Frequently asked questions
Q1. Where is your company ?
We are on the Kobe port in Japan behind Rokko customs office is our storage yard and packing facilities.
15 minutes from downtown Kobe- Osaka city centers ,auctions, transport hubs.We have no branches.
See map :http://www.nippon-autos.com/access.html
Q2. What are your services and line of business ?
As an export trading company we help overseas buyers and importers source used Japanese automobiles,
machines and parts in Japan and ship them to their country by providing every step of the procedure involved.
Q3. Where do you export to ?
We export to all countries where it is legal to import used Japanese cars,trucks,buses,machines and auto parts.
Q4. How many vehicles do you have in stock ?
We usually have 50 to 60 used Japanese cars and trucks in stock. Apart from that we are qualified members of all
auctions in Japan therefore everyday we can offer you 20,000 to 50,000 units from there!
Q5. Who can we ask for reference on your company and may I know more about you ?
We are Japanese owned company with English speaking partner.Our company is 11 years old and we have been
in the industry for 21 years with longtime business partners all over Japan and in many countries overseas.
You can contact following independent associations of which we are members :
1. JUMEA ( Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association authorized by the MITI* )
2. KCCI ( Kobe Chamber of Commerce and Industry )
3. SMBC ( Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation ) who are our main bankers
4. USS ( Used car System Solution ) the largest auto auction company in Japan
5. ARAI,UMAX,I_AUC,AUCNET,ASNET,TAA,JU group which are major auction companies for qualified dealers.
Some of these are owned by world famous brands of Japan such as Toyota,Nissan,Honda and Isuzu
6. JETRO ( The Japan External Trade Organization )
Aside from above we have all the relevant registration,licenses and certificates required by law for a company in Japan
to buy,handle,transport,store,pack, export used items be it cars,trucks,buses,machines or parts.
Some of the names of these licenses are Kobutsusho Kyoukasho and JASTPRO.
*Ministry of International Trade & Industry of the Government of Japan
Q6. Can I buy used Japanese cars and trucks from you ?
Yes we can supply or find any and all kinds of Japanese used automobiles and as many you want. Please note though
these are only for export and from the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) therefore mostly right hand drive (RHD).
Q7. Do I have to pay tax in Japan ?
No you do not have to pay any taxes in Japan. The 5% consumption tax ( shohizei ) is paid by us as we are doing the buying
locally on your behalf and we do charge this since after exporting any vehicle overseas we get and "ED" (Export Declation)
from the Japan customs which makes us eligible apply for a refund. Export is therefore tax free.
(See our web page glossary on ED : http://www.nippon-autos.com/glossary.html )
Q8. Do you have left hand drive vehicles or can you do conversions ?
There are quite a few imported left hand drive European and American used cars in Japan for sale.These include sedans,
sports cars,suvs,4WDs,mpvs,vans and campers or minibuses.But there are no LHD trucks or buses in Japan especially
not commercial vehicles.And we do not do conversions from RHD to LHD as there are no conversion kits available.
Q9. What are the costs and fees and what do they cover ?
The winning price at the auction is the cost and the fees are as listed on our website page :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/costs_&_fees.html
Q10. What is your best price ?
Depending on how much you can buy and how regularly we can spread out costs and fees for bulk buying repeat customers.
We have low operational costs ( overheads ) and by buying a wide variety or volume we keep prices down.
Q11. Where can I choose the Japanese used cars and trucks from you ?
If we do not have the vehicles you are looking for in stock then we suggest the auto auctions across Japan which
have the largest selection of used cars and trucks for sale everyday at cheapest current prices and wholesale prices for
certified dealers,traders and members only where we can take you in as a guest.See details on webpage :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/auctions.html
or for a quick look click on link ( please remember to include your email address ) :
https://bzl.cis6200.jp/e/e_menu_top.asp
There is also the option of buying from the Yahoo internet auctions which no membership is required so there are no quarantees
and prices can be retail. To buy from here and ship overseas through us we need to discuss several details in advance.
The same applies for any vehicle outside the auto auction system for members in Japan, be it from local shops, dealer
trade-in, user fleets or leased automobiles. Since they are not being inspected (unit and papers) by an auction house
a visit by someone to see before purchase is necessary.
Q12. When and where are the Japanese used car,truck and bus auctions ?
