I spent about 3 months trying to import a limited edition car of which 800 were sold in Japan. This meant the dealer/buyer had to be prepared to do his work. I worked out the route/plan etc but the cost was too much; the exchange rate was higher then but not by much. I ended up buying a personally bought import from a BA cabin crew person .. he had personally done all the import stuff; it was cheaper and you could see what you actually get. All this info has not been updated from January 1999.

The law is a changing for those into importing into the UK.. be aware..

To paraphrase 'Japanese Performance' Mar/Apr 00 issue 3

Originally the changes to 'only SVA importing' was due 1st March 2000.

Now there is a delay until 1st Sept 2000 for 'SVA for all cars under 10 year old'; this means no more personal imports - only if you lived 12 months abroad and drove the car abroad for 6 months. During this time the SVA test (£165) will be in force as it is for under 3 year old cars currently but will be extended to all cars under 10 years old.

Come 1st Jan 2001 it will be effectively Dealer only importing; they have to pay over £1000 for a type approval test which can then be applied to all those cars - which therefore have to be standard (no more fancy exhausts) and no more one off cars.. (the tests will be paid for by a dealer collective who then pay a fee to use the test result)

are Windsor car auctions

30/11/98 Rang father, son to look tonight, has BJ number. My old one was Grade 1!

2/12/98 Got son (John aka JP) then father – will try tonight, ring tomorrow

7/12/98 Son got faxed results from his dealer will call back – no cars.

01232 342019 Fax 342969 Son & father recommended by Dr Andrew Thompson

Will do import service for you, 75 days, Cost +£500, MOT+roadtax

Phone Number : +44 (0)1565-654054 Fax Number : +44 (0)1565-654054 Mobile: 0973 401657

20/10/98 Malcolm Edwards £500-£1000 commission

Contact Liz at: Mobile 00-353-86-8115203 (Office hours) Contact Art at: Telephone 00-353-1-2855598 (Outside office hours) FAX: 00-353-1-2855653 Postal address: 7 The Village Craft Centre, Cornelscourt., Dublin 18, Ireland.

Irish lot with cars + can import

21/10/98 Sent email, no reply

CAR IMPORTS DIRECT LTD. The Orchard, Highridge Green, Bishopsworth, Bristol  BS13 8AB

Tel:- +44 (0) 117 964 6029   Fax:- +44 (0) 117 923 1177    Mobile:- 0370 870 170

E-Mail Sent email – will do custom imports, only 15k RX7 on page

EXAMPLE VEHICLE = 1997 SUBARU WRX STI 4

COST TO BUY THE CAR JPY 2,475.000+ 900,000@192 = £4186

24hr Fax/Answerphone:    0118 973 5148 Contact Dominic:    0410 181493

have cars for sale ’93 for £9,600 – might import – irish

21/10/98 sent email no reply

For prices and ordering details please contact us on tel: 0973 988458.Tel/Fax 0161 865 6334

Tel.: 01934 612260 Searle Crescent, Weston Super Mare, Avon, BS23 3YX

Phone 0181 847 3237 or 0956 867597 Fax   0181 688 6731or 0181 847 3237

UK importers through dealers not auction houses

have import system – into uk ’94 1.6 = £10k

£1000 commission into UK

will import for you but stock their own; ’93 1.6 = £10,500

http://www.hbrewster.freeserve.co.uk/

20/11/98 Patrick replied 1.3-1.5 MY landed, (’93 circa 1MJ at auction)

9/12/98 Ask to confirm price/condition/grade old car/parts shipping?

10/12/98 Patrick 1.5 landed for ’94 S-spec sub 30k, boot items probs

01/01/99 PO form, 50% 1.5MJ

08/01/99 offer 47 km – no

25/01/99 asked – seen tired one, advertising for me, S2000 = lots for sale soon

Buying from dealer auction.  Shipping  world-wide.  Sapporo, with "only" 2 millions residents (5 millions in Hokkaido), healthier traffic conditions and less competition from exporters allow better car deals than the Tokyo/Osaka areas. 100,000 commission, 50% deposit to start, 3 weeks max, $100 insurance,

Car Yard Address:  ASARIGAWA ONSEN, OTARU, JAPAN

Office: NISHIKU, NISHINO, 11-9, 12-8, SAPPORO 0630041, JAPAN FAX  +81-11-666-8216

Banking with:            Bank of TOKYO-MITSUBISHI

130,000 yen per car. FOB Yokohama (Auction fees, internal transport, customs clearance and brokerage (Japan side), all documentation & port charges (so 80,000 JY extra for tax?)

