View Full Version : Importing cars from Japan
Hi,
I'm interested in importing a car from Japan - from what I understand, the cars normally go for about half of the UK forecourt price of a specialist car importer, but you have to pay for SVA (£?), shipping (£750?) and that kind of thing - but if you are prepared to put some effort in, you can still save quite a bit doing it all yourself.
So - has anyone got any info:
Where to look for a car in Japan
How to arrange shipping, paperwork etc
What to do at this end :)
Experiences if you've imported yourself (I believe a few people on here have).
Failing that, if it's not worth it, any decent, reputable companies that will import to order, or keep a big stock - I'm looking for a big 4x4 type thing (probably a newish hilux surf).
Any info appreciated :)
Cheers,
Jon
mattpayne
31-03-2007, 20:01
ive done 2 sofar...
the skyline came from a dealer in japan, i chose the car from thier lot, they arranged the shipping, dereg and all jap paperwork... when in the uk i paid the customs, import agents then arranged the SVA with the local DVLA office...
the MX5 i bought from autoterminal.com the car was one of thier stock cars and i collected it from their compound after checking it out and making sure it was ok...
there is another way, where you buy direct from auction, then arrange to have it shipped... but that requires a little more work...
the autoterminal route was nice that i collected a car, after inspecting it and all i needed to do was mot and register the car... the saving isnt so great as handing random jap guys wads of cash, but it is a lot easier on the brain! they currently have lots of 4x4 types for just over a grand up...
http://www.matt-payne.com/sxoc/specials.jpg
the prices are all inclusive of sva, customs, etc... all needed is MOT + registration & tax (less than £200 for the pair :) )
:thumbs:
I'll check them out :)
Hmm - Ford Freda - think the Mazda Bongo Friendee has a much cooler name :D
Jez@Devoted
31-03-2007, 22:52
we get ours from www.japcar4u.com
we get ours from www.japcar4u.com
they have one of my cars for sale thats not theirs tut tut
Jez@Devoted
22-05-2007, 15:59
which ones that?
which ones that?
black silvia
Jez@Devoted
22-05-2007, 16:07
Link?
i only ask as im a close friend of steves and i see him twice a week, just dont sound like he would advertise a car thats not his, or that he wont have permission not to sell
Danny_Boy85
22-05-2007, 16:07
Importing cars can be a right nightmare.
You can do it yourself but if you havent got contacts and companies it can be rater difficult.
Shipping is anything from £500 up to £900 depending on how its shipped (container etc)
£60 for insurance against like scratches, dents, scuffs etc etc
Then the Tax and VAT when it lands in the UK docks (27.5%) and the clearing fee of £180 to get it out of the docks.
SVA on cars pre 97 need just a simple MOT with a Fog light installed, after 97 then need a SVA which is about £700 ish for a car sold in the UK, if it needsa a model report its more (im unsure on this price)
SVA's though need the speedo converted, fog light installed etc etc
Hope this helps matey.
I got my car from www.japcar4u.com and i couldnt of asked for better service, it got bought, picked up, mot'd, regestered and delivered to my house ;)
Link?
i only ask as im a close friend of steves and i see him twice a week, just dont sound like he would advertise a car thats not his, or that he wont have permission not to sell
we are used to this now lol, here is link by the way
http://www.japcar4u.com/ukstock/car05.php
and this is the car we have bought for a uk customer http://www.jm-imports.co.uk/cars_forsale_blackps13gcorp.htm
Jez@Devoted
22-05-2007, 16:14
well it looks to me like your both buying from the same dealer in Japan
so its first come first served
mattkeeber
22-05-2007, 16:15
Hmmm.. so what would he do if someone contacted him about buying it? contact you?... lol
Cant you watermark your images jurgen? to put this kind of thing off?
well it looks to me like your both buying from the same dealer in Japan
so its first come first served
we have BOUGHT THIS CAR lol we buy from many sources:thumbs:
Hmmm.. so what would he do if someone contacted him about buying it? contact you?... lol
Cant you watermark your images jurgen? to put this kind of thing off?
he would just have to say he dont own it lol
Danny_Boy85
22-05-2007, 16:18
the site has only just been made really, so it still needs updating etc etc.
But all it has is the cars offered from japan that obveiously oither people are offered the same cars. . .
