How to buy a car in Japan: A complete guide (2024)

FAQs

Is it easy to buy a car in Japan? ›

Buying a car in Japan is a pretty straightforward process, and you may even find it a lot more pleasant than you would elsewhere in the world.

The cost to import a car from Japan to USA starts around $2000+ per car. The price for importing a car from Japan will depend on the type of vehicle, the shipment type chosen for ocean transit, and the distances from the origin and destination ports.

Nissan Versa

The Versa is not only the least expensive Japanese car on the market, it's the least expensive new car you can buy, period, with a starting price of $12,825 (including destination fee).

Japan's bestselling car in 2021 was the Toyota Yaris, which knocked the Honda N-Box off first position after four years at the top. The Honda N-Box, the top-selling passenger car in Japan for the past four years, has finally dropped into second place, overtaken by the Toyota Yaris.

Japan has some of the most competitive new vehicle costs in Asia and the rest of the globe. This is due to Japan's vast economy, which allows for "scale economies," as well as the fact that automobiles made locally do not need to be shipped as far for sale.

In all Asian countries combined, the pricing of new cars in Japan is the lowest. The underlying reason is the large economy of scale (Japan is the third largest economy in the world) which allows the manufacturers to sell their car at a much lower price in the local market.

When you are buying a car directly from Japan, you do not have to pay even a single penny of import tax. Aside from that, all the taxes related to used automobiles are relatively lower than what other countries require.

Import duty is 10 % on cars imported from Japan. Add the FOB cost and the shipping cost together.

Three years after purchase, every new car has to go through an expensive inspection process, and once every two years after that. Furthermore, vehicles older than 10 years have to pass the inspection every year. As a result, most car owners in Japan write off their cars after 10 years and buy new ones.

What car is mostly used in Japan? ›

In 2021, Toyota's Yaris was the best-selling passenger car model within the Japanese automobile market, with a sales volume of almost 213 thousand units. Toyota compact minivan Roomy ranked second, sales reaching over 134 thousand units.

on a tourist visa) or you don't have a Japanese driver's license, you can't buy a car in Japan. Even if you're equipped with the right visa and you've switched your license over, you still need a couple more things. The first is relatively easy—you need a registered inkan.

While Korean cars are attractive with their high-tech features and design, no one beats Japanese cars when it comes to safety. Many drivers find a lot of stability in Japanese cars. Oftentimes, you'll be able to enjoy the car for ten years with minimal repairs.

Luckily for us, Japan is there to rescue the average consumer from this proverbial money-pit. Rather than an over-engineered European car, the Japanese ones are far simpler; offering a lower cost for repairs and starting costs overall!

Cars from Japan tend to require less maintenance than cars from anywhere else in the world¹. For the savvy buyer with a budget, you'll want a car that isn't going to require expensive servicing every six months. A Japanese car is the one for you.

Japanese manufacturers again dominate the list of vehicles that retain their value best, according to Canadian Black Book, the online resource for vehicle values.

The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act, commonly known as the 25-year import rule. It prevents individuals from importing new foreign-market vehicles without undertaking a lengthy—and costly—testing and federalization process. Proponents of the legislation claim the IVSCA keeps American drivers safe.

Where is the best place to import cars from Japan? ›

For insurance companies, grey import cars are seen as riskier to insure because they represent an unknown quantity. Insurance premiums are therefore likely to be more expensive for grey imports due to this risk factor. Japanese import cars can also cost more to insure because of potential repair costs.

In short, a car can be purchased in one country and shipped to another by an experienced shipper and, as long as it conforms to the rules and regulations of the importing country, then there are no problems. Such is the case with cars from Japan.

Japan applies a customs tariff that is among the lowest in the world (on average, 2.5%).

The better option is to stay at a Michi No Eki for overnight sleeps – they're free – and this is where Japanese people actually do sleep in their car overnight. So you won't have to worry about looking out of place.

A lot of people use the excuse that Japanese cars weren't built for our diverse climate here in the states, but that fails on two levels: Older Japanese cars were known for rusting even in dry conditions. Japan is an island, there's salt everywhere.

Toyota tops the list of who makes the most cars. It's Number One in the world. It sold nearly 10.5 million vehicles in 2021, more than anyone else.

Which Japanese car has the best engine? ›

German cars provide sturdier feel, smooth and controlled ride while Japanese cars shake in bumpy roads. Space is wider in German cars so people can sit back and relax. Though safety cannot be guaranteed, German cars are much safer compared to Japanese cars because of more airbags.

Essentially, Mazda has emerged as the most dependable brand by sticking to the same formula. CR gave Mazda an overall model score of 83. Toyota and Lexus come in at second and third with scores of 74 and 71, respectively.

With the categories we looked at, it turns out that Toyota is the superior brand, having more vehicles, better prices, and superior reliability. However, when it comes to choosing between Honda or Toyota, Honda is no slouch either, having similar reliability ratings, affordable prices, and even better safety ratings.

Do Japanese Cars Last Longer Than American and EU Cars? In a study by the Curtis Laws Wilson Library, Japanese cars are more reliable than their American and EU counterparts. The study showed that American cars start out slow in reliability but catch up to Japanese cars in their tenth year.

Registering a car in Japan can be challenging, especially if you don't speak or read Japanese. To buy from a dealer, you will need: Valid international driver's permit and foreign drivers license or Japanese driver's license. Copy of your Residence Card.

on a tourist visa) or you don't have a Japanese driver's license, you can't buy a car in Japan. Even if you're equipped with the right visa and you've switched your license over, you still need a couple more things. The first is relatively easy—you need a registered inkan.

When you are buying a car directly from Japan, you do not have to pay even a single penny of import tax. Aside from that, all the taxes related to used automobiles are relatively lower than what other countries require.

It is not that difficult to import a car from Japan. The paperwork can be a bit of work, but the process is only difficult if you cannot find a local importer who will work with a sea shipping company to get the car onto a container vessel and over the ocean to the US.

Can you negotiate car price in Japan? ›

The Estimate and Negotiating. In general, Japan is not a negotiating society, but car purchasing is an exception, so do not be embarrassed to haggle. As with your realtor, the dealership will ask you to list your target price range, as well as make, model, and features.

A few years ago, there was a law requiring cars older than 10 years to pass an inspection test other than shaken. That law is valid no more. The only extra cost that you have to bear is a 10% extra fee on the annual taxes for cars older than 13 years.

As of March 31, 2021, the average passenger car in Japan was in use for about 13.87 years until its registration cancellation. This number represents a record high, increasing from a vehicle lifespan of around 13.51 years in the previous year.

The Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act, commonly known as the 25-year import rule. It prevents individuals from importing new foreign-market vehicles without undertaking a lengthy—and costly—testing and federalization process. Proponents of the legislation claim the IVSCA keeps American drivers safe.

Japanese nationality can be acquired in three ways: birth, notification, and naturalization. If the father or mother is a Japanese national at the time of birth. If the father died before the child's birth and was a Japanese national at the time of death.

Import duty is 10 % on cars imported from Japan. Add the FOB cost and the shipping cost together.

Japanese manufacturers again dominate the list of vehicles that retain their value best, according to Canadian Black Book, the online resource for vehicle values.

A motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old can be lawfully imported into the U.S. without regard to whether it complies with all applicable FMVSS. Such a vehicle would be entered under Box 1 on the HS-7 Declaration form to be given to Customs at the time of importation.

What do I need to know before importing a car from Japan? ›

In short, a car can be purchased in one country and shipped to another by an experienced shipper and, as long as it conforms to the rules and regulations of the importing country, then there are no problems. Such is the case with cars from Japan.