HEAD OFFICE: Hikawa Nakamurua Bldg. 301, 6-6-29 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 107-0052

CAR YARD: 4-4-17 Naka-machi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 158 Telephone & Facsimile: 03-3702-1089

Shaun Conroy (President): 030-2211-569 Thomas King: 020-229-5905 Takeshi Kouji: 050-874-9651

2/11/98 Anthony said 1-1,200,000 FOB? (had ’96 for 1,500,000)

20/11/98 Asked Anthony if this is FOB

7/12/98 Resent fee request etc

8/12/98 1.3MJ+130 commission, 190 shipping, do have under 30k all rear boot spoiler, photo, ring from auct.

21/12/98 Anthony Downey said 20,000 JY internal transport, 170,000 JY sea freight

22/12/98 Sent reply, asking price/spec on last car

05/01/99 Another car, grade 5, 36km, 1.2M possible – replied have deposit but sub 30km interested

Cancelled order

Head Office  2-3-4 Nozato Nishiyodogawa-ku  Osaka City 555-0024 JAPAN 

Tel:81-6-471-1034  Fax:81-6-471-2085 Garage/workshop/import/export

7/12/98 Sent request

11/12/98 FOB 1,15-1.3MY, difficult to find, Koichi Harada / Yamaji Motors Co., Ltd.

14/12/98 Ask Koichi, grade, standard, % up front, assurance/source

22/11/98 email for JLtd2, price?

23/11/98 Yoshiaki Futagami based in Ireland, JLtd2 possible but rare

24/11/98 Yoshi – will try for JLtd2 availability

27/11/98 1.2 MY, 80k costs, 50k commission = 1.33MY, 40km normal ’94 = ??

10/11/98 George Kennedy called at work, send fax for price

Have 3 no2 + 1 no1 on list, ’95 for1,218,00

’94 for 1,200,000, 20 years in bus etc, will order

20/11/98 Ahmed Siddiqui – difficult colour, others available

Autobuy International

20/11/98 Reply to fax with 1.78 MJ FIB, too expensive!

japan stock yard no prices, 2 eunos

1 red ’94 1,020,000 FOB yen

Exporters of Used Cars * Japan * Company: Servitrade Ltd. Contact: Alfredo Nakata

Phone: 81-200-113739 FAX: 81-725-

26/11/98 Sent request

30/11/98 Derek Jones – Dublin based – did not know JLtd2, confirmed to him

22/11/98 Sent email – no answer

25/11/98 RS Sethi offered ’92 for 0.7MY, mgs said yellow ’94 only

26/11/98 he will inform me whenever they get yellow ’94 in stock

TEL 81-75-681-1690 FAX 81-75-681-1610 MOB 81-90-2385-6750 Contact Koichi Harada

21/10/98 Sent email – no answer

POINT 0 ACCIDENT AND REPAIRED CAR.

POINT 1 NO ACCIDENT BUT BAD CONDITION.

POINT 2 NO ACCIDENT BUT THERE ARE BENTS /SCRATCHES.

POINT 3 NO ACCIDENT BUT THERE ARE BENTS /SCRATCHES BETTER THAN POINT 2

POINT 3.5 NO ACCIDENT BUT SMALL BENTS AND SCRATCHES, FAIR CONDITION.

POINT 4 NO ACCIDENT AND ALMOST NO BENTS/SCRATCHES, GOOD CONDITION.

POINT 4.5 NO ACCIDENT AND ALMOST NO BENTS/SCRATCHES, VERY GOOD CONDITION.

POINT 5 NO ACCIDENT AND NO BENTS/SCRATCHES.

Following my request for information on shipping a car to Ireland which I posted to this list about six weeks ago, I went from zero information to an absolute wealth of information. First of all, thanks to all of you out there who took the trouble to reply to me - several people who posted any updated information they had, thank you in particular.

