Long-form articles on importing Japanese used vehicles — process, costs, inspection, destinations.
Noah/Voxy or Serena? Both dominate Japan's family-minivan auctions. We compare reliability, parts, space, running costs and auction prices — and call the winner by market.
Full-size Land Cruiser or Prado? One is a heavy-duty tool, the other a lighter all-rounder. We compare reliability, parts, capability, running costs and auction prices — by use-case.
Hiace or Caravan/NV350? We export both every month. Here is the honest comparison — reliability, parts, load space, running costs and auction prices — and which van fits your market.
Same platform, same auctions, different buyers. We export both twins every month — here is the honest breakdown of Alphard vs Vellfire, and which one your market actually wants.
Church groups, hotels, schools and tour operators worldwide run the Coaster for a reason. Here is how we grade B40/B50 and B60/B70 buses at auction — and how we handle fleet orders.
The Note is the cheap-to-run alternative to the Aqua and Fit that importers keep asking us for. Here is how we grade E11, E12 and E13 at auction — and what we check before bidding.
Japan's best-selling minivan class produces deep, cheap auction supply of the Serena. Here is how we separate the honest family vans from the worn-out ones.
The X-Trail earned its rugged reputation honestly — but the CVT, the 4WD system and rust from snow-country cars decide whether a given example is worth your bid.
Same platform as the Alphard, bolder face, often better value at auction. How we grade Vellfires, what actually fails, and which export markets pay for them.
The RAV4 is one of the most requested SUVs we export. Here is how the three generations compare at auction, what we check before bidding, and which version fits which market.
Mauritius is a textbook Japanese-import market — RHD, left-hand traffic, hybrid-friendly. The age-based import rule shapes every purchase, so here is how we buy and ship for Mauritian clients.
Hong Kong has no fixed age limit on imported cars — but the First Registration Tax decides whether a deal makes sense. Here is how we handle Hong Kong shipments in practice.
Singapore is the strictest market we serve — under-3-years-old only, COE on top, high duties. Here is how the parallel import trade really works and which late-model cars justify the numbers.
Canada's 15-year rule turned it into one of the best JDM markets on earth. Here is how the exemption works, why Quebec is different, and which cars our Vancouver-bound containers are full of.
The UK is the easiest RHD market we ship to — but NOVA, IVA and the VAT maths still trip people up. Here is the whole process, from Yokohama to a UK number plate.
Australia takes Japanese imports through two doors — SEVS with RAW compliance, or the 25-year classic route. A licensed Japanese exporter explains biosecurity, shipping to Brisbane, real costs and the JDM models worth buying.
Which Prius generation should you export, and how worried should you really be about the hybrid battery? A generation-by-generation guide from the auction floor — XW20 to XW60, battery health signals, FOB price bands and market fit.
Fiji drives on the left, and its customs rules favour hybrids — a near-perfect match for Japanese auctions. Our exporter's guide to RoRo shipping, duty concessions, and LTA registration.
Ireland is a perfect right-hand-drive match for Japanese cars. Our exporter's guide covers shipping to Dublin, EU-Japan EPA duty, 23% VAT, VRT, the NOx levy — and which imports really pay off.
A licensed Japanese exporter walks through Zimbabwe's confirmed 10-year age limit, the Dar es Salaam route with bonded road transit to Harare, ZIMRA duty and VAT, CVR registration — and why a grade 4+ auction car with a translated sheet protects you.
How Malaysia's recon car trade really works, from the exporter's side: the AP permit system, why late-model Alphards and Harriers fill the showrooms, the 10–14 day Port Klang route, the duty stack, and the PUSPAKOM and JPJ gates every car must pass.
Which Prado generation to export, diesel or petrol by destination, what to check before bidding, and realistic FOB prices — from a licensed Japanese exporter.
Grade 4 or 3.5? R-grade bargain or trap? A licensed Japanese exporter explains what each auction grade really means and which grade fits your export market.
