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FAQ

Questions on Used Car Import from Japan

Auctions and bids

1.1 What is needed to start buying cars?

In order to start bidding, please complete very simple registration procedure first, kindly fill your contact details as indicated in the form. After the registration, you can access all Japanese Auto Auctions.

In order to buy cars directly from domestic market, please kindly contact us to source your car effectively.

1.2 When can I start placing my bids?

Unlike other exporters we do not demand the initial deposit. It is more important to find out your preferences and requirements. After that, we would like to consult and assist you in searching cars based on your criteria. This will enhance our mutual understanding and boost your confidence in our future partnership. If you agree with Terms of Business with our Company, we will request you to place a refundable deposit. After you select and submit your bids, you will receive a detailed and precise translation about general and mechanical condition of the vehicles.

1.3 I do not know the Japanese language.

How can I understand the auction sheet report?

In order to select the right car, you do not need any Japanese skills, since all auctions sheets will be translated for you. Moreover, you if you check our Auction Sheet structure you will find it quite easy to know the basics of Auction sheet layout and it is detailed explanation.

1.4 If I won the car, when I can find out?

We will inform you by email about your successful bids same day.

1.5 My bid was higher, why I did not buy it.

The seller sets up reserve price on his cars, which is not disclosed to anyone, except auction. For vehicles with unsold status, we will contact an auction and negotiate the price within your budget.

1.6 Can I buy only 1 or 2 cars if I have multiple bids?

Yes, it is very easy by using our auction system and organize your bids in group. Please indicate how many car(s) you need which models only.

1.7 Can I find Left Hand Drive (LHD) cars at auto auctions as well?

Yes, we specialize in sourcing Left Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles to multiple countries. Please check our auctions for vintage, classic and performance cars. In addition, we advise you to check out All Japan Dealer Stock.

1.8 Can I buy and import cars as a private buyer?

Yes, you can buy and import as a private buyer, however, we strongly advise you to check your country’s import regulation first and confirm it with local customs and clearing agencies.

About Payment

2.1 Which Payment methods do you accept?

In order to secure your payment, we accept Telegraphic Bank Transfer (TT) and PayPal payments only. We do not accept payments by credit cards or cashier’s check.

2.2 What are the payment terms?

Advance payment terms within indicated deadline on the invoice upon agreed conditions. All the transfer fees should be paid by customer at local bank and in the same currency indicated in the invoice.

2.3 How can I send a deposit to your account?

The deposit can be placed either by PayPal or transferred to our Bank account after you receive an invoice. Upon your request, the deposit can be used as partial payment for the vehicle. If you were not able to buy under any circumstances, then we will refund it.

2.4. How will I know that my transfer was deposited to your account?

Once you have completed your payment application, kindly inform us to confirm it faster.

2.5 Do you accept Letter of Credit (L/C) as well?

Unfortunately at this moment we stopped operations with L/C method.

2.6 How I be sure that my payment is secured?

First, to be sure that your payment is secure please strictly follow the payment instructions indicated on the invoice. Our company has only 1 Business Bank account in First Bank of Toyama Ltd http://www.first-bank.co.jp/ Second, each invoice issued by our company is passed to First Bank of Toyama Ltd and Toyama Prefecture Tax office.

DELIVERY

3.1 How do you ship vehicles?

For countries with access to the major ports we use Ro-Ro (Roll-on and Roll-off) vessels. For the countries without an access to the sea ports, we offer either the transit routes or Container shipment. For unique and very expensive cars we advise to use container shipment only.

3.2 What are FOB, C&F and CIF trade terms?

FOB – Stands for Free on Board or Freight on Board, meaning that consignee owns the good in the transit and seller is responsible to organize all the delivery till departure ports. The price includes all the goods and services till loading at named location.

C&F – Is an abbreviation for Cost and Freight only, indicates that the consignee owns the goods with final delivery with all costs and freight paid in advance. The exporter provides marine transportation and passes all documents to receive goods from the carrier.