While I say I have a wealth of information, much of it has sadly to be disregarded as the costs associated with that particular method of shipping are prohibitive.

Down to facts :-

1.From what I can see the only shipping company sending cars to Ireland is one called Armacup Japan (aka Marushin Koun Kaisha). The cost of ocean freight to Ireland in the hold of the ship (roll on roll off) is $850 (85,000 yen at current 100 yen/$ rate).

2.There are any amount of agents out there who will charge you any amount of money disguised as handling charges, customs clearance, brokerages, etc etc etc. Armacup also offer agency services and their prices were the keenest I found. Also it makes it a lot easier if you've only got to deal with one company.

3.Their charges are as follows: (yen) Shipping charges25,000 Customs clearance 5,900 Handling charge (15,000 + 3%)15,450 subtotal:46,350 Ocean freight 85,000 Grand total: ¥: 131,350

The contact numbers are: 03-3553-2531 (phone) 03-3553-2534 (fax) Ask for Mr Ken Suzuki.

4.Insurance can also be arranged.

5.Some people I know have put their stuff in the boot.

6.You can have them consign your car to Avant Shipping in Dublin (I'm not too sure about this).

Hope this is helpful - if anyone has any more specific enquiries, please direct them to me privately.

cheers.... Joseph

I want to send my car home to Ireland in March(97). I contacted the agents mentioned in (very helpful) INN web page on this subject, ie Armacup Japan.

Their current (Feb. 10) fees are (in yen);

In-port shipping: 25,000

Customs clearance: 5,900

Handling (+3%): 15,450

This totals 46,350, which is unchanged from the web figures. The ocean freight cost has gone up though to $1000, yes, DOLLARS, so with an exchange rate of 124/$ the overall cost has gone up 30% or about 40,000 yen to 170,350.

cheers.... Myles

http://www.uswd.com/ireland_import_rules.htm

For Information on Customs and Vehicle Import Taxes.

The Office of Revenue Commissioners

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 Telephone: (01) 679-2777 Facsimile: (01) 671-1826

HM Customs Telephone: +44-620-1313

UK Excise Advice Centre Telephone: +44-171-928-3344

Department of Transport

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority Longview Road, Swansea SA6 7JL Telephone: +44-272-524-180

Vehicle Licensing Information Center

Department of Transport 1 Zoar St., London SE1 OSY

Case Study  &  Work Sheet Write Your Own Prices Here 

Purchase Price 1,450,000   Change of Ownership  27,000 Consumption Tax  5% 72,500 Acquisition Tax   5% 72,500  Vehicle Tax 13,100 Total On Road Cost Japan 1,635,100 

Customs Clearance, Documentation, 245,000 Port Handling & Ocean Freight  Insurance 0.3%4,350

Total Cost CIF Sheerness UK  1,884,450  Convert to UK Pounds   @ 210.50 8,952 Tax  10% 0VAT 17.5% 0(Zero If Proof Of Six Months Ownership)  Yes Customs Clearance  140 Delivery to London  120  Registration & On Road Costs   350 Total On Road Cost 9,562    Advertised Sales Price 12,995 - 14,995  

Avant Maritime Services, Dublin

Tel 00353 1 655 2100

Talk to Pat

Fax them ,vessel, bill of lading, invoice with FOB price, de-registration document, driving license

They will tell you a landing date

Send the originals to them (except driving license)

Custom clearance = £75

ZZ plates/1 day 3^rd party insurance = £190

Need bankers draught to another company to pay for freight (pay on delivery)

Yuma shipping £35 docking + $68/m^2 transport $550=344+35=£379 = 75,800 JY

Armacup £66.15 docking + $900 transport $900=562+66=£628 = 125,600 JY

Dublin stevedors/Yomall £30 docking + $750 transport $750=468+30=£499 = 99,800 JY

You get 5 days free on dock – enough to clear car

They will unload, park and lock car – keys go to office, they have 3 men on dock with battery packs so will start car for you

Others;

NCC Freight forwarders, 00353 1 8363 408, ansaphone so must be small

Dublin Port & Dock admin 00353 1 872 277

Windsor Car Auctions 00353 1 4599 300, Denise, import auctions every second Wednesday (18/11/98)

East/West do import service to Soton, 8.1msq, $688.5=£419.82, $9 insurance, RORO ferry, computer logged state.

