Here, we will outline the costs and procedures associated with exporting your car from Japan. For information on the makes and models that we export a lot of and which command a good price overseas please see the 'Popular Vehicles' section by using the navigation bar on the right.

The initial procedure for exporting a car is always the same. First we collect the car or you deliver it to our workshop. We will then de-register the car and book it onto the next available vessel, roughly 3 days before the vessel departs we deliver the car to the port and clear it through customs. While the car is at our workshop prior to export we can also carry out small modifications and repairs on the car to the requirements of the customer. (This is our basic export package, a discount is available for members of the JET Programme)

Please find information on exporting a vehicle to your home country below, if you would like more information then please get in touch through the contact section:

The UK remains one of the easiest and most profitable countries to export a new or used motor vehicle to. Shipping to the UK typically costs between 3 and 6 hundred pounds depending on the size of the vehicle after this, there are two factors affecting the cost of exporting your car to the UK.

1-     The length of time you have owned the car for in Japan

If you have owned the car in Japan for more than 6 months and have lived in Japan for more than a year you may export the car free of any tax or duties. The only restriction is that you may not sell the vehicle for a period of one year after registration in the UK. Procedure for registering the car follows as below based on the age of the car.

2-     The age of the car

If you have not owned your car for more than 6 months in Japan you will be liable for 10% duty on the value of the car and the cost of shipping, you will then need to pay VAT of 17.5% on top of this.

To register the car, it must first be tested, all cars less than 10 years old are now liable for a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test and it is anticipated that a more stringent test will be applied to cars less that 5 years old sometime in 2001. The SVA test can be carried out in the port of Southampton while it is being cleared through customs.

In addition to the SVA test, all cars older than 3 years old will be subject to a standard MOT test. The standard fee for this is £25. With your customs clearance and relevant test certificates you can get the car registered quickly and easily by presenting the papers at your nearest Vehicle Registration Office (VRO) We have a list which we will send out upon request.

Ireland is the hub of activity for Japanese exports to the UK hence developed infrastructure makes the whole process speedy and painless. Basically taxes are higher in Ireland than in mainland Britain, but the process for registering vehicles is far quicker and simpler. We recommend sending cheaper small cars to Ireland as opposed to larger sports cars as the authorities in Ireland will charge tax on the Irish value of the vehicle as opposed to the Invoice value. Cars may also be imported into Ireland Tax and Duty free if you have owned them for more than 6 months in Japan.

The high prices of used cars in Australia makes export from Japan highly attractive, this is especially so if you are exporting a car that you have owned and driven while in Japan.

For people exporting a car they have driven in Japan, after the necessary three months of driving the car in Japan you must apply directly for a Personal Import Approval. This application is made through the Office of Road Safety In Canberra.

Taxes are high in Australia, but significant savings can be made against Australian prices making Australia one of the most profitable places to export to. There is now zero import duty and no restrictions on the way the car was purchased or how long it was owned for. GST of 12.5% must be paid on the cost of the car and it will then be free to register.

One point in New Zealand is that speedometers that have been tampered with may cause significant problems, so try to ensure that the car has it’s original speedometer and log books or service histories may also help maintain the value of the car.

 

The huge quantities of imports arriving in New Zealand make this the easiest place to export to. There is now zero import duty and no restrictions on the way the car was purchased or how long it was owned for. GST of 12.5% must be paid on the cost of the car and it will then be free to register.

One point in New Zealand is that speedometers that have been tampered with may cause significant problems, so try to ensure that the car has it’s original speedometer and log books or service histories may also help maintain the value of the car.

Exporting to countries other than the key markets is possible although here at Rexis we regret that we are unable to help you with registration procedures in your home country. This is not to say that we cannot be of any service though. We would be happy to supply you a car fro use domestically or for export, we can also arrange all Japanese side procedures on your behalf, including shipping almost anywhere in the world. Please feel free to contact us with any questions , no obligation.