The auctions are everyday,everywhere Monday through Saturday at all major cities and towns around Japan wherever sellers can conveniently bring in their vehicles. Auctions are usually held between 9 am to 7 pm JST ( GMT + 0900 ) but online you can view them 24/7 from the comfort of you own place and computer. You can see days or weeks in advance what is coming up for sale at live auctions or what is on sale at dealer-to-dealer one-price (fixed price stock).This includes Sunday! Also you can check current market price,volumes available of particular models. Other features are ability to see the start price and sold price,checking the chassis number for a vehicle's date of manufacture.This a must have very handy tool for anyone wanting to be a dealer,vendor.
See : http://www.nippon-autos.com/auctions.html
Q13. How will I know the quality of a second hand vehicle from the auction,what are the guarantees and is there help
understanding the way the auctions works ?
All vehicles are 3rd party assessed by professionals for quality,condition ranking,model specifications,title documentation.
The auction is the ultimate guarantor. Our warranty is based on this. Sub standard units or vehicles without proper documents
can be returned. We will be at hand at all times for additional check,guidance,assistance and explanation and teach you the system
or translate anything although it is mostly in English and straight forward,fair,transparent and genuine. Most clients can master
it with us in a few days. See some details below :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/japan_auto_auction_inspection_and_option_abbreviations_year_converstions.html
Note : The inspection standards are uniform for all auction companies who to be strive to be accurate since they competing
against each other. Some auctions inspections are done at dealer shops by companies like AIS company : http://www.ais-inc.jp/
Q14. Do I need to sign up or become a member of anything ?
No there is no sign up or need for you to become a member of anything. We have taken out the hassles of all that.
Q15. Can I request extra checks or photos ?
Pre-auction extra checks are possible but requests must come to us by email by 8 am JST as auctions start around
9 am and are sometimes congested. As for additional photographs please tell us the day before the auctions.
Q16. Are the cars,trucks,buses,machines checked,verified,cleaned and photographed after they have been won
at the auctions and before being exported ?
Yes we do a thorough check of all vehicles and machines once they arrive at our storage yard from the auctions which is usually
1 or 3 days later. Every aspect of the exterior and interior is verified for roadworthiness, from frame numbers to any scratches,
dents,even odor,engine and electronics operating well, optional parts like audio functioning properly etc. This is done while t idying
the vehicle in general and disposing unwanted items of past owner,driving it around the yard. After that the vehicle is photographed
from all angles inside and outside and emailed to you for your final approval. If any repairs,parts or car servicing and maintenance
is required these can be done for extra charges.
Q17. How do we start business and buy from the auctions?
To start business we need a deposit then we will proxy bid for you at the auctions. You must know exact model specifications,
quality condition level your market can accept and you country's laws,import regulations and price range. We can even do a trial run
beforehand. An introduction of yourself,your company and any experience in importing will be very helpfuland speed up things.
An outline of the process is mentioned here : http://www.nippon-autos.com/how-to-buy.html
Q18. How do we request a bid at the auction ?
Once we have your deposit you will be able to see every auction real time online and in days or weeks advance.
You can see the starting price and will know the costs and fees so you need to email us by 8 am JST by the day of the aucti on the
following :
● Lot Number
● Auction Company Name & Place
● Model
● Year
● Kilometers
● Your maximum price
To avoid any misunderstandings some clients include the chassis number and color too.
Q19. Do you charge for missed bids ?
We do not charge for the first 3 missed bids. However if your prices continued to be below the current market range we charge
Yen 3,000 to Yen 5,000 per missed bid depending on where and how the bid or after auction negotiation of the bid was conducted.
We are charged by the auctions for many fees and although we would like to give our customers the maximum benefit there are
certain limits.
Q20. What are your terms of payment ?
We only accept T/T or bank-to-bank wire transfer. It is the safest and quickest for all parties.
Payment has to be 100% in advance. Installment payments are acceptable with 30% to 50% in advance and balance before shipment.
Q21. When do I make the payments ?
Before us bidding for you or selling you any vehicles we expect a deposit. The balance has to be paid 3 working
days after we win or sell you any vehicle/s which is confirmed with an invoice with all the details of the vehicle/s and
the buyer ( your name and address ) and seller ( our name and address ) and before the ship sails out from Japan.
Q22. What else do I have to provide to do business ?
