Export Car From Japan
When you have finally decided that your next car will come from Japan, and you will get it from the doorstep an exporter, then it’s time that you learn a few basic things that will help you through the process as smoothly as possible.
As a new exporter as you probably are yourself, there are a few basic steps that will help you to buy a used car from Japan with minimum hurdles. Here are the basic steps:
Find an exporter- while in the search for one, going through the JAPAN USED MOTOR VEHICLE ASSOCIATION website would be of tremendous help to you in finding only those exporters that are accredited to export cars from Japan. To do away with losing money to cons who may claim to be accredited by the association on their websites, counter check this alongside the list of accredited exporters just to be safe.
Choose a car – While choosing the car, the factors to consider other then the manufacturer and model of the car versus your taste is the cost of importing the car as opposed to buying one that is already in the market. Most exporters will give the FOB value of the car that they have on sale. This price
is the ex shipping price and excludes the freight, vat customs, clearing agent fees and any other costs that you
may incur before the car is ready to be legally driven on the roads such as licensing and in effect may make the car appear cheaper than
those already in the domestic market. So don’t get fooled by the cheap
price, calculate first the costs and decide. The price that appears low will increase significantly when these costs are cleared.
Contact the exporter either by mail, fax or call depending on the
contacts that are available on their website.
To signify that you are ready to buy the car, sign the pro forma invoice that the exporter sends you mostly via fax.
SEND the payment for the car via telegraphic transfer or through you
bank. Payment using the credit card is a good way to safeguard you
interests but as few exporters accept credit cards, your choice of
exporters will be limited.
Next, the seller books the car into a ship ready to ship it to you. The cost of freight is calculated in cubic meters. Shortly after the car has been
shipped, the documents of ownership or other relevant documentations are sent
to you by courier to facilitate arrangements for custom clearance and ownership. With the documents may also be an invoice requiring that you clear the balance if any since the car is on the way.
Instruct the shipping company of the agent to clear the car through customs on your behalf once it lands. When the car is at port, the agent will clear it for you. This will include clearing the shipping costs, import duty, vat and before the car
is released, clearing agent’s fees.
Get the car registered with the relevant authority. This will usually attract a charge.
Prepare the car for any safety tests that are required before the car is ready to in to the road. This may include-changing the speedometer to km/hr or m/hr whichever relevant based on the legislations of the state that you are in, fitting rear fog lights or
other alterations that are required by law.
Pay taxes to get a license and the car is ready for the road!
