How To Import Cars From Japan Archives -

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August 16, 2019August 22, 2019

Challenges Of Importing Vehicles From Japan

Are you thinking of importing a vehicle from Japan? Well, you must have heard all the reputation that the Japanese vehicles have. And just before you conclude that it is just hype, then you have to remember that Japan sells more vehicles than any other country in the world, which simply means that they are trusted and their vehicles can be relied on.

Perhaps one of the things that many people are always afraid is the process of importing these vehicles. The reality of the matter is that importing isn’t as hard as many people think. In this guide, we will go through everything that you need to know to know about importing a vehicle from Japan. Whether it is a brand new car or a second hand vehicle, then these pointers will help you out.

Why the Japanese Vehicles?

To help you further understand why there are lots of people considering the Japanese vehicles and not any other, here is the nitty-gritty where we cover most of the common things with the Japanese vehicles.

First off, the reliability of Japanese vehicles are among the best in the world. So, if you are looking for a reliable vehicle, that is something that you will love with these vehicles. They are well constructed with quality materials under high level of engineering. This makes them durable and sturdy hence can be used on almost any kind of roads and terrain.

Besides the quality of Japanese autos, you will also love the fact that they are very economical and require less to maintain. We all love vehicles that consume less fuel and offer good service that can be relied on. For most of these vehicles, you can expect them to go a long way and carry a lot reliably without being too heavy on the fuel.

Importing Japanese vehicles is easier than what most people perceive it to be. Many people have made importing a vehicle sound like an almost impossible thing to do while the opposite is true. There are also lots of agents that one can use to have their vehicles easily imported. This makes it easy for you if you do not have a lot of time and don’t want to go through a lot when importing. Now that we have covered everything you need to know about Japanese vehicles and how to import the, let’s go ahead and see some of the challenges that one can expect.

Challenges When Importing From Japan

Here are some of the things that you can expect to go through when importing a Japanese vehicle. Be it a mini truck, a used mini van or a sedan vehicle, these are the most common challenges to watch out for.

Online Scams & Fraudsters

If there is one big challenge that one has to be extra cautious about, it has to be the surging online scams and frauds that one can find themselves in. There are thousands of people who get baited by these scammers all the time when they are importing. However, there are lots of ways that one can easily spot and avoid them. First off, you have to make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate seller who has been in the industry for a while. Doing this will help you to avoid and filter out most of the scammers since they are usually not stabilized and stayed long on the business.

Most of the scammers are usually not in the current country, in this case Japan. To evade and avoid them, users may want to confirm the address of the user to make sure that their location isn’t any other place other than the one they have advertised. And you do not need any special software to help you understand that. Most of them will ask you to deposit the money in an offshore account. And this is usually the first sign to know that you are dealing with fraudsters. When you come across such, then you need to back down and stop the transaction because it will not end well. The handling of the transaction should be the part where you are careful about and make sure that everything on this step is spot on.

Getting The Wrong Vehicle

Another issue that almost resembles being scammed is getting bait-switched. Many people have received vehicles that they did not order. There are many ways that one can use to determine whether the vehicle they are getting is the right one that they got as advertised or not. It is more common than many people think and is also something that one must be cautious about. So, if you are shopping for the right vehicle to import from Japan or anywhere else, you need to take some measures to ensure that it is the right one.

Among some of the things that you can do is to make sure that the vehicle you get is to confirm using some of the software applications such as Skype. Here you can check some of the crucial things like manufacturer’s number on the vehicle which cannot be hanged as well as other features that should come out clearly. You should also consider working with known and more authoritative sellers who have been in the industry for a long time.

Ignoring State Requirements

Another issue that many people have had to deal with more recently with importation of vehicle, and not just from Japan is the fact that there are some state requirements in every country. Some states and countries have restrictions, especially on second hand used vehicles. You have to make sure that the second hand vehicle that you are getting is good to be used and is street legal in your country.

Among some of the things that could happen when you ignore this could lead to a lot of catastrophic situations where users can have their vehicles impounded or even worse get it destroyed. This can lead to a huge loss and would just be easily avoided by checking with the authorities to ensure that it is good and street legal in your country or state. Using import agencies in your areas should also help you get through this smoothly.

Not Observing Your Budget

Do you have a budget in mind? Like when buying everything else, you need to make sure that you have a budget and since you are spending a lot on a vehicle, it is high time you give this some consideration. Why should you do this? You will end u spending too much. You should know the kind of vehicle you are getting and make a realistic budget and fix it at that. This will help you avoid getting carried away and not been able to account for your purchases.

Did you know that you can bargain a vehicle online, just the way you would do it offline in the yard? If there is one other thing that most of us are not taking advantage of is the power of bargaining. This is a very good way if you would like to save a lot in the process. There are a lot of softwares designed to help you with this. Some including Skype will also give you the convenience of seeing the vehicle in real life through its video capturing feature. And if this doesn’t make it easy and convenient for you to choose the vehicle of your desire, then nothing else will.