We must have your full address,telephone number and name of person-to-contact,your company name,your port,the
final destination for goods on the B/L ( Bill of Lading ) consignee columns and our invoice before making shipment and
later to send documents by courier or express post packet. If there is a separate notify party name and address example :
your freight forwarder or customs clearing agent please send full details. These can all be the same or different. Note :
location or street,building name,number address physical addresses are preferred to P.O.Boxes numbers.
Q23. Will you accept L/C ?
If your order volume or amount is large and L/C bank charges can be covered or your country regulations are such
we will consider it with a token deposit or a T/T down payment. Please contact us by email,telephone or Skype to
discuss further.
Q24. What is the US $ price and will you accept US$ payment ?
To check our prices is USD please use the rate-of-the-day for the Japanese Yen against the US Dollar.
You can do this by asking your bank or looking at internet sites for latest currency exchange rates such as :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/Yen_USD.html
Since rates fluctuate often you can probably buy the Yen faster at a good rate at your end and because all our costs
here are in Yen we prefer Yen payments. But yes we will accept US Dollar payments as we understand in some countries
the Yen cannot be purchased but then in those cases the USD will be converted automatically at the rate-of-the-day your
payment arrives in our bank.
Q25. How fast can you ship my vehicle ?
It takes us a one week to position the vehicle for shipment (store at the wharf) and make the paperwork
(de-registration of license plates) plus pass it through customs. Then it is a normally another week wait for the
ship to call at major ports in Japan. From there it depends on where the vehicle is being shipped to it and can>br>
take two to four weeks. Some near destinations in Asia can receive their vehicles in two weeks and far destinations
in America or Africa takes five weeks. We do our utmost to ship as fast as possible.
Q26. Does the price include the ocean freight ?
Usually our prices are quoted F.O.B. Japan (Free On Board origin or Japan port) as we are unaware until the sale
of a vehicle where it will be shipped and what the shipping charges will be at that time and how it will be shipped
example as a RO-RO (Roll On - Roll Off) unit or CONTAINERIZED with or without other units but before sale we will tell you
the exact price freight and if necessary insurance (F.O.B. or C & F or C.I.F.)
Q27. What is the freight from Japan to my country for a car,truck or bus ?
Freight depends on cubic size ( length x width x height = m3 ) of a vehicle in the case of RORO and or the distance
of the destination be it containerized or RORO. We have tariffs to some popular ports listed on our website page link
http://www.nippon-autos.com/shipping_rates.html
We try our best to keep updated with the most competitive quotes.
On the other hand you can always check with shipping companies or agents in your country for the best rates currently
available and we will ship on any ship line you nominate.Please note some shipping companies and their agents quote
varying rates at different places and to different clients who might have larger volume or special accounts or agreements
with them.
Q28. Can the ocean freight be included in the price ?
Yes in that case we will sell on C & F terms ( F.O.B. or cost up to ship at Japan port plus freight ) till your port.
See our website link with current rates for popular destinations : http://www.nippon-autos.com/shipping_rates.html
Q29. Can insurance be covered for the vehicle or container and how much is it ?
Yes in that case we will sell on C.I.F. terms ( F.O.B. or cost up to ship at Japan port plus freight plus marine insurance ) till
your port. It is usually just below 1% and covers all clauses for instance damage,theft,pilferage and is usually port-to-port.
Q30. What is F.O.B.,C&F,C.I.F.,E.T.D.,E.T.A.?
F.O.B. Japan is Freight On Board which means all the costs and fees and transport for the goods till the ship at the port
i n Japan are included and paid. C & F is Cost and Freight till you port which means all the costs and fees and ocean freight
for the goods till your port are included and paid.C.I.F is Cost,Insurance and Freight till you port which means all the costs,insurance.
fees and ocean freight for the goods till your port are included and paid. E.T.D. is Established Time of Departure from origin
port of the vessel with the goods as declared by their shipping company on the schedule.E.T.A. is Established Time of Arrival
at destination port of the vessel with the goods as declared by the shipping company on their schedule. For more
abbreviations please see our webpage : http://www.nippon-autos.com/glossary.html
Q31. Can I buy just one unit as private person in a one time deal ?
Yes we can sell a single unit for your private use but you will need to check the import regulations of your country
and our bulk charges for costs incurred and fees cannot be applied in these cases.Generally speaking our business
is set up to sell to the trade.
