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