Buying from dealer auction.  Shipping  world-wide.  Sapporo, with "only" 2 millions residents (5 millions in Hokkaido), healthier traffic conditions and less competition from exporters allow better car deals than the Tokyo/Osaka areas. 100,000 commission, 50% deposit to start, 3 weeks max, $100 insurance,

Car Yard Address:  ASARIGAWA ONSEN, OTARU, JAPAN

Office: NISHIKU, NISHINO, 11-9, 12-8, SAPPORO 0630041, JAPAN FAX  +81-11-666-8216

Banking with:            Bank of TOKYO-MITSUBISHI

Warren Buffet said: "You can't do good business with bad people."

Acquiring a used car, anywhere, requires good judgement.

Doing it through the Internet, from a strange location, additionally requires a healthy dose of risk taking aptitude.

Hopefully, the reality of obtaining a better car for a better price, should help overcome the potential setbacks.

The bottom line for us is: "we get only one chance, to make a good first impression", satisfied customers are essential to our survival.

In order to achieve optimal understanding and peace of mind, please read and agree with the following guidelines.

1) Request    2) Agreement     3) Payment    4) Refund    5) Documents

1) Request

A request form (print or e-mail) is answered within 48 hours (when provided with correct email address).   Conditions mentioned are valid at time of request, especially regarding stock vehicles which are moving fast.  Only the confirmed reception of funds to our MITSUBISHI account can guarantee a particular unit.  Japan is a cash society, our auction purchases are paid cash on the spot, so we expect our sales. The main consequence of this practice is unbeatable low prices and fast turn over.

All genuine and relevant requests, are considered to the best of our ability.

2) Agreement

Details of unit, conditions, price, shipping details, etc., will appear on a "Sales Agreement" faxed to the customer.  This document is to be faxed back, approved and signed, it is the legal basis of the transaction  (no orders to PO boxes or without FAX address can be accepted).

Both parties are expected to respect their engagements to the best of their ability.

We strongly advise all relevant questions and/or  clarifications being addressed BEFORE transaction is executed.  Remember, the Internet is a small big world, we need you happy, telling your friends about it,  and coming back for more.

We also need your comments and suggestions to further improve our services.

3) Payment

FULL payment of FOB price must be confirmed before a car can be shipped, if this seems an unacceptable risk to the customer, he should refrain from ordering from this service.  Immediate, cash payment is the underlying rule of business in Japan (at least on a wholeale level) and the main reason behind our low prices.

Ocean Freight charges are collected separately, once the vehicle is aboard a vessel to customer's destination.  A fax copy of the Bill of Lading stating all details of shipment, consignee, charges, etc., is provided and payment is expected.

We do not add any HANDLING FEE to freight charges,

Original copy of Bill of Lading is FedExed at confirmation of payment for Freight Charges.

4) Refund

A refund is possible only in the three following cases

1) A car from stock has been paid for, but sold to another customer (delay in acknowledgement and/or confirmation of fund transfer) we return the deposit immediately, MINUS a flat fee of US$50.00 (fifty) for wire

expenses.  OR we provide a similar unit, AT YOUR PREFERENCE.

2) After a reasonable period of time (31 days from deposit reception)  we have been unable to satisfy an auction purchase request, the customer is entitled to immediate refund of deposit MINUS a flat fee of US$50.00 (fifty) for wire expenses.

3) A customer decides to cancel an auction purchase order, after we have been presenting suitable vehicles and all were refused without sufficient reason, we will refund the deposit, MINUS a flat fee of US$500.00 (five hundreds) for our time, effort and communication expenses.

OTHERWISE, ALL SALES EXECUTED ACCORDINGLY TO CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS ARE CONSIDERED FINAL.

5) Documents

At confirmation of complete payment of order & freight  charges, we FedEx a

"Priority Envelope" containing the following documents:

1) Receipt of sale (describing unit & price)

2) Vehicle legal identification (deregistration form "Masho", unit history

and specifications)

3) Original copy of Bill of Lading, necessary to collect vehicle at

destination

Marine Insurance and/or dry container shipment available on request. OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO YOUR  CASE, PROVIDED ON REQUEST.