Buying a car from Japan, start to finish
Four to eight weeks from deposit to your port, depending on destination and sailing schedule. Here is exactly what happens at each stage.
- 01
Set your destination, then choose
Pick your country and discharge port once. Every price across the site switches from FOB to your landed cost, so you compare vehicles the way you actually pay for them, including ocean freight, marine insurance and any inspection your country requires.
Nothing is committed at this stage and no account is needed.
- 02
We confirm and issue a proforma invoice
Send us the stock reference. We re-confirm the unit is unsold, hold it for you, and issue a formal proforma invoice showing FOB, freight, insurance, inspection and the total payable. The invoice is valid for seven days.
Ask for undercarriage photos and the auction sheet before you commit. We send them free.
- 03
Pay a deposit to reserve
A deposit takes the vehicle off the market immediately. Pay by card for speed, or by telegraphic transfer for larger amounts. For bank transfers you upload the SWIFT copy and we confirm receipt as soon as the funds clear.
Deposits are typically $500 to $2,000 depending on the value of the unit.
- 04
Inspection and vessel booking
Where your destination requires pre-shipment inspection (JEVIC, QISJ or equivalent) we arrange it and send you the certificate. Then we book space on the next suitable sailing, RoRo or container depending on what you chose.
We tell you the vessel name and estimated departure as soon as it is fixed.
- 05
Settle the balance, receive documents
Once the vehicle is loaded we issue the Bill of Lading. On final payment we courier the original B/L, export certificate, commercial invoice and inspection certificate to you or direct to your clearing agent.
Scanned copies go out the same day so your agent can start clearance early.
- 06
Track and collect
Follow the vessel to arrival. Your clearing agent presents the original documents at the port, pays local duty and VAT, and releases the vehicle to you.
Duty and port charges are set by your customs authority and are not included in our quote.
RoRo or container?
Both are quoted on every vehicle. Neither is universally cheaper. It depends on the volume of the unit and the route.
Roll-on / Roll-off (RoRo)
The vehicle is driven onto a purpose-built car carrier. Usually cheapest for a single vehicle, and the fastest to discharge at the other end.
- · Best for one unit at a time
- · No personal effects may be left inside
- · Slightly higher exposure to handling marks
Container
The vehicle is sealed inside a 20ft or 40ft container. Better protection, and the per-unit rate drops sharply when two or more vehicles share a 40ft box.
- · Best value for two or more units
- · Fully protected from weather and handling
- · Adds a few days for loading and devanning
Paying safely
Card deposit
Fast and secure for the reservation deposit. Processed by Stripe; we never see your card details.
Telegraphic transfer (T/T)
The standard route for the balance. Our bank details appear on the proforma invoice; upload your SWIFT copy and we confirm on clearance.
What we never do
We will never ask you to send money to a personal account, or to an account whose name differs from the one on your invoice. If you ever see that, stop and call us.
Indicative transit times
Freight, insurance and inspection are already included in the price shown on every vehicle, quoted to the port you select. These are the sailing times to plan around.
| Port | Country | Inspection | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mombasa | Kenya | $165 | ~30 days |
| Dar es Salaam | Tanzania | $155 | ~32 days |
| Durban | South Africa | n/a | ~38 days |
| Walvis Bay | Namibia | n/a | ~42 days |
| Maputo | Mozambique | n/a | ~40 days |
| Karachi | Pakistan | $190 | ~22 days |
| Chittagong | Bangladesh | $180 | ~24 days |
| Colombo | Sri Lanka | $175 | ~20 days |
| Port Louis | Mauritius | $145 | ~28 days |
| Kingston | Jamaica | $130 | ~48 days |
| Port of Spain | Trinidad & Tobago | $130 | ~50 days |
| Georgetown | Guyana | n/a | ~52 days |
| Auckland | New Zealand | $210 | ~18 days |
| Sydney | Australia | $220 | ~20 days |
| Limassol | Cyprus | n/a | ~40 days |
| Southampton | United Kingdom | n/a | ~45 days |
Rates are indicative and confirmed on your proforma invoice. Destination duty, VAT and port charges are excluded.
Ready to start?
Browse stock with your port already selected, or tell us your budget and let us send you three options.