From Nairobi to Colombo, the Toyota Harrier is the status SUV of choice. Our exporter's guide covers all four generations, the Lexus RX connection, a pre-bid checklist and realistic FOB prices.
The Toyota Alphard is the executive-transport king of the Gulf, Southeast Asia and Africa. Our exporter's guide covers all four generations, Alphard vs Vellfire, engine choices, a hands-on auction checklist and realistic FOB prices.
Odometer fraud is the overseas buyer's biggest fear — and one of the easiest things to rule out on an auction-sourced Japanese car. Here are the five verification layers we use on every vehicle, and the red flags that should make you walk away.
From the Trade Licence Unit application to plates at the Licensing Division — a licensed Japanese exporter's step-by-step guide to importing a used car to Port of Spain.
Noah vs Voxy differences, all four generations (R60–R90), petrol vs hybrid, our auction inspection checklist and realistic FOB prices — a licensed exporter's guide to Japan's favourite family minivans.
A licensed Japanese exporter's step-by-step advice for aspiring dealers: study your market, get licensed, vet your Japan-side partner, prove the pipeline with 1–2 trial units, and scale on real margins — not hoped-for ones.
New Zealand is one of the world's biggest per-capita importers of Japanese used cars. A licensed Japanese exporter walks through eligibility rules, MPI biosecurity, RoRo shipping to Auckland, entry certification, WOF and real-world costs.
Routes via Tianjin or Vladivostok, customs and excise scaled by engine size and age, winter-readiness checks and traffic-police registration — a licensed Japanese exporter's guide to landing a car in Ulaanbaatar.
A licensed Japanese exporter's step-by-step guide to shipping a used car to Kingston — Trade Board licence, TRN, age limits, CIF-based duties, RoRo transit and ITA registration.
Sri Lanka reopened vehicle imports in 2025 — with a three-year age limit, mandatory Letters of Credit and steep engine-based duties. A licensed Japanese exporter explains the whole process to Colombo, step by step.
From the Export Certificate (deregistration) and its English translation to the invoice, Bill of Lading, and JEVIC/EAA inspection — here is every document your customs agent needs, and why.
Japan builds right-hand-drive vehicles. Learn which export markets require RHD, which need LHD or conversion, which countries ban RHD outright, and how to pick the right destination for your import business.
A B2B buyer's guide to 660cc Japanese kei mini trucks — Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hijet, Honda Acty, Subaru Sambar and Mitsubishi Minicab. Models compared, 4WD drivetrain, export markets, prices and container-shared shipping.
A practical, cost-focused guide to importing a Japanese used car to Zambia via Dar es Salaam and the road to Lusaka — ZRA duties, timelines, and the models that sell.
A practical, step-by-step guide to importing a Japanese used car to Uganda via Mombasa — URA taxes, age-based environmental levy, RHD rules, popular models and real costs.
A practical export buyer's guide to the Mitsubishi Delica D5 — petrol 4B12 vs 4N14 diesel, S-AWC drive, facelifts, inspection check points, and realistic price ranges.
Everything B2B importers need to know about the Honda Fit (Jazz): generations GD/GE/GK/GR, Magic Seats packaging, i-VTEC and hybrid engines, CVT checks, reliability, and export price ranges.
A practical export buyer's guide to the Toyota Vitz — generations, engines, fuel economy, what to inspect, and why it dominates taxi and first-car demand across Africa and the Caribbean.
A practical guide to paying safely for a Japanese car export: T/T bank transfer vs L/C, deposits and balance against the B/L, escrow, proforma invoices, and the scam red flags every importer should know.
Everything a used-vehicle importer needs on the Toyota Premio and Allion — T260/T240 generations, engines, comfort, resale in Africa and South Asia, model differences, inspection points and pricing.
A practical export buyer's guide to the Toyota Corolla Fielder — NZE, ZRE and NKE hybrid generations, 1.5L fuel economy, cargo utility, price ranges, and what to inspect before you import.