Q32. Can you ship by container and/or RORO ?
Yes we can ship both styles. We have all the facilities at our same location on Kobe city port which even includes
nearby Osaka city port.
Q33. How many cars can you load in a 40 foot container ?
We can pack 5 small (low height) 1300cc to 1500cc hatchbacks to 4 medium size sedans vehicles into a 40 foot high cube
container. If there are 4x4,SUVs or vans,micro or mini buses or medium size trucks this is reduced to 3 or 2 units.
We always pack with a sense that the vehicle has to be able to withstand any shaking during transit and reaching you in perfect
condition without any damages.Note here, the vehicles are sent as CBU ( or Completely Built Up units ) without anything dismantled
or cut. See examples here :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/cars_in_containers_packing_prices_and_styles.jpg
We can also pack a single unit in a 20 foot container.
Q34. Do you do dismantling ?
Yes we can do light dismantling also known as SKD ( or Semi Knock Down ) such as in the case of passenger cars removing
bumpers,rear outside spare tires,side mirrors,antennas,spoilers,aprons,skirts,( front bumper scoops ),bonnets,wheels rims and tires,
fender flares, overfenders (including widebody style-kits),or for commercial and utility trucks removing back trays,
beds,boxes,crane boom arms,tail lifts whatever it takes to accommodate them safely into a container with other units
and maximizing the use of all space. We can do some cutting of side or top rails but removing of engines and axels,
cutting the chassis which known as CKD or complete knock down we can do only in special cases where the the process,
cost and time is discussed in detail in advance.
Q35. Do you sell spare parts ?
Yes we sell all kinds of spare parts (brand new OEM parts or used reconditioned,refurbished secondhand parts)
but only for vehicles bought from us. We will need the chassis or frame number and description with part number
or picture or better still a page from the parts list book with the part in question circled ( we can provide you with
Part List Book pages used by the official dealer outlets in Japan ).Usually brand new genuine spare parts are the best bet
but we can also find used or reconditioned parts for sale the in Japanese domestic market and aftermarket parts,tuning
parts made in Japan or sold in Japan. These parts can be shipped with the vehicles being exported which is the cheapest way
to get them across or in emergencies express posted (EMS) or couriered (DHL).
See out website page about parts : http://www.nippon-autos.com/parts.html.
Q36. How much is the deposit ?
The minimum deposit is Yen 100,000 if you are buying just a couple of cars under a million Yen and progresses to
Yen 500,000 if you are buying higher value cars on a regular basis. You can even keep and average your deposit of say
Yen 300,000 here to revolve it to the next business deals or have the choice to deduct from any purchase or refunded
anytime.
Q37. Is the deposit refundable ?
Yes the deposit is refundable if we cannot find anything for you in 2 to 3 weeks. Please note though bank charges
and any cancellation fees or costs for instance reselling a car back into the auction will deducted from the refunded amount.
Q38. What are your bank details and what is the document or receipt I get first ?
Our bank details will be mentioned on the Proforma Invoice which is also the first document or receipt we will send you.
It will be for the deposit and goods and services we plan to deal with you for.
Q39. What are the documents that I will get after the shipment ?
You will be sent the following in original by EMS post package or by courier companies if there is no EMS service :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/auctions.html
The B/L or Bill of Lading ( set of 3 originals issued by the ship company )
The Commercial Invoice or Customs Invoice ( set of 3 manually signed issued by us the shipper )
The Export De-registration Certificate*( 1 original copy issued by the transport department of Japan )
An English translation of the Export De-Registration Certificate can be included though most of it is in English
Also JEVIC or JAAI certificates for countries that require such.
*Also known as Cancellation of Registration Certificate.
Q40. Are other pre-shipment checks like JEVIC,JAAI and radiation inspections possible ?
Yes we can get all the all these inspections done. The centres doing them are near our storage yard at the port.
Please though bear in mind the fees and costs have to be added. See our web page :
http://www.nippon-autos.com/cost_&_fees.html
Q41. When are the documents send and how long to they take to reach ?
The documents are sent the day the ship sails out of the port in Japan. They usually take 3 to 5 days to reach you.
Q42. How and where to I track documents sent to me ?