Final Word

Now that you know the challenges that come with importing vehicles from Japan, you can do the necessary steps to avoid them. Evading them and getting the right vehicle that you desire isn’t as hard as many people tend to believe. By following the steps above, you will be able to get your vehicle delivered

However, the most important part is to always work with a credible company. One that has gained authority in the industry. This way you will be able to receive good customer service and avoid some of the frauds an issues such as bait and switch. We here at Substar have been dealing with second hand vehicles for many years. In our large yard we have plenty of vehicles ranging from salons to Japanese mini trucks and mini vans. We make it easy for our clients and customers across the globe to shop and get their vehicles cleared and delivered. You can also check out our car sales page to see some of the vehicles that are currently on sale. So, why not get in touch with us today and we will help you with that? We are always ready and open for business and we guarantee you the best and smoothest service you can ever think of.

September 22, 2018September 29, 2018

Considerations When Importing Second Hand Japanese Kei Trucks

Nowadays, vehicles have won a place in our lives and become part of our daily routine to drive in them. But sometimes getting newer vehicles isn’t a priority for most of us. Luckily there is the option of acquiring a used car which comes in cheaply making many people who are on a budget to hop in for the pre owned vehicle. For you to get a good second hand vehicle to import from Japan needs a lot of thorough research.

Below are some of the factors one should be keen on;

Consult With An Advisor

At times, big decisions such as figuring out some mechanical inspections is a task that requires help from an experienced mechanic or car expert. Buying a vehicle isn’t something that is as easy as getting a book. There are many things that you have to check and make sure are in place. With the help of an expert who can easily spot faults, you are more certain in getting a quality vehicle that won’t be a problem. Doing this is a crucial approach especially for anyone who does not have a lot of experience with vehicles.

Do your Own Due Diligence

Apart from just the help of an expert, there are other basics that one needs to do on their own to ascertain the quality and performance of what they are getting. You can always ask the seller or the Japanese car dealer to give you information on anything that you would like to learn about the vehicle that you want to buy. In order to avoid any issues, having an expert by your side is a good idea.

Below are some of the things that you need to inspect with thoroughness;

Physical appearance and Chassis – Dents, scratches, rusting paint job on the vehicle among other things are also some of the physical appearance and things that you should check out. You can also find a vehicle that has got issues in the past such as chassis breaking. Welding marks and such things are what you should be looking out for when it comes to the chassis.

Vehicle tires – Unless you are planning on buying the new tires on your own, you should make sure that the ties on the vehicle will make it worthwhile the investment. Check if the threads are used up and if they offer good grip.

Check for Any Possible Engine And Gear-Box leaks

Another common issue with some second hand vehicles is engine and gear box leaks. such can be a good indicator that the gaskets and seals are not in good shape and needs to be changed. It could as well mean that the vehicle has an issue with the engine system and thus should be avoided.

Consider The Auctions

If you are looking to buy a cheap car then you should consider all the possible options that you have. One known way of finding affordable vehicles from Japan is through the auctions. Japan has some of the largest vehicle auctions which sell thousands of vehicles on a daily basis. And you don’t have to be there physically to participate in the auctions. With the help of a broker or a Japanese car dealer, you can get your dream car easily without paying anything above your budget.

Here at Substar, we help lots of customers from across the globe and you can get in touch with us if you would like to get a vehicle from the auctions. We have been helping customers across the globe to find their vehicles and we are certain we can help you too. And that is not all. We understand what our customers go through when they buy a vehicle here in Japan and we understand that shipping could sometimes be hectic. As such, we deliver the vehicles to our customer’s desired port.

Stick To Your Budget

Among the most common mistakes is failure to observe your budget when buying a vehicle that one needs. A serious buyer getting a vehicle should do their own math and ensure that they are within their set budget. Just getting a vehicle, whether it is a mini truck or not blindly without knowing how much you are willing to spend isn’t a good idea since you could end up blowing your expected expenditure.

To do this, you need to shop around first and see the costs of the vehicle that you need. Besides this, you already know why you need the vehicle and what you intend to use it fir. As such, you need to check out available options locally. Ask a friend if possible on whether they have experience with the vehicle that you are looking for. This will be able to give you a clear price range among other things.

Get Some History On The Vehicle

Second hand cars have been maintained differently by their previous owners and you wouldn’t be happy getting one that has been poorly maintained. Physical appearance of a car will not tell it all, so you need to check out the past mechanical records. The seller of the vehicle should also furnish you every detailed information on the vehicle. Has the car been involved in an accident, crushed in the past and such things should help you find out whether it is a vehicle is what you expect to be.

Also consider getting the vehicle from top Japanese car dealers because these vehicles are thoroughly vetted and tested to ensure that they are pf good quality and promising performance. Here at Substar, we do this to ensure that our customers are getting a good vehicle that is worth their investment. We go through every vehicle and ensue that whatever our customers get is something clean and worth every penny spent.

