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