Importing a Used Car from Japan — From Contract to License Plate

Confirming the Car and Signing the Contract

Once you pick a listing, we verify its condition through the auction sheet or a local inspection report first — never from photos alone.

We need the VIN, model year, and displacement before certification costs can be calculated. Without these three, any quote is just an estimate.

Export Procedures in Japan

Export deregistration (輸出抹消登録) removes the car from Japan's registry. Without it, the car can't be shipped.

The car is trucked to the port and loaded onto a container ship or a RORO vessel. RORO is cheaper, but sailings are less frequent.

Ocean Freight and Arrival

Ships arrive from major Japanese ports into Busan, Pyeongtaek, or Incheon — typically 3 to 7 days.

The departure port depends on where the car is located. A car in Hokkaido costs more to ship than one in Kyushu.

Customs Clearance and Taxes

The dutiable value (CIF) is taxed in order: 8% customs duty, 5% individual consumption tax, education tax (30% of the consumption tax), then 10% VAT.

Vehicles at 1,000cc or under are exempt from the individual consumption tax.

The Korea–Japan agreement tariff rate only applies with a certificate of origin. Without one, the standard rate applies.

Certification and Registration

Registration requires emissions and noise certification. If the same model has a certification history, the cost and timeline drop sharply.

Self-certification (manufacturer registration) followed by new registration gets you the license plate.

This is the longest stretch of the whole timeline. Certification, not the ship, decides when you actually get the car.