Lets’ start with COST – Selecting your own car from Japan and importing it yourself allows you to avoid the profit margins of ‘middle-men’.
Now QUALITY – You can choose to pay much less for the same quality car, OR put some or all of the savings into buying a much better quality car.
Most end users prefer the latter option – they simply do not want the cheaper car once they see the true condition.
A very cheap car is priced less for a reason – it may not be as safe to use and will cost more over the years in repairs and maintenance.
The below graph compares auction buy price, dealer profit margin, our service fee and import costs (such as shipping and taxes) on a car costing $20,000 to import – highly simplified of course but you get the idea -> save money or buy a better car, your choice.
So, is it cheaper to import your own car ?
We are asked this constantly. The answer is almost always, YES, for the SAME QUALITY car.
YOUR SAFETY – The used car business is one of the most deceptive and competitive worldwide.
Exporters based in Japan and importers / dealers in other countries make a living from selling cars for more than they paid.
Winding back odometers, falsifying auction reports, and hiding poor condition and past repairs are all common practice to increase profit margins – done so professionally that the average person would not know.
The lax import laws in most countries together with international transport through a number of hands makes it easy for these scammers to operate.
That means a 1st time importer with no idea of how the car import industry works has virtually no chance to avoid being taken advantage of one or more times along the way.
This can be very stressful and expensive but can be easily avoided by engaging a professional import agent with a good track record.
TOP 10 MISTAKES Made by the 1st Time Car Importer
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Buying a car with false km or misrepresented specifications (wrong year or model)
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Buying a car with poor condition / accident history that needs expensive repairs
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Receiving no car or the wrong car after sending money overseas
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Buying a car that is not eligible for import to their country
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Shipping a car without an Import Approval
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Overcharged on the auction price or agent fees in Japan, shipping, import taxes etc.
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No idea of the import process and costs
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Getting hit with unnecessary local charges for Quarantine cleaning
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No idea of import laws for airconditioning gas and asbestos
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Claiming a falsely low purchase price at Customs clearance
Regarding the car.. well, what can I say.. I absolutely love it !
Styling.. The Skyline looks better in real life than any picture can show. All the curves are in the right places and that rear end is just a work of art. On top of everything, it’s just all class. I am loving all the attention I am getting. Turning heads on the street, people staring so long they don’t realise the lights have turned green, I even had someone stop at the lights then reverse to get a another look ! So many people have stopped me to ask what it is. No one can believe its “just” a Nissan.
Drive.. It’s right up there with the BMWs, Mercedes, Audis, Lexus etc. – just with more power. The ride is so smooth and quiet. Both my partner and our dog fall asleep on every drive. It is a very civilised car with power and gear change delivering with the most manners possible.
The import experience has been great (aside from the waiting). I have to thank you for being so helpful. I am very glad I finally took the leap after being on your mailing list so long. I have no hesitation about recommending your service – which is what I have been doing since. I also want to thank you for recommending the compliance workshop as they have been absolutely fantastic. Not only do they make the whole compliance experience a treat, they have done a spectacular job on the car. Recommending these guys really boosts your own reputation in this business.
I have been hearing quite a lot of horror stories about importing and compliance of late. This just makes me appreciate the service you have provided even more.
So once again, thank you. I have attached some pics of the car taken at the Great Ocean Road on the first weekend.