We usually send documents by EMS express,registered post per gratis. As soon as they are sent we will email
you the packet number or a scanned copy of the post office receipt which you can immediately use to trace you
package on the following website : http://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/ems/delivery/index_en.html
Or you may enquire at your local post office.The packet will normally include important originals of the Export Registration Certificates,
Customs Invoices,Bills of Lading ( B/L ),JEVIC or other certificates.
If you want these documents sent by courier companies such as DHL,Federal Express and UPS these will cost Yen 5,000 per packet.
The air waybill tracking number or a scanned copy of receipt will be emailed to you immediately after the packet is sent
and you can trace its location on the following websites of these companies or call their local office in your country.
DHL : http://www.dhl.com/en/express/tracking.html
FedEx : http://www.fedex.com/Tracking?cntry_code=jp_english
Q43. Can I buy brand new cars ?
We can only sell cars that have been once registered locally in Japan. So if you want to buy a car straight from
the showroom or order from the manufacturer it will have to go through the procedure of paying taxes and proving there
is a parking space for it. This can be quite expensive from Yen 300,000 to 700,000 depending on the type of car.
However on the other hand there are many cars that have already been through this process and ready for sale at the auctions.
These are called shinkoshas. They are as good as new since they usually have the single digit kilometers on the clocks
and in many cases not owned by users but by manufacturers dealerships fulfilling their quotas.
But bear in mind not always will you be able to find the exact option specifications or body colour.
Q44. What is the best way to contact you and what is the best time ?
You can use the phone or Skype to call or chat. Important message and bid requests please send by email.
We are normally available at Japan day time hours 9 am to 7 pm Monday through Saturday and some nights after hours
on Skype at 9 pm to 11 pm JST. Please see the local time on the top left of our homepage http://www.nippon-autos.com/
contact details are mentioned on the bottom and public holidays in Japan here : http://www.nippon-autos.com/working_hours_and_public_holidays_of_japan.htm
Q45. Why are there so many automatic transmission ( AT ) cars in Japan ?
Japan is a very urbanized country with mostly paved roads which can sometimes be crowded or have many traffic lights.
Japanese cars on the other hand have best quality engineered automatic transmissions in the world that rarely break down,
thus for a comfortable and convenient drive automatic transmissions are the choice.They are also more fuel efficient.
Q46. How come used cars from Japan have low mileage and are in good condition ?
There are several reasons for this. Some of the main ones are the roads in Japan are first rate and dense all paved
network. 8,500 kilometers are expressways so cars do not struggle over pot holes streets but many cruise at set speeds
on highways. Another is people generally take care of their vehicles and dealers offer good service maintenance packages.
Then there are strict ownership laws where a new car has to be tested for road worthiness safety known as shaken three years
after it is bought and consequently every two years for private cars or one year for business vehicles.
These rigid inspections and diagnosis can be very expensive as all faulty,worn or broken parts have to be replaced
In three,five or ten years with the inspection costs of ownership increasing and high depreciation owners opt for new
and illegal modifications are not accepted. one vehicles and the old ones are auctioned off.
Other factors is the proving of a parking space in a small country means most cars are not left out in the open a good
public transportation system whereby vehicles need not be driven so heavy everyday everywhere and the weather in
the most populated areas is not extreme,rain flood management and snow clearing is well done.
Q47. I am looking for diesel manual 4x4 but do not see many ?
In Japan emission regulations in cities and towns make it difficult to own private diesel cars or even older commercial diesel
vehicles. Besides that roads in cities,towns and even far off villages are usually paved with only few far off countryside areas
and hilly regions needing four wheel drive with manual transmissions. So although Japan produces the best 4x4 vehicles which
are very popular among the populace in cities and towns,those in diesels or with manual gearboxes are only available from a
small section of off road enthusiasts and farm owners.
Q48. More questions ?
If you have any questions that are not answered here please feel free to email us at : info@nippon-autos.com
and we will do our best to answer you and updated it here on our Q&A.
Last updated September 28th,2011 Nippon Autos Ltd., Kobe,Japan Telephone : + 81 - 78 - 857 8669
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1-4-125-206 Koyo Cho Naka,Higashi Nada-Ku,Kobe,Japan
Tel: +81-78-857-8669
Fax: +81-78-854-7440
Mobile: +81-90-4308-6118
Email: info@nippon-autos.com
Skype: nipponautos
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