Japanese import business

Ce he sin

I wonder if this is going through one of its downturns?

I happened to pass by Kearys Carstore in Little Island in Cork. In the past they've had several dozen imports on sale at a time, so many than they had whole lines of each common model. As of today they have almost none.

Looking at Donedeal doesn't show up many either. I did notice that prices have been ambitious even by today's standards so maybe that's an answer to my question.

zg3409

UK.imports are not as impossible these days

The VAT rebate isn’t a full one — the UK’s new regulations allow you to claw back 16.67 per cent of the original VAT paid on the car — and you’ll still have to pay Irish VAT at 23 per cent, but it’s a significant discount on what you would have previously had to pay.

After Brexit Jap imports became popular again as the UK imports were mostly unviable.

Around March 2023 the rules got easier for UK imports so that may have impacted jap imports. There still seems to be a shortage of used cars but the market for selling second hand cars has gotten really quiet in past few months, possibly cost of living, and possibly garages are worried taking on more stock they may not be able to sell.

I am no expert but the market seems to have changed and the days of new cars price rises may be over.

billgibney

I see that in the UK the prices are really starting to drop now

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121445896#Comment_121445896

I’ve bought a few VAT qualifying cars from the UK and its always been a refund of 20% of the sales price. HMRC have essentially made all cars VAT qualifying for export so I believe its 20% of the sales price not 16% of the original VAT paid.

Theres still thousands of Jap imports coming in every month and they are significantly cheaper than during Covid, but the UK and Irish market has opened up a bit so Jap cars aren’t as necessary anymore.

GavPJ

There is a guy beside my work that brings in containers from abroad. He

is just the shipping agent.

I've noticed them unloading quite a few cars that look to be from Japan.

Large sports cars, Skylines and the type of cars drifters use. And some odd

ball people carriers. Quite a few Volkswagens too. Golfs, Polo's Passats. Someone

told me the Japanese spec Volkswagens are quite sought after here.

hello2020

The shipping time increased considerably which could be one reason as you have to wait for months to receive your car..

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121452066#Comment_121452066

Its always taken months. During Covid it was taking up to a year but thats been sorted a while now. Containers are arriving within 2 months now at very reasonable prices.

Notch000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121451991#Comment_121451991

well it probably a good reflection on the way our economy is skewed that that you can go to the other side of the world, pay a dealer, auction house , exporter, pay to shipping can across the road, custom, NOX, VAT & VRT registration and get a better specked Car in excellent condition cheaper that then what a VW dealer (or similar I'm not jsut VW bashing) will sell you here (used).

goochy

theres not many petrol automatic cars like the jap imports for sale here anyway

GavPJ

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121452578#Comment_121452578

And to think all of this works out cheaper than bringing in from the UK????

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121453647#Comment_121453647

Realistically you have to pay all of those costs if your importing from the UK too.

The only real difference between the two is that the cars themselves are a lot cheaper in Japan than in the UK.

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121445986#Comment_121445986

Vat qualifying get the full rebate as per usual.

Non vat qualifying gets 1/6 of uk invoice rebate so that's where the 16.66 is coming from.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121454023#Comment_121454023

Ah I see. So for example, if £20,000 VAT was paid originally when the car was sold new, you are owed a £3,330 refund. So as the car gets older and less valuable the VAT refund stays the same?

mickdw

No I believe its 1/6 of the UK invoice when sold to you - I.e. current market value so slightly less beneficial than a vat qualifying car buy not bad all the same.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121454075#Comment_121454075

Gotcha, other poster mentioned 1/6th of the ‘original VAT’ which got me confused.

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121452578#Comment_121452578

It's a bad reflection on the Japanese that they make modern cars essentially worthless due to their road worthiness checks being too stringent, they do have a massive car manufacturing industry to protect. Our 2nd cars are cheaper than the equivalent on the continent.