What's included
Everything between the auction hall and your port
You deal with one team from the first message to the handover. No middlemen, no surprises in the paperwork.
Auction search
We search the major Japanese auctions every week, including USS, TAA and CAA, and shortlist cars that match your model, year, grade and budget.
Auction sheet translation
For each option you get the original inspection sheet, clear photos and a plain-English translation of every marking and note.
Bidding on your behalf
You set the maximum price. We bid for you on auction day and stop at your limit. If we lose, we move to the next car.
Documents in Japan
Export certificate, deregistration, English translation and any pre-shipment inspection your country requires.
RoRo or container
We book the most suitable vessel to your port and send you the Bill of Lading and tracking details.
Clearance support
We guide you through customs clearance and can connect you with a trusted clearing agent at your port.
The import process
How we import your car from Japan, step by step
Every step that involves your money waits for your approval.
Tell us the car
Share the make, model, year range, minimum grade, colour and budget. We check your country's age, engine and steering rules before anything else.
Day 1Receive options
We send a shortlist of live auction cars, each with photos, the auction sheet, its English translation and an estimated landed cost.
Days 1–7Approve and bid
You choose a car and confirm your maximum. After the deposit, we bid on auction day and report the result the same day.
Auction dayPay and prepare
You pay the balance. We collect the car, arrange transport to the port and prepare the export certificate and documents.
1–2 weeksShip
The car is loaded on a RoRo vessel or in a container. You receive the Bill of Lading, documents and vessel tracking.
Vessel scheduleClear and collect
When the ship arrives, your clearing agent completes customs and you collect your car from the port.
At your portTransparent pricing
What the price of an imported car includes
The price of a Japanese import is built from a few clear parts. We show each one in your estimate so you can compare it with a local price before you commit.
FOB is the cost of the car loaded on the ship in Japan. CIF adds marine insurance and freight to your port. Duties and taxes are charged by your own country when the car arrives, and they depend on engine size, age and value.
We quote in US dollars and confirm the final figures after the auction, because the hammer price is only known on auction day.
Countries we ship to
Importing a Japanese car to your country
Import rules change from time to time. Before bidding, we confirm the current rules for your country so the car can be cleared and registered.
Pakistan Karachi
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo or container
- We check
- Age limit, import scheme and duty
United Arab Emirates Jebel Ali
- Drive side
- Left-hand drive country
- Shipping
- RoRo or container
- We check
- Registration rules for your use
United Kingdom Southampton
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo or container
- We check
- Approval and registration steps
Kenya Mombasa
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo
- We check
- Age limit and pre-shipment inspection
Tanzania Dar es Salaam
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo
- We check
- Inspection and duty by age
Sri Lanka Colombo
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo or container
- We check
- Current import permissions
New Zealand Auckland
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo
- We check
- Entry certification and standards
Ireland Dublin
- Drive side
- Right-hand drive
- Shipping
- RoRo or container
- We check
- Registration and tax steps
Another country? Ask us
We ship to many more ports. Send us your country and we will confirm the route and rules.
Japanese auction sheet
How to read a Japanese auction sheet
The auction sheet is the independent inspection report for every car sold at auction in Japan. It is the most important document when you buy a car you have not seen in person.
| Grade | What it means |
|---|---|
| S / 6 | Nearly new, very low mileage Excellent |
| 5 | Very clean, minimal wear Excellent |
| 4.5 | Clean car, small marks only Recommended |
| 4 | Good condition, some light scratches Good |
| 3.5 | Visible wear or small dents Fair |
| 3 | Heavier wear, may need paint or panel work Budget |
| R / RA | Repaired accident history Check carefully |
Interior: B · Exterior: B
Interior grades
The interior is graded separately from A (like new) to E (poor). For most buyers, interior A or B is the target.
Damage codes
The car map marks each defect with a letter and a number. A means scratch, U means dent, W means wave or repair mark, S means rust and C means corrosion. The number shows size, where 1 is smallest.
Why Japan
Why buy a used car from Japan?
Japan's strict periodic vehicle inspection, called shaken, makes older cars expensive to keep on the road. Many owners replace their cars while they are still young and in good condition, so auctions are full of well-kept, low-mileage cars.
Every car sold through a major auction is inspected and graded, and the grades use the same system across the country. That gives overseas buyers a reliable way to judge condition from a distance.
What this means for you
Wide choice: tens of thousands of cars pass through Japanese auctions every week, from kei cars to luxury MPVs.
Honest condition: inspection grades and damage maps show you the car's real state before you pay.
Better value: buying at auction removes several layers of dealer margin.
Import FAQ
Questions about importing a car from Japan
Can I import any car from Japan?
Almost any car sold at Japanese auctions can be exported. What limits you is your own country's rules, such as maximum vehicle age, engine size and steering side. We check these before we bid so you never buy a car that cannot be registered.
Do I pay before the auction?
We ask for a deposit before bidding so we can bid on your behalf. If we do not win a car within your limit, the deposit stays with us for the next auction or is returned on request. The balance is paid after we win and before shipping.
How do I know the car is in good condition?
Every auction car has an independent inspection report called the auction sheet. It shows the overall grade, interior grade, mileage and a map of every scratch or dent. We send the original sheet and an English translation with each option.
What is the difference between RoRo and container shipping?
RoRo (roll-on, roll-off) means the car is driven onto a vehicle carrier ship. It is usually the most economical option for single cars. Container shipping puts the car inside a sealed container, which suits ports without RoRo service or buyers shipping extra parts.
Is mileage in Japan reliable?
Auction houses check mileage records and flag cars with suspected mileage problems on the auction sheet. We avoid any car marked with mileage doubts and tell you exactly what the sheet says.
What does CIF price mean?
CIF means Cost, Insurance and Freight. It covers the car, export costs in Japan, marine insurance and shipping to your port. Import duty, taxes and clearance charges in your country are paid on arrival and are shown separately in our estimate.
Can you buy a car that is not at auction?
Yes. If a model is rare at auction, we can also look at stock from dealers in Japan. We send you the same inspection details before you decide.
How long does the whole process take?
Sourcing and buying usually takes 1 to 3 weeks. Export papers take about 1 to 2 weeks. Sea time depends on the route and vessel schedule, and we share tracking after loading.