America
Vehicles
Older than 25 years - Do not need to meet any standards. Older than 21 years - Do not need to meet Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) emission standards.
Race cars - For vehicles that meet National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA requirements.
Show cars - For vehicle intended for show and have restricted travel use.
Kit cars - For vehicles that meet NHTSA and EPA requirements.
Off-Road vehicles (Mini Trucks) - Fall under the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and EPA requirements.
Importing Process
When importing Japanese used vehicles, mini trucks and those over 25 years old are the cheapest, and easiest to import because of the exemptions. They can be imported without complying with any safety, bumper, theft prevention, or emission standards. A vehicle 21 years old or more can be imported without the need of passing any emission standards.
If you want to import a vehicle (other than a mini truck) newer than 25 years old for driving on public roads, you must use a Registered Importer (RI) to comply it with Federal safety, bumper and theft prevention standards. If the motor vehicle is less than 21 years old, you must additionally hire an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) to comply it with EPA emissions standards.
When using a RI, there must be a "DOT Conformance Bond" posted worth one and a half times the vehicle's dutiable value. When using an ICI, a "Customs Bond" worth at least the vehicle's value is required by the EPA, if the vehicle is being petitioned. Customs may still require the bond regardless of EPA requirements. Additionally, only vehicles that are listed by NFTSA as eligible for importing may go through the process. If a vehicle is not listed, a RI must petition and prove to NFTSA that the vehicle meets, or can be modified to meet, all US Federal safety and bumper standards. The process includes providing crash test data which is a very expensive process. Because costs can become prohibitively high, it is very important that you thoroughly research your options to see if it is worth importing.
Costs
Duty based on vehicle cost:
Automobiles - 2.5%
Trucks - 25%
Other costs include RI and ICI fees if necessary.
Required Documents for Customs Clearance:
Mini Trucks
For current rules and regulations on mini truck use in the United States please use the following link. http://www.iihs.org/laws/minitrucks.aspx
Older than 25 years - Do not need to meet any standards. Older than 21 years - Do not need to meet Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) emission standards.
Race cars - For vehicles that meet National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA requirements.
Show cars - For vehicle intended for show and have restricted travel use.
Kit cars - For vehicles that meet NHTSA and EPA requirements.
Off-Road vehicles (Mini Trucks) - Fall under the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and EPA requirements.
Importing Process
When importing Japanese used vehicles, mini trucks and those over 25 years old are the cheapest, and easiest to import because of the exemptions. They can be imported without complying with any safety, bumper, theft prevention, or emission standards. A vehicle 21 years old or more can be imported without the need of passing any emission standards.
If you want to import a vehicle (other than a mini truck) newer than 25 years old for driving on public roads, you must use a Registered Importer (RI) to comply it with Federal safety, bumper and theft prevention standards. If the motor vehicle is less than 21 years old, you must additionally hire an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) to comply it with EPA emissions standards.
When using a RI, there must be a "DOT Conformance Bond" posted worth one and a half times the vehicle's dutiable value. When using an ICI, a "Customs Bond" worth at least the vehicle's value is required by the EPA, if the vehicle is being petitioned. Customs may still require the bond regardless of EPA requirements. Additionally, only vehicles that are listed by NFTSA as eligible for importing may go through the process. If a vehicle is not listed, a RI must petition and prove to NFTSA that the vehicle meets, or can be modified to meet, all US Federal safety and bumper standards. The process includes providing crash test data which is a very expensive process. Because costs can become prohibitively high, it is very important that you thoroughly research your options to see if it is worth importing.
Costs
Duty based on vehicle cost:
Automobiles - 2.5%
Trucks - 25%
Other costs include RI and ICI fees if necessary.
Required Documents for Customs Clearance:
- Bill of Lading
- Bill of Sale (all related Invoices)
- Export Certificate
- Any Other Documents covering the Vehicle
- Completed EPA Form 3520-1
- DOT Form HS-7
Mini Trucks
For current rules and regulations on mini truck use in the United States please use the following link. http://www.iihs.org/laws/minitrucks.aspx
A document that establishes the terms of a contract between a shipper and a transportation company. It serves as a document of title, a contract of carriage and a receipt for goods.
A truck trailer body that can be detached from the chassis for loading into a vessel, a rail car or stacked in a container depot. Containers may be ventilated, insulated, refrigerated, flat rack, vehicle rack, open top, bulk liquid or equipped with interior devices. A container may be 20 feet, 40 feet, 45 feet, 48 feet or 53 feet in length, 8'0" or 8'6" in width, and 8'6" or 9'6" in height.
A Term of Sale where the seller pays the costs and freight necessary to bring the goods to the named port of destination, but the risk of loss of or damage to the goods, as (continued) well as any additional costs due to events occurring after the time the goods have been delivered on board the vessel, is transferred from the seller to the buyer when the goods pass the ship's rail in the port of shipment. The CFR term requires the seller to clear the goods for export.
A Term of Sale where the seller has the same obligations as under the CFR but also has to procure marine insurance against the buyer's risk of loss or damage to the goods during the carriage. The seller contracts for insurance and pays the insurance premium. The CIF term requires the seller to clear the goods for export.
