Beginner

A guide to importing cars to Ireland from Japan

Ireland’s taxation system for new cars is severe enough to restrict buyers so that they tend to hold onto their smokey polluter longer than they should.

So where can an Irish dealer replenish his stock of good European vehicles for his yard? Sure, he can look next door to see what high MILE vehicles are available from the UK! Or perhaps he should be looking further afield? Half way around the world? Looking at the Japanese market?!

1. Since Jan.2021 - double the VAT - UK cars are now 20% more expensive
2. UK - Miles not Kms !
3. Try finding a decent 3 - 5 Year 3 Series BMW Diesel in the UK today - almost nonexistent - Government incentives pushed companies prematurely into Electric Cars - so where once you had an abundance of ex-motorway - sales execs' diesel company cars - you now have very very limited options available - if battery power only is not for you.

The Japanese used car market

Yes, Japan is a right-hand drive country! Why? It wasn’t ever one of those English colonial hold outs! It has less to do with a king or queen but more to do with a samurai’s sword in the Edo period, but no time here to explain that. Japan is right-hand drive, so let’s enjoy those benefits.

As you probably know, Japanese use trains, a lot. Going to work in a city you use the train. You are guaranteed to arrive within a minute of the scheduled time. You need to be a millionaire if you want to park your family car close to the workplace each day, parking fees. It is also frowned upon in a company, driving your own car to work when you could use a train. When transportation costs are given to workers, it is always calculated from the cost of “training” to work, not driving. So when the average Japanese owns a car, it is usually for weekend or holiday use. The net result: compared with most countries, cars of similar age of lower used kms.

Harsh car value depreciation in Japan is the reason there is a used car export market. It costs, quite a lot, to keep a car in Japan. Before you can register your new car you need to own or rent a car park. Every two years there is a vigorous and expensive registration. Every year there is the car tax. So owning a car in Japan is a BIG financial commitment. If you are going to commit to such an expense of owning a car, it may as well be a fairly new one. There is no point in paying a large annual car park fee for an old, low-value car. The cost of owning AND keeping a car in Japan makes their used prices, the cheapest in the world.

Approximately 8% of new cars sold in Japan are foreign, most of those being European. Volvo, Fiat, Renault, BMW, Volkswagen and of course the luxury brands: all sold in Japan. About 450,000 European cars sold new each year in Japan. Most of them right-hand drive.

Buying them?

A large portion of the used vehicles sold in Japan each day are for export. Due to the steep depreciation curve mentioned above, the costs of purchasing and freighting half way around the globe is still financially viable. It is however, a closed system. The used car auctions are basically CLOSED to the Japanese public. You need a dealers licence AND a membership of the auction. This protects the used car dealers in Japan from the Japanese public going to the auctions and buying a car themselves at a cheap price. It also makes the car auctions of Japan, the WHOLESALE price. So when we give our foreign clients access to these auctions, they are at a cheaper price level than even the Japanese public have access to! By the time you pay for all the fees and costs in Japan (called the FOB price), you are still paying LESS than what the Japanese public pay for a used car. For the actual details of how to purchase, visit our explanation here.

Shipping Methods

There are 2 ways to ship your vehicle. Container or roll-on, roll-off shipping. Depending on the season, one is more expensive than the other.

Container shipping

• Quicker onto the boat
• Requires extra vanning and THC costs
• Can take a non-moving vehicle
• 40ft container can hold: 5 small cars / 4 sedan cars / 2 large cars … and sometimes 4 small trucks

RORO shipping

• Simpler
• Good for only one or two vehicles
• No risk of vanning damage
• Not subject to price fluctuations that impact container shipping
• Hybrid car freight prices are cheaper on RORO

Presently, (2024 May) container shipping is cheaper.

CO₂ and NO₂ emission data from Japan

It is available, though it requires a good search of the Japanese Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure’s website. It is usually in Japanese so we will get that for you.

Exporting to Ireland experience

Yes, we have a lot of it as well as a guiness drinking Irish agent to assist when needed. (We also have non-guiness drinking, non-Irish agents with a lot of experiece exporting to Ireland as well as well).

Secure Your Used Car Purchase with Provide Cars

Understanding A guide to importing cars to Ireland from Japan is key to expanding your options when purchasing a vehicle, helping you find the best car that matches your needs. Each model and specification comes with distinct features, equipment differences, and advantages, making it crucial to know the details before making a decision.

Why Choose Provide Cars?

1. Extensive Experience and Proven Track Record

Provide Cars specializes in exporting Japanese used vehicles with over 27 years of experience. We help YOU select the best vehicles tailored to your requirements and handle the complex auction process on your behalf.

2. Expert Support from Our Team

If you have any questions about A guide to importing cars to Ireland from Japan our expert staff at Provide Cars are here to assist you. We also offer free translation of the auction sheets upon request to ensure you have all the details you need before bidding.

3. Transparency and Reliability

While auction vehicles come with a large volume of information, some important points can be easily overlooked. Provide Cars ensures that every detail is accurately communicated, guaranteeing a transparent and trustworthy buying process.

4. Comprehensive After-Sales Support

Leave the paperwork and aftercare to Provide Cars. From title transfers and export documentation to vehicle maintenance, our professional support covers every aspect of the process, making your experience worry-free.

Get in Touch Today!

If you’re considering purchasing a vehicle through Provide Cars, feel free to reach out. We are a trusted exporter with customers worldwide, and we’re ready to help you find the perfect car that meets your needs, ensuring a smooth import process from Japan. We look forward to serving you!

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