Importing Japanese Cars Archives -

July 17, 2022August 16, 2022

5 Proof of Ownership Documents When Importing Mini Truck

Mini trucks have a Japanese origin, and such vehicles are in the class of Kei trucks. The similar characteristic is their small engine cc and similar body shape. Several Japanese auto-makers manufacture these vehicles. Initially, the mini trucks were to serve the Japanese middle class, their popularity grew, and autodialers started exporting them to other parts of the world, such as the United States. You need to have proof of ownership documents that will prove the mini truck’s ownership, and such documents are necessary at the port to facilitate the clearing process.

5 Proof of Ownership Documents When Importing Mini Truck

You can import a mini truck to the U.S. However, there is laid down a procedure that you must know. Failure to follow the procedure might make it difficult for you to clear your mini truck at the port. Let us have a look at some of those documents.

The Military Registration and Certificate of Title of Motor Vehicle (DD-430)

The DD-430 is one of the proofs of ownership documents that the offices of the armed forces can use to import a mini truck. The U.S. Airforce formed this document in 2000, and now all military personnel uses it. The U.S military personnel serving abroad can use this document to ferry home their mini truck upon the expiry of their duty. Any military personnel importing a mini truck can download and fill it. The Military Registration and Certificate are available online.

Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin (MCO)

The MCO refers to the original ownership document of a vehicle. The document contains vital information about the vehicle, such as the year of manufacture, make, and VIN. It has some security features, and the new vehicle’s dealer is this document’s provider.

New Vehicle Information Statement (NVIS)

The NVIS form is given to new mini trucks directly imported from the dealer. It has to accompany your mini truck from the dealer. It has basic information about the mini truck, such as the details of the manufacturer/importer and details of the authorized dealer selling it.

Manufacturer’s Invoice

Who is the manufacturer? It is someone accorded the responsibility of ensuring conformity of production, and such a person must not actively take part in producing the mini truck. The manufacturer’s invoice is a document issued to the dealer by the manufacturer which contains the wholesale price of the mini truck at the factory and the charges of transport from the factory to the dealer. It also indicates any taxes that the dealer ought to pay.

Certificate of Title

When importing a mini truck, you must apply for registration and title, which will contain your name, address, and the details of your mini truck. A certificate of title is proof of ownership of a vehicle. The certificate of title is available for both civilians and military personnel. The military personnel, however, have a special certificate of title, which they have to download.

Conclusion

When importing a mini truck to the U.S, you have to produce these five documents, which will act as proof of ownership. You need to know these documents because their presence will facilitate clearing your mini truck.

July 16, 2022August 16, 2022

How To Import Trucks Using an ICI

Wonderign how to import trucks using an ICI service? EPA has given the Independent Commercial Importers the authority to import vehicles to the United States. If you want to use an ICI to import your truck, ensure you choose a certified ICI willing to work with you. When using ICI to import your truck, be sure to incur more charges, and you must be willing and able to pay the additional charges. The ICI has a specific number of vehicles to import in a year. If you import your truck through the ICI, they will do everything to bring it to the port, but it will not be released until they make sure that the truck meets the basic minimum requirements of EPA.

If you want to become an Independent Commercial Importer, spend time knowing the basics of becoming an ICI and the EPA vehicle certification requirements. You have to acquire at least a certificate of conformity from the EPA. Any individual can decide to import vehicles on behalf of others. If you want the ICI services to import your truck, this guide will give you the information you should have.

How To Import Trucks Using an ICI

If you are planning to import a truck that is not meeting the United States emission standards or that truck which qualifies for an exemption, consider seeking the services of ICI, who will test, modify and certify the truck for it to be easily cleared at the port.

The ICI will first test the truck you want to import, determining whether the truck meets the EPA requirements. If the truck does not meet EPA’s requirements, ICI will be responsible for modifying your truck. After modification, they will again test if it is now fit. If the modifications lift your truck to EPA requirements, ICI will prepare documentations that they will present to EPA for assessment.

ICI has helped many to import their vehicles as much as they work under certain limitations. For instance, they only import certain models and makes of vehicles. Before you strike a deal with ICI, you must first contact them to inquire whether the truck you want to import is on the list of the vehicles they are allowed to bring to the United States.

EPA will scrutinize the documentation of ICI to ensure that the modifications made on the imported truck meet the minimum EPA requirements. They will do this by thoroughly going through the reports presented to them. After going through ICI reports, EPA will inspect the truck to check the credibility of the report from the ICI.

Conclusion

You can use ICI to import your truck to the U.S. Several ICIs have limitations in terms of the number, make, and models of vehicles they can import in a year. Before choosing an ICI, take time to inquire if they can assist you in importing your truck. They will do everything to ensure that you get your truck. But be ready to spend some cash because they are not liable for any expenses during the importation.

July 16, 2022August 16, 2022

Requirements To Register an Imported Truck In The U.S.

You can buy a foreign car, import and register it under your name in the United States. The registration process is not complex though you need certain documents and a specific procedure to register your foreign truck successfully. Here, we will go through the crucial requirements to register an imported truck in the US.

Requirements To Register an Imported Truck

When you import your truck from another country to the U.S., you must register it before using it. You will need the following:

Evidence of ownership such as an out-of-state title. Such document can be in the form of an Importer’s Certificate if you are importing a brand new vehicle from the manufacturer or a certificate of title from the previous location of your truck if it is not brand new.
Evidence showing that the customs department has cleared the truck. You can produce any stamped and endorsed relevant customs and border protection forms.
The weight certificate provides evidence that your truck has an original weight.
You must pay registration fees, which will vary depending on the truck, the date of importation and purchase, and the state you are living.
Evidence that your truck meets the United States Federal vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). If your truck is older than 1995, this document is mandatory.
Evidence that your truck meets the EPA standards.

