# How to import a car from Japan: costs, steps and timeline

Updated 3 November 2026. The full chain of importing a used car from Japan, from choosing the car to registration, with the cost parts and what is still unverified.

Importing a used car from Japan has seven steps: check your country's rules, choose the car, buy it through an exporter, pay, cancel the Japanese registration, ship, then clear customs and register. The car price is only one part of the cost. Duties and taxes in the destination country are often the biggest part, and they are different in every country. We found few reliable public numbers for fees in Japan, so this guide gives numbers only where a source exists and says when a number is weak.

## The steps in order

1. **Check the destination rules first.** Every country sets its own rules on the age, type and condition of used cars it accepts ([JDM Buy Sell](https://www.jdmbuysell.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan/)). Do this before you look at any car. A car that is not allowed cannot be fixed later.
2. **Choose the car.** Read the auction sheet and grade if the car is from an auction. See [Japan auction grades explained](/guides/japan-auction-grades-explained) and [auction sheet damage codes](/guides/auction-sheet-damage-codes). Consider a separate inspection before you commit.
3. **Buy through an exporter.** The car can come from an auction or from dealer stock. Large auctions are members-only, so a member or exporter bids for you. See [can you bid at Japan car auctions](/guides/can-you-bid-at-japan-car-auctions). Check the exporter first: [how to vet a Japanese used car exporter](/guides/vet-japanese-used-car-exporter).
4. **Pay.** One vendor says the invoice usually arrives 24 to 48 business hours after a win and payment is due about 2 to 3 business days later, with a deposit of around USD 1,000 ([Logi-Net](https://www.logi-net.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan-a-2026-step-by-step-guide)). This is one company's practice, not a rule. Ask your exporter for its own terms in writing.
5. **Cancel the Japanese registration for export.** Japan Customs says the owner must first obtain a Certificate of Registration Deletion, or, if the car is already deregistered, a Certificate of Notice of Planned Export. Both are valid for six months ([Japan Customs](https://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/extsukan/5502_e.htm)). The exporter normally does this. See [Japan export certificate: what it is and who files it](/guides/japan-car-export-certificate).
6. **Ship the car.** The two main ways are RoRo (the car is driven onto a ship) and container. RoRo is usually cheaper and a container gives more protection ([Logi-Net](https://www.logi-net.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan-a-2026-step-by-step-guide)). See [RoRo vs container](/guides/shipping-a-car-from-japan-roro-vs-container).
7. **Clear customs and register.** A clearing agent in your country files the customs entry and pays duty. Then you complete any local inspection and registration.

## Check the chassis number early

The chassis number must be the same on the car, the invoice, the bill of lading and the export certificate. A wrong character can cause customs trouble ([EveryCar](https://www.everycar.jp/blog/?p=31945)). You can check the structure of a number with the [vehicle code decoder](/tools/vehicle-codes).

## What the cost is made of

| Cost part | What we found | Source quality |
|---|---|---|
| Car price | No general range. Depends on the car. | - |
| Auction and exporter fees | Parts named: buyer commission, recycling fee, lot fee, agent fee. We found no reliable numbers. | Vendor guide |
| Inland transport in Japan | No reliable numbers found. | - |
| Inspection | No reliable numbers found. | - |
| Ocean freight | One vendor says about USD 2,500 to 4,200 to major ports, varying with car size and destination. | Single vendor, unverified |
| Insurance | A small share of car value. Some policies cover only total loss of the ship, so read the terms. | Vendor guides |
| Duties and taxes in your country | One vendor says 30% to 50% of total import cost in many markets. | Single vendor, rough |

Treat the freight and duty figures as examples, not quotes. Prices move with exchange rates, routes and season. Ask your exporter for a full landed-cost quote that lists every line. The same vendor also says hidden charges can add over 20% to the final price; we could not check the basis for this, so use it only as a reason to ask for itemised quotes.

## How long it takes

One vendor estimates 4 to 8 weeks from purchase to delivery, and 3 to 6 weeks of that is RoRo shipping from booking ([Logi-Net](https://www.logi-net.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan-a-2026-step-by-step-guide)). Another source says the stage deadlines do not add up to a total delivery time ([JDM Buy Sell](https://www.jdmbuysell.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan/)). So the estimates are rough. Delays can come from the shipping schedule, paperwork errors or customs. Plan for more time than the shortest estimate.

## Documents that travel with the car

Exporter guides list the same core set: the original export certificate, commercial invoice, bill of lading, and often a packing list. Some countries also ask for a pre-shipment inspection certificate. A mismatch between the invoice and the customs entry is a common reason a car is held at the terminal ([WC Shipping](https://www.wcshipping.com/blog/japanese-export-certificate-deregistration-guide-for-us-imports)). Check every document before the ship leaves, not after it arrives.

## Country rules

This guide does not cover duties or age limits, because they differ by country and change often. For Pakistan, see [commercial import of used cars in Pakistan](/guides/commercial-import-used-cars-pakistan). For landed-cost examples, see [Toyota Aqua](/guides/toyota-aqua-landed-cost-pakistan) and [Toyota Vitz](/guides/toyota-vitz-landed-cost-pakistan). For the wider market, see [Japan used car exports by country](/guides/japan-used-car-exports-by-country).

## Before you pay

- Confirm that your country allows this car, by age and type.
- Ask for an itemised quote: car, fees, transport in Japan, inspection, freight, insurance.
- Ask who files the export deregistration and who pays for it.
- Ask for copies of all documents before shipping, and compare the chassis numbers.
- Ask your clearing agent for the duty estimate in writing.

This guide is general information, not customs or legal advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm them with the authority in your country before you buy.

## Sources
1. [Japan Customs: Export of used vehicles (Q&A 5502)](https://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/extsukan/5502_e.htm)
2. [MLIT Tohoku Transport Bureau, Aomori: export procedures (Japanese)](https://wwwtb.mlit.go.jp/tohoku/am/am-sub02-007.html)
3. [Logi-Net: How to import a car from Japan, a 2026 step-by-step guide (9 May 2026)](https://www.logi-net.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan-a-2026-step-by-step-guide)
4. [JDM Buy Sell: How to import a car from Japan (sources checked 12 Oct 2026)](https://www.jdmbuysell.com/blog/how-to-import-a-car-from-japan/)
5. [WC Shipping: Japanese export certificate and deregistration guide (updated 22 Oct 2026)](https://www.wcshipping.com/blog/japanese-export-certificate-deregistration-guide-for-us-imports)
6. [EveryCar: document checks for Japanese vehicle imports (9 Jul 2026)](https://www.everycar.jp/blog/?p=31945)

## Contact
- WhatsApp (Japan): +81 70-8428-1142 — https://wa.me/817084281142
- Replies: within 1 hour, 9:00–19:00 Japan time
- Request a quote: https://hanamotors.jp/#quote