An International Term of Sale that means the seller fulfills his or her obligation to deliver when the goods have passed over the ship's rail at the named port of shipment. This means that the buyer has to bear all costs and risks to loss of or damage to the goods from that point. The FOB term requires the seller to clear the goods for export.
When vehicles are presented to the auction house for sale, the auctioneers undertakes a rigorous inspection of the vehicle prior to the auction and prepares an Inspection Report for prospective buyers to view. This is effectively a 3rd party inspection, as the inspection is not commissioned by the private individual, dealer or corporation submitting the vehicle for auction, and this seller has no control over the contents of the auction house's report; moreover, the auction houses apply flat fees for the vehicles appearance at auction (i.e. they have no vested interest in the vehicle itself). They tend to be very strict with the recording of any perceived faults (as well as fairly representing the sales features of the vehicle), and for good reason - there is a claim/return procedure to which the auction house can be held accountable should the condition of the vehicle not be represented wholly and accurately on the Inspection Report.
An itemized list of goods shipped to a buyer, stating quantities, prices, shipping charges, etc.
A document, issued by a bank per instructions by a buyer of goods, authorizing the seller to draw a specified sum of money under specified terms, usually the receipt by the bank of certain documents within a given time.
Broadly, insurance covering loss or damage of goods at sea. Marine insurance typically compensates the owner of merchandise for losses sustained from fire, shipwreck, etc., but excludes losses that can be recovered from the carrier.
Original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, is a term that refers to containment-based re-branding, namely where one company uses a component of another company within its product, or sells the product of another company under its own brand. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product.
A quotation in the form of an invoice prepared by the seller that details items which would appear on a commercial invoice if an order results.
Proxy bidding is a system that allows you to bid the maximum amount you are willing to pay for a vehicle with the possibility of winning the vehicle for less. Your bid is kept secret from all other bidders as the auction proceeds. The system will automatically enter your lowest possible winning bid and continue to increase your bid until your maximum bid is reached. If all other bidders stop bidding before your maximum bid is reached, you will win the vehicle for the amount of the final bid plus a standard 3,000 yen increment. You pay the lowest possible winning bid and do not have to pay the full amount of your maximum bid. If there are two or more identical “winning” bids, the bid that was placed first will win the vehicle.
A shortening of the term, "Roll On/Roll Off." A method of ocean cargo service using a vessel with ramps which allows wheeled vehicles to be loaded and discharged without cranes.
The most common payment method that requires the use of cable or telegraph to remit funds. Money does not move physically. The order to pay is wired to an institutions’ casher to make payment to a company or individual.
Known as “shaken” in Japanese. This bi-yearly inspection and component replacement regime also includes mandatory liability insurance, weight tax, vehicle tax and can cost upwards of $1,500 US. New vehicles depreciate at a considerably faster rate than in other countries, and beyond a certain mileage (50,000 miles/85,000 km) it becomes economically prohibitive to renew the “shaken,” as the resale values approach residual. This stringent (some say draconian) system, coupled with the Japanese zeal to own the latest models, gives rise to an abundant number of used vehicles in great condition reaching the auctions every day. The bi-yearly “shaken” also makes tampering with the odometer very difficult as a running record of the car’s mileage is kept and vehicles that deviate from this record are marked on the auction house inspection reports.
Mini Trucks
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Import Rules & Info
PARTS: New, Rebuilt, Used
PARTS PARTS PARTS !!
Let JCD take care of all your parts needs. As a licensed dealer we get a discount on new parts at all of the major manufacturers. We also have an excellent relationship with the local wrecker. There we can use their Japan wide network and order the exact used or rebuilt part you need. All you need to do is scan and mail, or fax us a copy of your export certificate to assure we get the correct parts for your vehicle. We will then have your part mailed directly to you for a nominal service fee.
LOWER FEES !!
Due to the high yen exchange rate with all other major currencies, JCD has temporarily reduced our service fee. We have cut our fee 80,000 yen to 65,000 yen to give our customers a break from the poor exchange rates. Our service fee per vehicle is further reduced with the number of vehicles per shipment:
Let JCD take care of all your parts needs. As a licensed dealer we get a discount on new parts at all of the major manufacturers. We also have an excellent relationship with the local wrecker. There we can use their Japan wide network and order the exact used or rebuilt part you need. All you need to do is scan and mail, or fax us a copy of your export certificate to assure we get the correct parts for your vehicle. We will then have your part mailed directly to you for a nominal service fee.
LOWER FEES !!
Due to the high yen exchange rate with all other major currencies, JCD has temporarily reduced our service fee. We have cut our fee 80,000 yen to 65,000 yen to give our customers a break from the poor exchange rates. Our service fee per vehicle is further reduced with the number of vehicles per shipment:
1-2 vehicles/shipment = 65,000yen
3-4 vehicles/shipment = 60,000yen
5-7 vehicles/shipment = 55,000yen
8+ vehicles/shipment = 50,000yen
Let us take care of you. We'll work to find the best available vehicles at the very lowest possible price!!