Registering an Imported Truck in the U.S.

At this point, you have the necessary documents to register your truck. Let us look at what you must do to register your vehicle.

First, you must have evidence of the U.S. customs and border Protection clearance. You will need to contact them at various ports of entry, or you can visit their website, which contains information about the procedure for registering vehicles imported by U.S. residents, non-residents, and the returning armed forces or government officials.

Second, you must comply with NYS safety and emissions standards. Your truck has to comply with the minimum NYS emission and safety standards.

Translate any document in a foreign language to English before submission.

Some of the Valid U.S. Customs and Border Protection Documents You Can Use

The U.S. customs and border protections offer various documents which the DMV approves. Let us look at some of those documents.

CPB Form – 6059B Customs Declaration.
CPB Form – 7501 Entry summary.
CPB – 368 Collection Receipt or Informal Entry.
CPB Form – 7523 Entry and Manifest of Merchandise Free of Duty, Carrier’s certificate of release.
CPB 3311 – Declaration for free entry of returned American products.

Registering your truck will be easy if you produce the above documents because only customs and border protection proof is necessary.

Conclusion

U.S. government allows the importation of foreign vehicles. Before any foreign truck gets into the roads, you have to register it. At the department of vehicle registration, you have to produce some documents which will be used to verify if the truck meets the minimum standards laid out by EPA and other bodies dealing with vehicles. Production of valid documents facilitates the process of registering an imported truck.

August 17, 2017

Costly mistakes That New Time Car Importers Do

Is it your first time to import a car from another country? If you haven’t done this before and you are confused on what to do, then this guide is for you. There are lots of mistakes that many new car buyers do when they are importing a car for their first time and you may want to avoid them so that you avoid overspending and also getting a poor quality vehicle than you expect. It is also worth mentioning that importing from another country could come with many surprises if you are not experienced with how the importing works. These mistakes are however controllable and by been keen, one will not incur any extra expenses. Here are some of the mistakes to avoid in the import process;

Ensure The Vehicle Is State Compliant

Different countries and states have their own rules which could affect how those vehicles are run. While some states allow certain vehicle, others have stricter conditions which must be met. The most common restrictions and conditions that one should most adhere to is the age of the vehicle. Some vehicles are allowed to run under certain roads depending on their date of manufacture among other restrictions. To ensure that your vehicle complies to the state set rules and regulations, you need to consult and ensure that whatever you are buying meets those conditions. Otherwise you could end up buying a vehicle that you cannot drive or use within your country.

In some situations, one could be forced to return the vehicle and others could even go to the point of destroying it, depending on the country and the laws. This is the last thing that you’d want to happen to you because it could cost you a lot of money. Although situations like these are rare, I doesn’t mean that they do no happen. Therefore, you should have the checklist and ensure that whatever you are getting will work for you.

Do Your Research And Ascertain The Price And Charges

Everything has sit’s price, but that doesn’t mean that the price tag is always fixed. In many instances when buying a vehicle, either locally or importing it, you will have the chance to negotiate the price of a vehicle. It is always important to do thorough research to know the price tag of a vehicle even from other dealers so that you can get the vehicle at the bets price possible. Perhaps one of the reasons why people love Japanese cars is because they are affordable and reliable. As compared to the skyrocketing car prices, this might as well be the best way to get good value for your money.

Doing your math and also knowing what to expect in terms of charges, costs and taxes is also something that you ought to be keen on. This will help you have a clear financial budget and help you to avoid overspending on unexpected charges which you did not know of before.

And you don’t have to buy the lies that your local car dealer tells you. Most of them want you to believe that buying a vehicle abroad is complicated and attracts a lot of costs. While it involves some processes, you can do all this in the comfort of your home by letting a broker take care of everything.

Unless you have too much money to not care, negotiating the price of a vehicle before buying is something that you need to do.

Failing To Inspect the Vehicle Thoroughly

Yet another mistake that many gives many people regrets is failing to inspect and do a thorough overview of the vehicle before they place their order. Many people fail to realize that a vehicle could have hidden defects that cannot be seen by just looking at the vehicle outer impression. You need to ask for a clear review of other parts including the engine, gear box and even under the vehicle. A video review should also be something worth considering so that you can see how the vehicle starts and idles.

If you are inexperienced in this or do not know what to look for to ascertain whether the vehicle is in good condition, then calling for assistance from a friend who knows more won’t hurt. People have different reasons of selling their cars and the last thing that you’d want to buy is junk that the owner is dumping to get rid of.

Here at Substar, we engage our highly skilled professionals to analyze and inspect a vehicle condition before we list them in our inventory. This assures our customers that they are not just getting a random vehicle but one that has been thoroughly vetted to meet the required standards and expectations.

Final Word

Importing a vehicle from another country could be one of those golden moments when it comes to both getting the vehicle at a bargain as well as getting a variety to choose from. For instance, in our inventory where we have Japanese mini trucks and minivans, you would hardly come across such a huge inventory that will give you a variety of vehicles to choose from in your local county. As such, you should take advantage of importing it from Japan. And just in case you are worried and thinking that it is expensive and tedious importing, you will be amazed at how the while process is fast and painless.

Here at Substar Inc, we specialize in Japanese vehicles mostly the mini trucks and minivans. If you are therefore looking for a high quality vehicle to import from Japan, then you can confidently get in touch with us and we will make arrangements for you to get the vehicle nd we will also assist you with getting the vehicle shipped to you. You can also get in touch with us if you would like to take advantage of the Japanese car auction houses and we will help you get a clean and quality vehicle for a sweet deal. Get in touch with us today and we will help you out with finding a vehicle and the import tasks.

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.