A practical export-buyer's guide to the used Subaru Forester — symmetrical AWD, boxer engines, every generation (SG/SH/SJ/SK), turbo XT vs NA, and the head-gasket and CVT checks that protect your margin.
Why the Toyota Probox dominates East Africa as a taxi and delivery vehicle, how NCP/NSP and NHP hybrid generations differ, engine and drivetrain options, what to inspect, and realistic export price ranges.
Everything a used-vehicle importer needs to buy the right Toyota Hilux from Japan — generations, diesel engines, cab and drivetrain options, auction-sheet red flags, and realistic price ranges.
A practical, up-to-date guide to importing a Japanese used car to Chile through Iquique and the ZOFRI free-trade zone — covering LHD rules, homologation, duties and IVA, popular models, and a realistic timeline.
A step-by-step guide for importers bringing Japanese used vehicles into Myanmar through Yangon port — covering steering rules, duties, timelines, inspection, and the models that sell.
Realistic phase-by-phase timeline for Japanese vehicle import — sourcing, inspection, vessel booking, ocean transit, customs clearance, registration. Country-specific totals.
Step-by-step Durban import process, NRCS pre-shipment inspection, ITAC permit reality, SARS duty + VAT calculation, top imported models for SA buyers.
Bangladesh import process, BSTI compliance, age limit reality, the brutal duty cascade structure, hybrid duty advantages, and top imported models for Dhaka and Chittagong buyers.
How the FMVSS 25-year exemption actually works, which JDM vehicles qualify in 2026, the customs and EPA process, state registration realities, and common scams to avoid.
Generation-by-generation comparison of the world's most-imported commercial van — H100 retro reliability, H200 modern dominance, engine variants, and what to check at auction.
Side-by-side comparison of every Land Cruiser generation worth importing — Series 70 utility, Series 80 collector, Series 100 modern classic, Series 200 flagship, Series 300 newest.
12-point checklist to avoid the typical USD 1,000–10,000 first-timer mistakes — from setting realistic budgets to verifying inspection reports before paying the balance.
Toyota and Honda hybrid imports — battery health checks, destination-country duty quirks, and which models actually deliver on fuel-economy promises after 5+ years of use.
Step-by-step Tanzania import process via Dar es Salaam port, real CIF + TRA duty breakdown, TBS / JEVIC inspection, top imported models, and anti-scam checklist for Tanzanian buyers.
Step-by-step Pakistan import process via Karachi port, age limit and baggage scheme realities, engine-cc duty structure, top imported models, and the Pakistan-specific scam playbook.
Different markets, different margins, different risks. Side-by-side comparison of JDM enthusiast imports vs volume-segment cars for B2B importers.
How the Japanese auction system actually works — major auction houses, what makes each different, fee structures, bidding mechanics, and how to access them as an overseas buyer.
The 10 most imported Japanese vehicles globally — what makes each one popular, typical CIF price, target market, and what to look for at auction.
Beyond the FOB price — every actual line item that lands in your destination port. Real numbers for 8 major importing countries.
Step-by-step UAE import process via Jebel Ali, GCC compliance, customs duty rates, popular models, and the LHD-conversion question — everything a Dubai-based buyer needs.
The fastest, cheapest port in the world for Japanese imports — process, customs duty, ELPTS, the Far East market, and the JDM legend trade.
Cost, transit speed, security, restrictions, insurance — every factor that matters when choosing how to ship a Japanese vehicle, with real numbers per route.
Decode the auction grade, body diagram codes, interior grade, mileage notation, and inspector remarks on USS / JU / TAA / CAA auction sheets.
What JEVIC inspects, which countries require it, how to read the certificate, the costs, the timeline, and how to use it as buyer protection.
Step-by-step process, real CIF cost breakdown, KEBS / JEVIC inspection requirements, top imported models, and the anti-scam checklist for Kenyan buyers.
