Importing FAQ

FAQ

Shipping FAQ’s

How long does Shipping take?

Shipping takes 8-10 weeks on average from the day you buy until the day the car arrives – This can vary depending on your location & shipping scheduling

How much does Shipping cost?

Shipping costs depend on the shipping company, the shipping destination and the size of the vehicle, to make things easier we will calculate the cost for you based on your location and the car you are bidding on & include the shipping cost in all bids.

Do you offer container shipping?

Yes we can provide container shipping, although this can cost over double what roll-on/roll-off shipping will cost so unless the car is not suitable for regular roll-on/roll-off shipping it is generally not worthwhile.

Is my car insured while being shipped?

Yes your car is insured against total loss and damage caused during transit. We can also offer you an additional insurance package which will provide an increased level of cover.

I’ve heard about items being stolen during shipping – does this happen?

Thankfully, due to increased security at ports around the world, theft of items from cars is now not the issue it once was. However as an added precaution we can remove items, such as gear knobs, radio faces, gauges & loose parts and have them separately posted.

I would like to buy parts and ship them in the car – is this possible?

Unfortunately with roll-on/roll-off shipping loose parts are not allowed to be shipped in cars and will be removed and disposed of by the shipping company.

We can however organise postage of these parts to you or place them in the car if you elect to ship by container.

My car has been damaged during shipping – what should I do?

Thankfully damage during shipping is extremely rare – however in the unlikely event your car has been damaged in transit, it is imperative that the issue is noted and documented with the local shipping agent before the car leaves the port compound. We will then assist you with filing an insurance claim with the shipping line.

Auction FAQ’s

How do I find out the price of a car?

As each car is for auction there are no set prices, we can however provide an estimate for any car you are interested in.

How do I get a translation of the auction sheet?

Text on Auction sheets is written in Japanese and unless you can read Japanese you may need a translation. For all customers who are approved to bid we provide a full translation service free of charge for any car you are interested in.

Translations should be requested by email to info@jdmauctionwatch.com – please allow ample time for translations before the auction date.

What do the auction grades mean?

Each car really needs to be evaluated individually by looking at the auction sheet translation. But in a nutshell the grades can be outlined as

Grade 5/S: New condition

Grade 4.5: Very lightly used condition (usually reserved for very low km cars)

Grade 4: Used condition with only light blemishes

Grade 3.5: Good condition with more noticeable blemishes

Grade 3: Average condition with marks and possible poor paint or light damage

Grade 2: Poor condition may have accident damage or corrosion

Grade 1/0: Rarely used – generally means heavily modified or a car with lots of alterations

Grade R/Ra/R1/R2: Accident repaired car or a car with an inner panel replaced.. can vary from extremely minor repair to heavily damaged car – Always ask for a translation

How often do new cars appear on your auction listings?

Cars get updated every day – there is no exact time so please check back often.

Who completes the auction sheet?

The sales point section of the auction sheet along with details of the car are completed by the seller. The inspection, inspection comments and overall grades are completed by an independent inspector employed by the auction.

Do cars have a reserve price – Can I find this out?

Yes cars will almost always have a reserve price, this price is set by the seller and is not publicly revealed. Our buyer will only know when bidding on the car when the reserve price has been met.

Can I visit the auctions?

Auctions are located throughout Japan – In order to visit the auction you must be accompanied by someone with membership for that auction.

How accurate are the grades?

The overall grade given to a car is based on the auction inspectors opinion of the car, it is not an exact science and takes into account the cars age. Due to the experience of the auction inspectors 9 times out of 10 a grade will offer an accurate representation of the car. However as grades are subjective a car which 1 inspector may grade as 4 another auction inspector may grade as 3.5 therefore especially with older cars, it is important to look beyond the grade and focus on the condition report.

Bidding & Buying FAQ’s

How do I bid?

Bidding must be done by logging in to your account on our auction website http://auctions.jdmauctionwatch.com – for a bid to be valid you must agree to our terms and conditions.

What is included in my bid?