SilviaS13
22-05-2007, 16:18
Hmm that could be dodgy if both companys sold it
Cant you watermark your images jurgen? to put this kind of thing off?
something that we will look into i reckon, as its more common now but we only advertise cars we own and bought or tuners in uk that ask us like the pink RX7 from dragon...
within time everyone catches on to who is buying them and who is not
Hmm that could be dodgy if both companys sold it
ONLY we can sell it as its my car, i have payed for it already, it would be dodgy but not for us as we can sell it
the site has only just been made really, so it still needs updating etc etc.
But all it has is the cars offered from japan that obveiously oither people are offered the same cars. . .
i can see what your saying but a site with virtual stock is not good, otherwise you could advertise 10000 of cars on your site and the stock you do buy would be swamped with virtual stock..thats my theory anyway, and people wont see it so best to advertise stuff you have
Jez@Devoted
22-05-2007, 16:25
i know steve well enought that he would not try and sell a car thats not his, but if a customer were to want that black s13 he would have bought it and sold it on
you bought it first so.....
TheNickos
22-05-2007, 16:37
speak to power vehicles on DW or GhostDancer.
Holy thread resurrection Batman! Check out Stuy's sig, I think he might have already got his 180 :p
i can see what your saying but a site with virtual stock is not good, otherwise you could advertise 10000 of cars on your site and the stock you do buy would be swamped with virtual stock..thats my theory anyway, and people wont see it so best to advertise stuff you have
It seems to be common practice among dealers and importers to advertise stock they don't have:
When I was looking, I registered on autoterminal.com (who seem to be the importers). From there, I could see a car for sale, view the auction sheet etc, get full details and even make a cash offer on it.
I know for a fact they didn't have that car - one other company in southampton was also advertising it for sale (on their own website and on ebay), and a company in gloucester actually had the car on their forecourt (I know, cos I sat in it ;) )
So three seperate unconnected companies claimed to have it for sale, one company really did.....
I also found another car I viewed on sale on ebay twice at the same time, different pics taken in the same garage forecourt, one seller in nottingham (appeared to be a private sale), and another in Birmingham...
PeteC: this thread is only 2 months old, and I don't think Stuy posted on it :P
It seems to be common practice among dealers and importers to advertise stock they don't have:
When I was looking, I registered on autoterminal.com (who seem to be the importers). From there, I could see a car for sale, view the auction sheet etc, get full details and even make a cash offer on it.
I know for a fact they didn't have that car - one other company in southampton was also advertising it for sale (on their own website and on ebay), and a company in gloucester actually had the car on their forecourt (I know, cos I sat in it ;) )
So three seperate unconnected companies claimed to have it for sale, one company really did.....
I also found another car I viewed on sale on ebay twice at the same time, different pics taken in the same garage forecourt, one seller in nottingham (appeared to be a private sale), and another in Birmingham...
PeteC: this thread is only 2 months old, and I don't think Stuy posted on it :P
the case of japcars4u was they have not updated their site but others theres is nothing that can be done am afraid, but in the end the public will know who does buy and who doesnt there is one company that advertises well 2 companies that advertise everyones stock in uk and in jp and the continous emails to them by me and japanese delaers results in nothing as they keep listing cars they have not purchased...or have been bought by myself or other importers
there is one company that advertises well 2 companies that advertise everyones stock in uk and in jp
Would they be based in Southampton by any chance?
Would they be based in Southampton by any chance?
dont think so think they called drag and ~+++++ and +++ angels
Different to the people I saw - (autoterminal, F1 autos (both in southampton) were advertising the car as theirs, HSC garage (gloucester) actually had it on their forecourt...
LOL at this thread, looked into the links and found something funny:
powervehicles cefiro-rb25-bn-sports (http://www.driftworks.com/forum/powervehicles/35757-cefiro-rb25-bn-sports.html)
and this one:
japcar4u.com ukstock cefiro RB25 (http://www.japcar4u.com/ukstock/car06.php)
Wierd a powervehicels is rather keen on keeping their threads up to date on DW, and i can't recall them being in the UK either.
Check the pictures as well, they seem "uprated" :no:
sorry to be thick here but who actually has the car for sale then? powervehicles or japcars4u?:rolleyes:
Jez@Devoted
27-05-2007, 11:42
both can, whoever would have sold that car for their customer over here would have bought the car from the place in japan
xborninthefight
27-05-2007, 11:53
http://www.japaneseusedcars.com/
is another one:thumbs:
sorry to be thick here but who actually has the car for sale then? powervehicles or japcars4u?:rolleyes:
both can, whoever would have sold that car for their customer over here would have bought the car from the place in japan
Powervehicels is a Japan based seller. Guess Japcars4u buy's there when they have sold the car...
noticed the diference in sale price? Wonder what you get for the incease in price...
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