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A useful sourcing brief tells an exporter what would make a car suitable, what would rule it out and what your budget must include. Start with destination, intended use and non-negotiable requirements, then add preferred models. This gives you a consistent way to review candidates instead of repeatedly changing the brief after each listing arrives.
Washin Auto's contact page accepts vehicle, sourcing and export enquiries. The worksheet below is an editorial planning tool you can use in that enquiry. It is not a promise that a particular car, inspection or shipping arrangement is available.
Describe the job the car must do
Write one sentence about ordinary use. “A family car for five people, with luggage carried while all seats are occupied” tells the exporter more than “a spacious car”. “A compact car for a narrow parking space” identifies a dimension that should be checked rather than guessed from photographs.
Then distinguish what you know from what needs investigating. You may know your garage opening and preferred transmission but be unsure which model variants fit. Give the known measurements or requirements and ask for supporting information on proposed cars.
Avoid using a badge as shorthand for every feature. When a feature changes your decision, name it explicitly and ask for evidence that the actual candidate has it.
Split requirements into three groups
Keep this list short enough to use when a real candidate appears.
| Group | Purpose | Example wording |
|---|---|---|
| Required | A missing feature rules the car out | “The car must accommodate our stated passenger and luggage needs together.” |
| Preferred | A feature is useful but negotiable | “A light exterior colour is preferred; condition takes priority.” |
| Unresolved | More information is needed | “Please supply dimensions so I can check the parking space.” |
This is more informative than a long wish list in which every item appears equally important. If nothing suitable emerges, you can reconsider a preference deliberately. You should not have to discover after purchase that a supposed preference was actually essential.
Define the boundary of the budget
State the currency and whether the limit refers to the vehicle purchase, the exporter quotation to a named port, or the total amount you can spend before local use. If the overall budget is fixed, separate the portion available for the exporter quote from destination amounts you still need assessed.
For example, “My total budget is X in my local currency; please quote the Japan-side purchase and export scope separately while I obtain destination estimates” is clearer than “My budget is X”. Replace the example with your actual figures when making an enquiry. It is a communication template, not an estimate of import costs.
Ask for inclusions and exclusions rather than assuming every quote uses the same boundary. Keep an unknown expense visible so that it can be investigated before you commit.
Put destination checks ahead of a buying instruction
Tell the exporter the destination country and intended port, if known. Identify who is checking import eligibility, local compliance and registration requirements. If you have a workshop or clearing agent's written criteria, include the relevant vehicle requirements in the brief.
For example, Australia's official import sequence starts with eligibility and process research, then requires approval before shipping. A sourcing conversation should accommodate those dependencies instead of treating the shipping date as the only deadline. Australian Government import sequence.
Make any deadline precise: do you need a shortlist, a purchase decision, departure or the vehicle ready for local use? These are different requests. Ask which parts of the timing can currently be confirmed.
Send a brief that invites a useful first response
Use this structure in your own words:
I am looking for a vehicle for [intended use] in [destination]. My required features are [short list]. My preferences are [short list], and I can compromise on [items]. My budget is [amount and currency] covering [scope]. I am considering [models or stock links], but I am open to alternatives that meet the requirements. Please identify the information available for each candidate, quote inclusions and any unresolved conditions. My destination checks are being handled by [role], and my timing requirement concerns [specific milestone].
The brackets here are fields for the reader to complete in an enquiry, not claims about a vehicle or a sales offer. Keep sensitive identity and payment documents out of an initial public or unsecured message.
Review Washin Auto's stock for examples that help explain your preferences. When the brief is ready, send it to Washin Auto with the relevant links and your most important unanswered question. A clear brief gives both sides a concrete starting point for discussing suitable options.
