Buying a used car from Japan
 

I have been checking various sites for something to import from Japan but don't feel comfortable going through the numerous intermediate car sites.


Anyone on this forum bought directly from Japan through the intermediate websites or directly through Japanese dealers? Good or bad experiences welcomed.

No, but I have researched it enough to know that it's a huge PITA unless you pay someone that knows what they are doing. The requirement that everything 25 years or newer needs to be updated to modern safety and emissions is kind of a huge roadblock.

Not sure what the regulations are in the UK but I think the safest bet is to find a local importer that deals with used Japanese imports.

For example in Hong Kong one would usually have a contact in Japan that would buy the new car and keep it for 3 months, then have the ownership transferred over in Japan. Then one would need to go thru the procedure of getting the car certified for safety and emissions (via a Japanese gov sanctioned testing facility as their inspection standards are tighter than Hong Kong, IIRC as a result of importer(s) lobbied the British HK gov in the early 90's and successfully set a precedence in the courts). Once everything is done the car is shipped over and plated, etc. Takes a few months.

In Canada, it's impossible for newer rides since the gov here only allow foreign import of cars 15 years or older and the process just as if not even more complicated, but there are local importers here specialized in this stuff.

You guys already have a much better selection than we can ever dream of here. :D

There is a company here in America that deals with all the shipping and registration paperwork for you. It's basically like buying a car from a normal dealership. Maybe they have something similar in the UK?

https://www.japaneseclassics.com/inventory/

Thanks guys. There are plenty of Japanese car importers in the UK. I was thinking of dealing directly with a dealer in Japan. I will keep looking until I find a car that is interesting and then go about trying to contact the dealer. Perhaps a trip over to Japan.....

If you decide to go, I'm sure many of us would love to read about your experience. Would be fun.

Not worth the risk until you know how importing a vehicle works under UK law.

All you need is someone who doesn't know how to export to file the wrong documents, and your car is lost.

Yes, my wife is keen to give it a go. Keep you all posted.

it is usually easier and safer to do it the other way around. Find someone in the UK that is reliable and trustworthy, and have them look for the car you want. Or at least discuss it with someone that is knowledgeable about the gray market in the UK. I know it is much easier there than it is here.

What kind of car are you looking?

I am liking the old Subaru Impreza GC8 2 door and the Skyline the KPGC variety.. all pending cashflow and what's on the market.

If it's the Subaru, the plan is to mod it WRC wide body look, stripped but something that can be used on the road.. This sort of thing:

There are English importers on YouTube where they go thru the Japanese inspection sheet at the port to show you what to typically look for on that particular type of car.

Yep, you're correct. I was wondering if there was a more direct route.. will keep looking.

I have never done it but a couple of summers ago spent an hour or so chatting with a guy that imported a STi (I don't remember what) from Japan.
He said that finding what he wanted and getting them out of Japan is a piece of cake. Getting them into Canada however was damn near impossible for somebody without very specialized knowledge. He tried to do it on his own for a couple of years and finally just gave up and used an import service. He also said he actually saved money in the long run.
Don't know about the UK import system for cars (hell I don't know about Canada's) but his biggest concern was that if all the documentation was not "perfect" upon arrival then the car would go straight from port to a crusher without appeal, recourse or any other possible action. Seems extreme to me and I can not confirm the accuracy of the statement but knowing how the government works sometimes it could be true.