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How to buy and export a used car from Japan
Japan has been a rich source of used cars for many years and each day
thousands of people buy a used car direct from Japanese car auctions. The benefits are
many:
* Good quality, reliable, economical and famous Japanese brands such as Toyota, Honda,
Nissan and Mitsubishi.
* Low milage. Most cars come with less than 100,000 kilometers on the clock
* Good condition. Regular servicing and repairs due to strict Japanese Government safety
checks.
* Many options. Many owners choose several options, so your car will come feature packed.
* Cheap! Cars can start at auction for 1 yen, although you'll probably pay a little more
than that!
* And more...
In this article I'll cover the following points to help you understand the Japanese used
car market and make a more informed choice about buying a car for export to your country.
* Japanese used car dealers
* The buying and importing process
Japanese used car dealers The process of buying and importing a used car has become much
easier with the advent of the internet. There are thousands of dealers throughout Japan
and around the world who have websites offering cars they have in stock, or offering a
custom car search service where they take your specifications and search the auctions
until they find a car to match your exact needs.
There is a wide variety of export car dealers. Some dealers are huge organisations dealing
with large volumes of cars while others are single entrepreneurs who run their own
businesses. Of course the larger a company the bigger the overheads and so probably you'll
end up paying slightly more in dealer fees, but you get more security from dealing with an
established business. The choice between price and reliability is yours.
The Japanese Government recognised JUMVEA (Japanese Used Motor Vehicle Exporters
Assosciation) maintains a member list of companies which "was created to address this
problem [of poor quality cars and dealers], being composed of used car exporters of
excellent credentials and high credibility" JUMVEA website. Their aim is to give
membership to those companies which show their reliability and service over time, so if
you are particularly worried about trust then look for a company with this accreditation.
You can check the list of members on the JUMVEA website, and accredited members will
proudly display their membership on their website. However not many companies have JUMVEA
membership so before buying from a non member do the following checks:
* See if the exporters bank details are listed on the website
* Call the company at least once to ask about any questions you may have. Bona fide
companies will have no problems with talking to you over the phone, although be patient
with their English abilty!
* Ask for testimonials
* Check the quality of response to your enquiries. If the dealer is obscuring or dodging
an issue then move on
In general use your common sense and if something is suspicious or dosent feel right then
don't proceed and find another dealer.
The buying and importing process
Check your country's law Before importing check your country's rules for importing used
cars to make sure you are allowed to import the car you want. Most countries have liberal
laws and are mostly concerned with emissions and safety standards. However these can add
extra to the cost of importing so make sure you research the compatibility of the model
you want with laws in your own country.
If you choose a car which is way outside the limits then you could be spending a large
amount to make it conform. Check with the dealer and your local department of motor
vehicles if in doubt. You don't want to be left on the docks with a bill for several
thousand to make the car conform before you can take it home!
Sending the request
If the dealer has a stock of cars you can request on shown on their website in which case
you will know the price and details of the car. However if you are looking for something
specific then you will have to send the dealer an email describing what you want. Most
dealers have some sort of request form on their website.
Confirmation
If you are buying from stock then you will usually get a faster confirmation of purchase.
If you request something else then the dealer will have to search for what you requested
at an auction and send you details of prices and specifications. It is then up to you to
confirm or ask for a different model etc.
Payment
Once you have decided on a car and price you will be required to pay for it. Methods and
amounts vary by dealer. Some dealers require you pay 100% upfront with by bank transfer
(or telegraphic transfer T.T.) before the car is bought at auction or readied for
shipping. Others require a less amount as a deposit and then a balance on completion of
purchase at auction or when the car is ready for shipping.
You may feel nervous sending money to a foreign country and unknown company so you should
be sure of the dealers trustworthiness before you enter into a contract or send any money.
You can do this by checking to see if the dealer displays a company registration number
and address on their website, then ask the Japanese embassy in your country for
confirmation - although this may take a long time and cost you extra. You can also check
the bank account. Japanese banking laws are strict when it comes to monetary movements and
bank accounts. All registered businesses are required to have their accounts under exactly
the same name that they registered their company.
If you are buying a used car online from Japan and the name on the bank account is
different from the name of the trading company, or if its an individual, then you should
investigate more.
Delivery
Delivery times will vary according to distance and number of ships to your country. Here
is a rough guideline.
* Russia and Hong Kong: three days
* New Zealand and Australia: three weeks
* Rest of world: between four to six weeks
There may be other times to include in the delivery period such as a deregisteration
certificate for the Japanese owner which shows the car has been sold by him, and finding a
space on a boat to your port. These extra processes can take up another four to six weeks.
Arrival
Your car has arrived at your port and now you have to pick it up. Take the documentation
which the dealer sent you to a shipping agent who will arrange the offloading of the car
from the ship. Depending on your country's laws you may have to pay import tax, licence
the car, get car safety tests done, and insure the car. Now your car is legally imported
and in your hands. Drive home carefully!
Summary
In conclusion buying and exporting a used Japanese car is fairly straightforward, and can
save you a fair bit of money compared to buying a car in your own country. Choosing a
reputable firm is probably the biggest priority to ensure a smooth transaction, and you
should be aware of any extra costs your government may impose to make the car conform to
safety and emission standards.
About the author:
Living in Japan and involved with the Japanese car export industry. For more information
please visit the Japanese used car exporter portal.
Includes detailed information, dealer directory and car reviews.
Written by: Keith Taynton

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