21 Reasons for Exporting a Used Car from Japan

IntroductionThere has never been a better time toconsuming dealing with private sellers, trying to
import a used car from Japan and save big dollars.schedule meetings and test drives and traveling
Exports from Japan have been steadily increasing foraround town to inspect vehicles which are often not
the last three years as more and more dealers,as advertised. .Reason #13: Abundance of
wholesalers and private buyers around the worldJapan-based used car exporters and specialists: Since
realize this great opportunity.Reason #1: WideJapan represents the second largest vehicle
product range: Due to the very competitive domesticmanufacturing country in the world and the number
Japanese car market, there are an abundance ofof exports from Japan are growing every year there
models and manufacturers in Japan manufacturersare many exporters and specialists who can assist
including Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Fujiyou in sourcing and exporting your car. Due to the
Heavy Industries (Subaru), Suzuki andnumber of people vying for your business you can
Daihatsu.Reason #2: K-class Mini Cars: This is a newchoose an exporter that you like and gain very
type of car which has been created in Japan tocompetitive pricing as well.Reason #14: Japanese
address Environmental concerns, demand for fuelsafety regulations: The Japanese roadworthy testing
efficiency and the general the lack of space onsystem is a positive for two reasons: (1) All Japanese
Japanese roads. All K-class vehicles meet avehicles are subjected to exhaustive bi-annual testing
specification which restricts the weight, engineand mechanical checks to ensure they are well
displacement (maximum of 660cc) and exteriormaintained and (2) gaining roadworthy (called Shaken
dimensions. K cars have excellent cost performancein Japan) usually costs a lot, artificially inflating the
are in growing demand around the world.Reason #3:ongoing running costs year by year as the car gets
Excellent Japanese road conditions: Despite the lackolder. The latter is one of the primary reasons
of space, Japanese roads are extremely wellJapanese drivers trade up to a new car so quickly
maintained meaning normal wear and tear whichand so often.Reason #15: Increasing shipping capacity
might be attributed to poor road conditions in otherand shipment options: Many vehicle transportation
countries is not a problem in Japan.Reason #4:companies are increasing their capacity to freight
Average vehicle age: The average age of all vehiclesboth new and used vehicles from Japan due to
on Japanese roads is almost sure to be lower thangrowth in this market. For individuals wishing to
most other countries. It is unusual to see cars olderpurchase 2-4 cars at a time shipment by container is
than 15 years on the roads at all. The Japanalso an option which may be faster, more secure and
Automotive Manufacturers Association (JAMA)possibly cheaper depending upon the destination
reports average vehicle age to be approximately 5.8port.Reason #16: Availability of objective information:
years.Reason #5: Higher model specifications: Due toOn the internet today there are many automotive
an abundance of models from each manufacturer andreview sites dedicated to the provision of accurate,
the Japanese penchant for new electronic and othertimely and objective data for all types of Japanese
gadgetry, the specifications of a Japanese vehiclecars. It is no longer necessary for individual buyers to
produced for the domestic market will usually berely on salespeople or manufacturer marketing
much higher than foreign-produced equivalents. Thisliterature to gain an accurate understanding of
means you can buy a Japanese export model with allspecifications, prices and vehicle conditions prior to
the features you like for the same price as a basepurchase.Reason #17: Auction assessments and
model bought domestically.Reason #6: Low mileage:evaluations: Every auto auction house in Japan
Most Japanese live in cities which lack space and areperforms mechanical tests and assessments by
very dense in terms of population. Since everythingtrained technicians prior to entry of the vehicle at
necessary to live a comfortable life is within closeauction. These evaluations are very detailed and
reach for the typical Japanese, domestic driversaccurate and include all pertinent information along
average mileage is typically less than half that ofwith grading for the exterior and interior of the
other countries. The Japanese Motor Vehiclevehicle.Reason #18: Flexible payment terms: While
Inspection Registration Association reports averagemost exporters prefer to be paid via telegraphic
mileage for Japanese domestic drivers to be aroundtransfer, credit card/paypal payments and payments
9,000km annually. American drivers, on the othervia letter of credit are becoming more common. Most
hand, drive and average of 19,000 kms eachexporters are open to alternative payment methods
year.Reason #7: Relative cost: Even after taking intoand the foreign buyer may also consider escrow
account costs such as freight and local compliance itservices if hesitant about sending large sums of
is almost always cheaper to import a used car frommoney abroad for the first time.Reason #19: No need
Japan than to buy an equivalent used car locally.to speak Japanese: Due to the huge market which
There are several reasons for Japanese exportshas developed in used Japanese car exports there
being so cheap, primary amongst them is theare many people from many different nations
mandatory Japanese vehicle safety inspections whichinvolved in this business. Buyers from Pakistan can
effectively increase the cost of ownership as thecommunicate with exporters in Urdu. Buyers from
vehicle ages.Reason #8: Excellent resale value:Russia can speak in local dialects with Japanese
Japanese cars, particularly Toyota and Lexus,exporters in Northern states, where Russian
generally hold much more of their value over thespeakers are common. Almost every Japan-based
lifetime of the product than foreign counterpartsexporter speaks English too. You do not need to
such as Ford and GM.Reason #9: Highly efficientworry about communication problems.Reason #20:
automated auction systems: Instead of purchasingAvailability of parts: While Japanese domestic models
from private sellers or through local used car dealersare usually higher spec than their
whose reputation and business practices may beforeign-manufactured equivalents the fact that so
circumspect, used Japanese cars may be purchasedmany Japanese manufacturing plants exist around the
at wholesale prices through very efficient auctionworld mean that common parts for popular vehicles
houses run by Toyota, Nissan and other reputableare likely to be available cheaply in local markets. In
companies. Each vehicle placed into an auction isthe event that a part is not available domestically,
photographed, inspected and graded and thisthere are many parts specialists who can help in
information is useful, accurate and available tolocating a required part.Reason #21: Trucks, buses
potential buyers.Reason #10: No need to deal withands machinery also available: While used cars are
sleazy local used car salesmen: It is an unfortunatecurrently the most popular automotive export,
fact that the used car industry around the world hassourcing of buses, trucks and machinery is also
the reputation of being filled with unsavory typesbecoming more common. Japanese trucks are mostly
who deceive and lie in order to gouge theirpurpose-built, while those manufactured in other
customers on every deal. Whether this is true or not,countries are not. Thus it is possible to obtain the
buying a Japanese export car removes the need toperfect truck for the job at hand by exporting it
deal with these individuals at all.Reason #11: Japanesefrom Japan. Once again, the quality and value of
cultural habit of always buying new: Typical Japanesethese items exceeds what could normally be attained
drivers are loathe to buy a car that someone elselocally.ConclusionBuying a new or used car from Japan
has used, regardless of the value proposition inherentis a great way to get your dream car and save
in doing so. Thus Japanese customarily purchase newmoney doing it. Although it may not be the quickest
cars every 5-7 years, creating a pool of high quality,way to buy, more and more satsifed buyers are
low mileage, high-spec used cars ready for resaletaking advantage of this great opportunity. Since the
around the world.Reason #12: No need to waste timepurchase of a car is usually a major decision and an
and money with private sellers: It is well know thatexpensive proposition, exporting your next car from
buying a used car from a private seller is sometimesJapan is definately worthy of consideration.Keith
a good way to find a bargain, but this kind ofGottliebsen resides in Japan and maintains a website
purchase may be quite risky for a buyer who is notto assist buyers in exporting new and used Japanese
mechanically inclined. It can also be very timecars & trucks ( to countries around the world.