This is up to you! For Ireland & UK by default we include Car cost, Export Fees, Shipping, Local Port fees & Payment of Customs Duty and VAT.  This means you are bidding for the car all in excluding Registration.
For all other locations we include Car cost, Export Fees & Shipping only. We can also accept bids for Ireland & UK including shipping only if required.

What currency should I bid in

For UK buyers we accept bids in GBP – For Ireland and all other countries bids should be in Euros

How do I know how much to bid?

If you have an approved account with us we will give you access to sales history for the last 3 months so you can research on previous sale results – We are also happy to provide estimates for any car you are interested in.

Your bid should be the maximum amount you are willing to pay for the car – our buyers will always try win the car for the minimum amount possible.

When should you bid?

All bids must be placed by 10pm GMT the night before the auction – eg. If a car has an auction date of 25/12 bids your bid should be entered by 10pm GMT 24/12

Can I watch the auction online?

Unfortunately not – bidding is done at the auction itself by our buyers and each car sells in approx 30 seconds.

When will I know the outcome of my bid?

We will let you know the result of your bid as soon as possible – due to the time difference with Japan – results are generally emailed the following morning (GMT).

If I win the car what happens next?

We will issue you with an invoice and the car will be transported to our locations in either Yokohama or Nagoya where they will be photographed before shipping.

Can I get more info on the car I want to bid on?

Yes, please email any requests for info to info@jdmauctionwatch.com

How do I pay?

All payments must be made by bank transfer only.

Can I bid on multiple cars?

Yes, no problem! If we don’t win whichever car is first in the auction running order, we will try your next bid and so on until we win a car.

Can you buy cars non-auction cars?

Yes we can! We can buy cars from dealerships and private auctions in Japan.

The Car’s

Is there a road worthiness test in Japan?

Yes each car must pass a test called the Shaken, we can tell you if the car has a current Shaken in Japan.

Do the cars need to be re-mapped for fuel outside of Japan?

As higher octane fuel is available in Japan most performance cars are setup or tuned with this in mind, therefore we recommend either running Octane booster or having the car re-mapped to suit the fuel in your country, This is especially important if the car has an aftermarket ecu.

Do Japanese cars come with service history?

Yes Japanese imports often come with Service history but it is not as commonplace as some other countries, For the most part there is an excellent culture of servicing and maintenance in Japan.

You guys supply a lot of high performance cars but do you also supply regular cars?

YES! The most popular Japanese imports at the moment are classic high performance cars, but we can provide any type of vehicle which is available in Japan.

Are the cars checked in person at auction?

At almost all large auctions we can organise an inspection of the car by one of our buyers to ensure the auction sheet description is accurate.

Do you offer any warranty or guarantee on the cars?

As we are an import service not a dealership we do not offer any warranty or guarantee, but if your car meets the requirements you may be able to purchase a warranty from a third party provider.

What happens if I’m not happy with the car I bought?

In the very unlikely situation you receive a car and are not entirely satisfied with the condition unfortunately we cannot offer any compensation monetary or otherwise. Our Import Service is designed to facilitate you to buy your dream car and while we do everything possible to minimise any risk, there is always a chance however small that a defect may go unnoticed at auction or by our buyers and ultimately due to the nature of the cars we supply it is not possible to offer any guarantees or warranties.

Thankfully this is a relative non-issue as unlike many of our competitors we care about the car you buy and its not in our interest for you to import a bad car, we believe in supplying you with all of the facts in an upfront manner meaning you can make an educated decision.

Are many cars in Japan clocked?

Clocking in Japan is relatively uncommon, however in the case where a car has a discrepancy with its mileage, for innocent reasons or otherwise it will be noted on the auction sheet and we can relay this information to you.

Do I get extra pictures of the cars before shipping?

Yes! We supply a full set of detailed pictures of your car before it leaves Japan.

Why Import?

If you love Japanese cars, the obvious place to look for your next car is Japan, Japanese owners are passionate about their cars and for the most part cars in Japan are better maintained and with the climate and driving conditions meaning even the oldest of Japanese are often in unbelievable condition it really is the best source for cars in the world.

Submit a Question

If you would like us to expand on any of the above or feel there is a question we haven’t covered please use the form below – Remember there is no such thing as a stupid question!