Guide to Japanese Car Auctions
Avishka Chandeepa
Posted 21 February 2025
When it comes to securing your dream Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicle, our auction process stands as a beacon of transparency and simplicity. Join us on this exciting journey to make your JDM aspirations a reality! Let me run you through our 6-step process on how the Japanese Auto Auctions work with ZervTek.
1. Introduction to Japanese Car Auctions
You can register for free on our Japanese Car Auction website to browse upcoming JDMs and cars. Our portal provides fresh cars daily, with new listings added every day from across Japan. Monitor and be alerted to the vehicle you're looking for, or ask us to do it for you. Find the full guide to using our auction site here.
Cost calculating
Your preferences and budget are at the heart of our vehicle selection process. We start by going through upcoming vehicle listings in the auctions, ensuring that every choice aligns perfectly with your desires. At the same time, we provide sales data from recent auctions (for up to 3 months) for you to gauge current market prices. Factors such as a vehicle's condition, mileage, rarity, or popularity will affect its end price. This is important to ensure you never overpay and create a strong budget for the vehicle of your choice.
A breakdown of the costs associated with importing a car from Japan.
Total = Vehicle purchase price + Export Fees + Shipping Cost
Export charges vary based on the end price of the vehicle, and shipping cost varies depending on the size of the vehicle and country. Contact our agents for a full quotation, including shipping for your dream car to your preferred port.
2. Refundable Deposit
To initiate the Japanese auction process on your behalf, we kindly request a refundable deposit of 100,000 yen (valid for vehicles priced up to 2.5 million yen). This deposit serves as your commitment to the vehicle of your dreams.
Full Refund Assurance: If circumstances change, and you decide not to proceed with the auction purchase, rest assured—your 100,000 yen deposit is 100% refundable. Life can be unpredictable, and we're here to offer you flexibility and peace of mind.
Deposit Deduction from Final Invoice: When we successfully secure a vehicle at auction, we deduct the deposit amount from your final invoice. This transparent approach underscores your commitment to the vehicle purchase.
3. Comprehensive Information and Inspection
At ZervTek Japan, we go the extra mile to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle you're eyeing. Here's how we do it:
- Auction House Inspection: The auction house rigorously inspects each vehicle, and we receive detailed Japanese vehicle auction sheets. These detailed sheets offer impartial and crucial insight into the vehicles you're interested in. Details include overall exterior and interior conditions, noticeable mechanical issues, repairs or replacements, check lights, modifications, etc.
- Professional Translations: We translate these Japanese auction sheets into English for you, ensuring you have access to all the essential details.
- Additional Photo and Video Inspections: For your peace of mind, we don't stop at the auction sheets. Depending on the JDM vehicle and Japanese auction, we conduct a further in-person inspection, capturing additional photos and videos of the car before the auction commences. This hands-on approach allows you to have an accurate virtual walk-around of the car before bidding.
Note: we also provide high-resolution USS Auction images and auction reports to our clients.
4. How the Japanese Car Auctions work
Auctions in the world of JDM vehicles are a whirlwind affair, typically lasting only 1-3 minutes. This swift pace demands that we have all the finalized bids in hand before the auction starts.
Here's how we navigate these rapid auctions on your behalf:
- Prepared Bidding: We work diligently to ensure that your bids are prepared and submitted promptly. You can trust us to be your advocate in the intense auction environment.
- Unsold Vehicles: Sometimes, a seller's desired reserve price isn't met during the auction. When this happens, the vehicle goes unsold. But don't worry—this opens up intriguing opportunities:
Negotiation: Unsold vehicles can enter negotiation. Here, we engage in discussions with the seller to potentially secure the vehicle at a mutually agreeable price.
One Price/Direct Purchase: In some cases, an unsold vehicle is made available for immediate purchase at a fixed price set by the seller. This streamlined option simplifies the process and allows you to acquire the vehicle without further bidding.
Starting Negotiation Price: If negotiation is the route, the seller sets a starting negotiation price. This serves as the minimum amount at which we can secure the vehicle.
Negotiation Process: Negotiations operate on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing the order of applications. We enter bids on your behalf and engage in discussions with the seller.
Successful Negotiation Fee: When a successful negotiation occurs, the auction house charges a fee of 10,000 yen.
The auction house maintains strict confidentiality, ensuring that both sellers and buyers remain entirely anonymous throughout the entire process to prevent any unauthorized sales or negotiations that could potentially circumvent their processes.
5. Efficient Post-Auction Services
Once we secure the winning bid, we spring into action. We manage the vehicle's transportation to the designated shipping yard and meticulously prepare it for shipping. We also provide you with additional photos from the port before it's loaded onto the ship.
Options for Shipping from Japan
ZervTek can ship with both containers (20ft or 40ft) or RoRo (Roll-On, Roll-Off). RoRo is the most popular and accessible to individual customers looking to buy one vehicle. Meanwhile, containers tend to be a better option for customers or dealers looking to buy multiple vehicles at once.
Documents
- We expedite the original copy of the Export Certificate (title required to register your Japanese car) along with any spare keys, manuals, maintenance records, and other accessories included with the car purchase from the auctions via DHL or another courier.
- The bill of lading is surrendered/released before the vehicle reaches the destination port.
- The ZervTek invoice will serve as the commercial invoice for destination customs clearance.
A free translation of the export certificate can also be provided upon request!
6. Transparent Pricing, No Hidden Charges
At Zervtek Japan, transparency isn't just a buzzword—it's our way of doing business. We openly share the purchase price of the vehicle, leaving no room for hidden costs or surprises. Your journey with us is as straightforward as it gets.
Ready to Get Started?
If you're eager to embark on this affordable JDM car-buying journey with us, you can find all the necessary links below.
Thank you for considering ZervTek Co., Ltd. We understand the intricacies of JDM auctions, and we're here to navigate them on your behalf with precision and professionalism. Your dream vehicle is our mission, and we leave no stone unturned to make it a reality.