Dealer Cars from Japan: Import Guide

Choose a Dealer Vehicle

Select a specific car from Japan Stock or tell us what type of vehicle you want us to find.

You can browse current dealer cars from Japan and send us the listing you are interested in. If you have not chosen a specific car, provide the make, model, year, mileage range, preferred specification, colour and destination country.

Dealer listings are time-sensitive. The vehicle remains available to other buyers until the dealer receives and confirms the required reservation payment.

Pay the $200 Verification Deposit

A $200 deposit is required before we contact the dealer and begin verification of the selected vehicle.

The payment covers the initial work for one specific vehicle, including communication with the seller and collection of the information available before purchase. It ensures that our team and local partners begin the case for a committed client.

Contact the Dealer and Check the Documents

We confirm that the vehicle is still available and request the materials required for an informed decision.

Depending on what the dealer holds and is willing to provide, we may request registration and ownership information, export eligibility details, service-book photographs, maintenance records, additional exterior and interior photographs, videos and a paint-thickness measurement.

• Vehicle availability and seller details
• Chassis or VIN and available registration documents
• Service history and supporting photographs
• Known damage, repairs and dealer disclosures

The available documentation differs between vehicles and dealers. A missing record is reported clearly rather than treated as proof that the vehicle has no history or defects.

Arrange a Physical Inspection

When access and location allow it, we arrange an independent physical inspection before purchase.

Inspection availability depends on where the car is located, the dealer's access rules and the time for which the vehicle can remain unsold. Cars near our operating areas and major Japanese cities are generally easier to inspect than vehicles in remote regions.

The exact scope is confirmed before the visit and may include bodywork, paint readings, interior condition, visible mechanical observations, warning lights, tyres, wheels, underbody areas and a road test when permitted.

Review the Findings and Costs

You review the available documents, inspection findings and expected import costs before deciding whether to buy.

We prepare a vehicle-specific breakdown covering the dealer price, the $1,360 ZenithCars service fee, applicable inspection supplements, domestic transport, storage or export preparation and the selected shipping route. Destination taxes and charges are estimated separately because they depend on the country of import and the customs value accepted by the authorities.

For a broader overview of Japan-side and destination costs, see our Japan car import calculator.

Secure the Vehicle

A fast reservation payment may be required because a listed dealer vehicle can be sold at any time.

The reservation amount is confirmed individually and is typically around 10% of the vehicle price. Once received and accepted by the dealer, it is credited towards the purchase price rather than added as a separate vehicle cost.

A confirmed reservation normally gives approximately seven days to settle the remaining balance, but the exact deadline depends on the dealer and the individual vehicle. We provide the applicable amount and deadline before you transfer the reservation payment.

Pay the Balance and Japan-Side Costs

The remaining balance must be paid within the deadline confirmed for the selected dealer vehicle.

The reservation payment is deducted from the amount due. The settlement normally covers the remaining vehicle price, the $1,360 ZenithCars service fee and the agreed Japan-side costs, such as collection from the dealer, domestic transport to our yard or the port, storage when required and export-document preparation.

After cleared payment, we purchase and collect the vehicle. It is moved to our Japanese yard, another agreed storage location or directly towards the export port, depending on its location and the shipping plan.

You can read more about our broader vehicle sourcing service and see examples in the ZenithCars import portfolio.

Choose and Book Shipping

We select the shipping method according to the destination, schedule, vehicle dimensions, availability and your preference.

When the booking is available, we provide the confirmed route, expected schedule and freight price. Details of the wider logistics service are available on our car shipping page.

Load, Pay Freight and Track the Shipment

After the vehicle is loaded and the shipment is confirmed, you pay the agreed sea-freight amount.

For container transport, the vehicle is positioned and secured for the sea journey, and photographic loading documentation is provided when available. For RoRo, the vehicle is delivered to the terminal under the carrier's acceptance procedure.

You receive the available shipping documents and tracking information, including the container or Bill of Lading details when issued. Sailing and arrival dates can change because of carrier schedules, port operations, transshipment and weather.

Customs Clearance and Final Delivery

At the destination, the vehicle completes import clearance before collection or onward delivery.

The importer pays the customs-clearance service, customs duty, import VAT or other local taxes, and applicable port, terminal or handling charges. The final amount depends on the destination country, vehicle classification and customs value accepted by the authorities.

After release, you can collect the vehicle from the agreed location or ask us to arrange transport to your home, company or selected workshop. Registration and technical requirements remain country- and vehicle-specific.

For related questions, visit our car import FAQ or review the broader Japan car import process.