CIF – Similar to C&F, under this terms of shipment, Cost, Insurance and Freight are prearranged and included till final destination port.

3.3 What it is the Ro-Ro shipment?

RO-RO-Roll on Roll of is the most common shipment method in International Sea Freight Shipping Industry. The unique feature of this method is the possibility of vehicles driven into the Ro-Ro vessel which makes it cost-efficient. The main limitations of this shipment is the geographical coverage and vehicle conditions. A certain types of vehicles such as, un-drivable, low-down, cracked windshield, gasoline and oil leaks, are not allowed to be transported by Ro-Ro. While selecting your vehicle, our company will advise on possible delivery options, to make sure that there will not be any complications upon delivery.

3.4 Not in the home country, which consignee address I should use?

In order to import the car and register, the complete address in your home country should be indicated. Please make sure that you have indicated complete address and contact person’s information correctly.

3.5 How can I get a shipment update for my order?

After your vehicle is fully paid, we make an urgent booking for the closest vessel. After the schedule is confirmed we will inform you both, ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) and ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) to your destination port.

3.6 Which documents I will receive for the vehicle and when?

In general, we send the following documents by express courier right after the vessel leaves: BL-Bill of Lading first and second originals. Insurance certificate, if the trade term was CIF only. Road Worthiness Inspection certificate, if it is required by your Government and was requested before the shipment. Export Certificate, also called “De-registration” or “Cancellation certificate.” Depending on the country of destination and trade terms, the list of documents might be different.

3.7 How to receive a vehicle at the port of destination?

We suppose that you have already contacted local customs and clearing agents. When you receive the complete set of documents from us, please bring them to the clearing agents first. If you have any difficulties, please kindly contact us.

3.8 What does insurance cover?

According to Incoterms on International Commercial terms, the marine insurance covers cargo non-delivery due to natural disaster, fire on board or wars during the shipment.

General

4.1 Are you a legitimate company?

Please check our company profile. We have legal registration number and used vehicle exporters license that proves that we are legitimate company.

4.2 What are your Business terms?

We have certainly listed detailed conditions and business terms described in details on this page, describing sales agreement between customer and our company. Should you have more questions on on used car import from Japan please feel free to contact us or email us at info@jdmcars.jp

4.3 Would like to ask about warranties for the vehicle I purchased

Would like to ask about warranties for the vehicle I purchased As a used car exporter it would have been very suspicious to say -yes. What we guarantee is that you will have all the information disclosed to you about interior, exterior, mechanical and electronic issues based on inspection grading system done at the auction. For the vehicles, purchased from All Japan Dealer Stock, we will contact the seller and check the condition in details. Since these type of vehicles are prepared for domestic sales, it is in the sellers interest as well to disclose all the information as prices as possible.

4.4 Can you provide a reference from your customer in my country?

We will be very happy to provide a reference, if our customer agrees to share his contact information. According to Japanese law, all the privacy information is strictly protected. If you have any concerns, please kindly contact us for clarifications.

4.5 Do you make steering conversion?

Since there are abundant number of RHD and LHD cars in Japan there is no demand for local conversion. Moreover, considering strict technical inspection standards of cars in Japan, it is not legal to make a conversion. Please check your country’s Japan used car import regulations for further information.

4.6 Why you do not keep your own company Stock?

Unlike other companies exaggerating the condition of their stock, our policy is to provide genuine and unbiased information on vehicles’ condition at the lowest possible price. By offering cars directly from auto auctions, we do not pass the maintenance, labor and yard rental fees to our customers.

4.7 I live and work in Japan, can you assist in finding car within my budget?

Buying a vehicle by foreign residents is time consuming and bureaucratic procedure. Please kindly contact us for local sales options and fees structures. If you want to ship your vehicle to home country, then we will take car of local delivery, customs work and shipment as well.

4.8 Finding spare parts and shipment

To find the spare parts, we request customers to send correct chassis number, parts description and if available parts catalogue numbers.