Buying
Importing a JDM car from Japan: auction sheets, grades and costs
3 min read
Japanese auctions are famous for honest grading and cars in excellent condition. With a reliable exporter, buying a JDM car is safer than buying blind from US auctions – if you understand the auction sheet. This guide covers how buying works, how to read grades and what the import costs in the EU.
How buying in Japan works
Auctions such as USS, TAA, CAA and JU are open to licensed dealers. You buy through an exporter: you choose cars, set a maximum bid, and the exporter bids, pays, deregisters the car for export and ships it.
- 1Choose an exporter with experience shipping to the EU and agree the fees in writing.
- 2Pay a deposit and get access to auction listings.
- 3Shortlist cars and ask for translated auction sheets and extra photos.
- 4Set a maximum bid; the exporter bids on your behalf.
- 5Pay the car and fees after the auction, usually within a few days.
- 6The exporter deregisters the car, issues the export certificate and books shipping.
- 7The car sails to the chosen EU port, where it is cleared and delivered.
Reading the auction sheet
Overall grade: 6–5 nearly new, 4.5–4 very good, 3.5 average, R/RA repaired accident car Interior grade: A to D Body map: A = scratch, U = dent, W = wave/repair, S = rust, C = corrosion, with a number for size Inspector notes – always get them translated
| Grade | Meaning | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| 6–5 | Nearly new, very low mileage | Buyers who want a showroom car |
| 4.5–4 | Very good, minor marks | Most daily-driver and enthusiast imports |
| 3.5 | Average, visible wear or small repairs | Budget buyers ready to refresh |
| R / RA | Repaired accident car | Buyers who check what was repaired |
Costs and timing
Add the exporter’s fee, inland transport in Japan, export documents and freight. Ships go via Suez: about 5–6 weeks to the North Sea, less to Mediterranean ports. Duty is 10% for passenger cars and import VAT is paid in the country of clearance.
Customs value is calculated in the same way as for US cars: price plus fees, inland transport, freight and insurance up to the EU border. On top come import VAT at the clearance country’s rate (e.g. 21%), port and agent fees, delivery and national registration costs. Classic JDM cars over 30 years old in original condition may qualify as collector’s vehicles with 0% duty.
Popular JDM imports
Typical choices are sports and tuner cars from the 1990s and 2000s, kei cars, rare trim levels and Japan-only models of well-known brands. Popular cars attract many bidders, so prices for clean, unmodified examples have risen. Heavily modified cars may be harder to register, because every change must be approved in the inspection.
Right-hand drive
Most EU countries register RHD cars, usually after headlight adjustment. A few restrict them for permanent registration – check your national rules before buying.
Japan vs USA: which is safer?
US auctions sell many damaged cars with limited information, while Japanese auctions mostly sell used cars in running condition with an independent inspection sheet. In return, the trip from Japan is longer, the car is right-hand drive and the choice of EU-relevant models is narrower. For enthusiasts looking for a specific model, Japan is often the better source; for cheap late-model cars, the US offers more.
Choosing an exporter
Experience with EU customers and with the port you want to use Transparent fees: auction fee, exporter commission, inland transport, documents, freight Full auction sheet with translation and extra photos on request Container shipping to Europe, not only RoRo Clear payment terms and a company you can verify
Ask the exporter for a full example invoice of a recent car shipped to Europe. It shows all fees in one place and lets you calculate your own maximum bid in yen before the auction, with the EU duty, VAT and delivery added in the calculator.
Questions & answers
Are Japanese mileages reliable?
Generally yes – auction sheets and export certificates record mileage, and rollbacks are rare compared with other markets.
What about rust?
Cars from northern Japan (Hokkaido) can have underbody rust from road salt; the sheet marks it as S or C.
How long does shipping from Japan to Europe take?
About 5–6 weeks to North Sea ports via Suez, less to Mediterranean ports such as Koper, Genoa or Piraeus.
Calculate the exact cost for your car
Enter only your address – we propose the rest and price every port door to door.
