usually come in neutral packaging without the carmaker's logo. If your customers expect a branded box, say so before the quote, so the grade and the price match what you can actually sell.

The full quality ladder is explained in why Chinese-brand parts are hard to find.

I don't have OE numbers yet. Can you find the right part from a VIN?

Often, but a VIN alone does not always settle it. The VIN plus a photo of the old part or its label is what gives a reliable match, and for lamps, mirrors, bumpers and sensors we ask for both. Every line we quote carries the OE number we matched, so you can build your own stock records from the first order.

Remember that shop stock covers a market, not one car. A single VIN tells us one version; before you buy several units, check which versions of that model are common where you sell. How we identify parts without an OE number is on this page, and why the VIN matters on this one.

How does shipping to my country work, and how long does it take?

Parts ship from Guangzhou; there is no local stock in your country. Light or urgent parts usually go by courier or air, heavy and bulky parts by sea, and one order can be split between the two. Cost and timing depend on weight, volume, destination and route, so they are worked out on your real list rather than promised up front.

If you already use a freight forwarder in China, we can quote EXW Guangzhou and hand the goods to them. If not, tell us your city and we'll work out the options with you. See air or sea, line by line and how long importing takes.

What is the minimum order? Can I buy one piece at a time?

There is no single minimum for the whole order: the minimum is set per part, and many parts can be ordered in small quantities. Buying one piece per customer order by courier works for urgent or high-value parts, but the freight per piece usually eats the margin. Most new shops stock their fast movers and keep single-piece orders for the occasional special request.

How per-part minimums work, and how mixing parts keeps each line small, is covered on the minimum order page.

How should I set up a first trial order?

Start with 20–30 priority lines you already know you can sell, with a quantity for each line and your destination. That is enough to test fitment, quality, packing and communication without tying up much capital. Mixed orders and trial orders are supported.

1. Pick the lines from the models that are common in your city, not random parts to try.
2. For each line send the OE number, or the VIN and a photo of the old part.
3. Check the Proforma Invoice line by line before you pay.
4. Check the photos of the real parts before they are packed.
5. When the goods arrive, check them against those photos, then reorder what sold.

Longer lists are welcome, but a list over 100 lines is worked through in batches once the first order is committed.

Can you be my long-term supplier?

That is the model we work toward: a verified first order, then reorders on the lines that sell, then more brands and categories. Brace is a sourcing partner in Guangzhou, not a factory: we find the right suppliers, check the parts and consolidate them into one shipment for you. Terms are agreed order by order and depend on order history.

Which brands and parts should I stock first?

Stock what already drives on your streets. Start with the handful of Chinese models most common in your city, then the wear and service parts every one of them needs, such as filters, brake pads, spark plugs and belts. If you mainly serve body shops, start with lamps, mirrors and bumpers instead.

Search data shows each market leans toward different brands. This is what buyers from these markets look up most in our catalogue, compared with how much of the catalogue each brand takes up (Google Search Console, June–September 2026):

Search interest is a signal, not a sales guarantee. Check it against what you see on the road, what local workshops repair and what your first customers ask for.

One more thing the same data shows: most searches from these markets are for OE part numbers, not brand names. That is another reason to keep an OE number against every line you stock.

Will I see the parts before they ship?

Yes. Every order gets photos of the real parts before packing, so you can check the version, side and condition before the goods leave Guangzhou. The photos confirm the physical goods; they do not replace the VIN or OE check done before the quote.

Do you have a catalogue or a price list?

There is no fixed price list: prices move with suppliers and quality grade, so we quote against your real list. You can browse the online catalogue by brand, model and part to build that list, then send it on WhatsApp.

Start from the parts catalogue or the brand pages.

Can I mix several brands in one order?

Yes. Parts from different Chinese brands and suppliers can go in one order and one shipment, as long as each part's availability and minimum allow it. Most new shops need exactly this, because the same city has Chery, Haval, Changan, MG and others on the road at once.

How consolidation works is on the consolidation page.

How do I pay?

Usually by international bank transfer (T/T) against a Proforma Invoice that lists every part with its OE number, quantity, price, currency and Incoterm. Credit terms are not promised on a first order; they are worked out order by order and depend on history and amount.

The full payment flow and what to check before you wire money are on the payment page.

What about warranty, wrong parts and certificates?

Claims are handled on evidence: the pre-packing photo, your photo or video of the problem, and the OE number. Brace does not issue product certificates. If your country requires homologation or technical certification for some parts, check with your customs broker before ordering and tell us, so we can ask the supplier before quoting.

See warranty and claims and import documents.