How to Buy

How to Buy

Buying a vehicle from Japan does not need to be complicated. Whether you are purchasing one of our vehicles in stock or buying through the Japanese auctions, dealers, or other sources, we will guide you through the process and provide the information you need to make an informed buying decision.

Buying a Vehicle in Stock

Purchasing one of our stock vehicles is straightforward:

1. Contact Us

Contact us about the vehicle you are interested in and we will confirm availability, pricing, and shipping options to your destination.

2. Courtesy Hold

Once a deal is agreed upon, we will place the vehicle on a 48-hour courtesy hold for you.

3. Payment

Full payment is required within three business days.

4. Shipping

Once payment has been verified, we will arrange shipping to your preferred destination.

5. Documents

Once the vehicle has shipped, we will send you the necessary shipping and export documents.

Buying a Vehicle from Auction, Dealer, or Other Source

Japan’s dealer auctions offer thousands of vehicles each week. Vehicles are also available through dealers and other sources throughout Japan.

We help you identify suitable vehicles, understand their condition, inspect them when possible, purchase or bid on them, and arrange export from Japan.

1. Tell Us What You’re Looking For

Contact us and let us know:

  • The vehicle or vehicles you are interested in
  • Where you are located
  • Your approximate budget
  • How soon you are looking to purchase

We can then discuss whether your expectations are realistic and provide approximate cost estimates.

We also recommend signing up for our Auction Mailer/Newsletter at the bottom of the website. This allows you to see upcoming vehicles and get a better feel for current availability and pricing.

2. Place Your Deposit

A deposit is required before we can inspect, bid on, or purchase vehicles on your behalf.

The minimum deposit is ¥150,000 or approximately 10% of the vehicle’s expected purchase price, whichever is greater. The expected purchase price and required deposit amount are determined by us based on the vehicle and current market conditions.

Once your deposit is in place, we are free to inspect, bid on, and purchase vehicles for you based on your authorization.

If you do not purchase the first vehicle you consider or bid on, your deposit remains on account and can be applied toward a future purchase.

3. Search and Review Vehicles

Once your deposit is in place, we can begin working with you as an active buyer.

We can review suitable vehicles as they become available through the Japanese auction system, dealers, and other sources. You can also send us vehicles you find through our Auction Mailer or elsewhere for review.

We will help you understand the available information and give you straightforward feedback about the vehicle.

4. Auction Sheet Translation and Inspection

For auction vehicles, we will translate and review the auction sheet with you.

When appropriate and available, we can personally inspect the vehicle or arrange a secondary inspection before bidding.

Our goal is to provide you with as much factual information as reasonably possible about the vehicle’s condition so you can make an informed buying decision.

These are used vehicles, and no inspection can guarantee that every defect or future mechanical issue will be identified.

5. You Make the Buying Decision

After reviewing the available information and inspection results, you decide whether you want the vehicle and how much you are willing to spend.

For auction vehicles, you provide us with your maximum authorized bid and we bid on your behalf up to that amount.

For dealer or other fixed-price vehicles, we will confirm the price and relevant information with you before purchasing.

We do not purchase a vehicle without your authorization.

6. If We Purchase the Vehicle

If your auction bid is successful or you authorize us to purchase a vehicle from another source, the vehicle is yours.

The remaining balance is due within three business days.

We will obtain additional photos when available and begin arranging transportation and export from Japan.

If an auction bid is unsuccessful, we simply continue looking for the next suitable vehicle.

7. Shipping

Once payment has been verified, we start the process of booking the vehicle for export to your destination.

Shipping schedules depend on destination, carrier availability, port schedules, and other factors outside of our control. We will provide confirmed shipping information as it becomes available.

8. Documents

Once your vehicle has shipped, we provide the necessary shipping and export documents.

For U.S. customers, Bill of Lading information is provided a few days before departure so the required ISF filing can be completed.

What’s Included in Our Service

We use a straightforward, all-inclusive service structure. Rather than charging separately for every part of the buying process, our service includes:

  • Auction sheet translations via email, WhatsApp, or phone
  • Personal or secondary vehicle inspections when available
  • Auction bidding on your behalf
  • Additional vehicle photos when available and time permits
  • Japan-side inland transportation from most auctions and dealers to the appropriate port
  • Deregistration and preparation of export documents and certificates
  • Export booking with shipping companies and freight forwarders
  • Japan-side taxes and normal courier costs
  • International shipment of your documents by DHL or similar service, including tracking

If a particular vehicle, auction location, dealer, shipping destination, or other circumstance will result in an additional cost, we will let you know beforehand whenever possible.

Vehicles purchased through post-auction negotiation may be subject to an additional auction surcharge.

Payment

Our preferred payment method is TT/bank transfer.

Please contact us for current banking details and payment instructions.

We do not accept Letters of Credit (LC) as payment.

Ready to Get Started?

If you are interested in purchasing a vehicle, Contact Us and let us know what you are looking for, where you are located, your approximate budget, and your purchase timeframe.

If you are still researching, we recommend:

Once you are ready to purchase, we will be happy to help you find the right vehicle.