Final Word:

Getting a high quality vehicle especially a good second hand one isn’t an easy thing, but with the tips highlighted above, you can easily fiend your dream car. Japan has been one of the best places to turn to for cars, whether used or new. Affordability and high performance vehicles are what makes them the preferred choice.

You should also check out some of the mini trucks, mini vans and other vehicles that we have in our car listings page and see if you can find yourself one. The vehicles in our inventory include mini trucks, minivans among other vehicles. We will provide you with more details on a particular vehicle before you buy. So, do not hesitate getting in touch with us.

May 15, 2017

6 Wise Approaches To Buying A Car From Japanese Car Dealers

Acquiring a new car can be a hectic task especially if you are still new to it. Importing vehicles from Japan has been among the trending things and an ideal option for anyone looking to acquire a vehicle at an affordable cost as well as one that you can count on for top notch performance. These vehicles have become popular with time and are common in almost every country.

In this guide, we will go through some of the best ways to buy a vehicle from Japan citing the things to avoid as well as those that will make the whole process an easy one.

Keep The Budget In Mind

If there is a mess that people keep doing over and over it is to do with budgeting. Without proper budgeting, one can easily find themselves overspending or blowing money beyond their expectations. For you to come up with a good spending curve, you need to prepare earlier in advance and decide on how much you are willing to spare to buy a car. Something else that you should also keep in mind are the miscellaneous costs that you will have to pay or incur during the process of importing the vehicle. This includes the shipping costs, the clearing, registration and other miscellaneous expenses that are common when importing vehicles from overseas. Without doing this, you could end up being struck by surprise costs which will end up messing your entire financial records. If you are getting the vehicle through financing, then online budgeting calculators will come in handy and help you to determine how to plan your savings and what to expect.

Decide On A Used Car Or A New One

Another thing that you should be keen on is deciding whether you need a pre-owned vehicle or need a new one. Each of them has distinct advantages which all depend on how one considers them. For instance getting a used car will come in at a cheaper price than a newer one. On the other side of the edge, a newer vehicle will have many things in place as compared to a used vehicle. It is therefore important to keep these things in mind when you are shopping for the vehicle.

Don’t forget to do your due diligence if you are getting a used vehicles others could be faulty.

Inspect The Vehicle In and Out

Something else that you wouldn’t want to play around with is the condition of the vehicle that you are getting. Not all vehicles will meet the standards that you expect and it is up to you to do your homework and find out if everything is spot on. Your inspection process should include everything covering mechanical, car’s history as well as all legal certifications. It is always good to ask for more information from the Japanese car dealer so that you can get a clearer picture and get to know more about the vehicle that you wish to purchase. Sometimes getting images and even requesting a video on the vehicle is important.

If possible you can also involve an expert to help you determine if the vehicle you are getting is worth the investment and the price tag being asked for.

Narrow Your Choice To A Specialty Car

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that need vehicles that are specifically suited to some certain purposes. If you find yourself in such instances then your best bet is to find a vehicle that is suited for the purposes. A good example is when you find yourself in a situation whether you need to haul something from one place to the other. In such a situation finding a pickup truck or a mini truck is your ideal option. You can however further narrow down to get something like a dump truck which will come in handy when you are dealing with cargo that needs to be off-loaded fast.

Watch Out For Scams

Scams are all over and there is little to be done to address the ever rising situation. Almost in every industry that you will go to, you will come across quacks and cons who are always there to steal away people’s money. It is however nothing to be scared of as there are many ways that one can easily smell a scam and stay away from them. Doing some things like buying from trusted Japanese car dealers, reading customer testimonials and keenly screening the company will help avoid such common scams. You should be careful on the bank accounts that you send money to as most cons usually misrepresent themselves as the dealer only to provide you with different payment details than that of the company’s bank account.

Bargain and Seek For Discounts

Unless you have a lot of money to spill around, which most likely isn’t the case, finding a good vehicle at a good price is all we need. Finding a well-priced vehicle is very important and it is not only advantageous in the sense of saving costs but also helping you to stay within the budgetary limits. When you go shopping for a vehicle, you shouldn’t just settle for the amount quoted. In most instances, one can get a big cut from the quoted price. The good thing with it is that you can bargain and negotiate a vehicle easily, thanks to the online plugins and addons that have made this seamlessly possible.

Final Word:

Finding an affordable yet high performing vehicle in today’s auto industry which seems like a maze is very tricky. You have to do a lot of things as well as avoid dozens of them to ensure that what you are getting is of good value. Hopefully the pointers highlighted above are sufficient to help you make an informed choice when shipping for a vehicle from Japan or any other county.

We are among the fastest growing Japanese are dealers and we have served hundreds of clients from countries across the globe. You might want to check out some of the vehicles that we have in our inventory. We specialize in mini trucks and minivans although we also have a handful number of other vehicles.