The BIG thread on how to import from Japan

I'm looking at the Audi A7 3.0tfsi, a dealer in Dublin has 5 of them, all Jap imports. However when I look on ros VRT calculator to how much it would cost to VRT one it doesn't list the car when I tick the box for a Japanese import. If I untick it, so it goes through as a UK import then it recognises the newer more powerful version.

Is there any difference in the VRT rates between jap and UK imports?

It comes back as just over 6k! I can't see how a dealer has bought one, imported it, paid customs and VAT, then VRT and sell it for a profit at around €19,995.

To make any decent profit he would have had to have bought the car for around 8k Max.

Am I missing something?

Thanks.

A 2011 A7, 77000km 3.5 grade. It sold for 6000 euros 2 weeks ago at an auction in japan, then its + + + + everything until you vrt it, I would think that an English car would be valued a little more and you would pay more vrt as a result

In the above image, is the last figure on the right the average price?

Trying to make sense of it all.

Thanks

It's confusing, 450,000 yen is only 3067 Euro, so surely a 2017 Civic Type R wouldn't sell for that low. However 4 million yen is over 30k Euro, so wouldn't be that high. What if it's actually in Euros, as JDM is based in Ireland, maybe that's the conversion? But again 4.5k for a Civic Type R 2017, surely that's too low.

On a side note the VRT calculator website is fairly useless. When choosing the Japanese import option it has hardly any cars listed. I tried Subaru's, Evo's, even a Nissan GTR and it doesn't have any of them even though the majority of those cars in this country would have came in via Japan. I expected that once a car had gone through once it would be in the database, but doesn't seem to be the case.

There's also no logic to it. I thought it was mostly based around emissions, yet I've put in details for 4+ltr V8's that come back at around 2-3k, yet a 2ltr Golf R or Civic Type R are over 10k 🤔

On a happy note, I was able to get an insurance quote from a comparison site for a 2008 Nissan GTR for €680 😂

Thanks for replies 👍

Oh I see, so that's the original retail price, 4.5 million yen, €30,600.

That makes sense.

I've sent an email to the company, they're based in Mullingar. Asked them for a bit of info. Without any real info on prices it's hard to know where to start.

Thanks 👍

JDM auction watch are good. You tell them the max you want to spend and after that, all you pay is the VRT, they arrange everything else. The aul fella bought a 1303s Bettle through them the other year. No hassle.

That's a hell of a lot of questions, most of which have already been answered if you read through the thread.

Nothing has changed since then. Read the first post, that explains everything

The only thing that has changed from the first post is that you need to add a zero to end of the prices he quotes!

Customs and nox depends on the car, 10% for anything not made in japan and over 3 years since it was imported into japan from the EU, for cars made in japan customs duty is around 4% dropping 1,2% a year, so in 3 years time no customs for Japanese made cars.

EU cars for cheese deal.

I'm in the early stages of importing a car. I'm using https://www.jdmauctionwatch.com/

They will import the car for you, with all paperwork, shipping, customs and VAT.

You register on the site to be able to view the cars coming up for auction. To place a bid you pay a €500 deposit. I won a car at auction last Friday, so I now have to pay 75% of total cost (which I have done). When the vehicle is 2 weeks from arrival I have to pay the remainder.

When the car lands I just have to collect it and bring it for VRT and NCT.

A lot of the info in the thread is still relevant, although some of the costs have gone up. Shipping especially. I'm importing a 5 series BMW, shipping for that is around €1800

Another site I found helpful was https://auc.japancardirect.com/st?classic

although they don't do the full service that JDM Auction Watch do, if you register you can view the prices of cars which you can't on JDM. Just remember, the prices you see on there are just for the car. They don't include any of the fees etc.

For example, a 2012 BMW 5 series hybrid for 749,000 JPY = €5229

After all fees, shipping, VAT and customs, total would be around €12,500 landed in Ireland.

The standard of the used cars there is very good though. The example I've used above has only 35,000kms on it from new.

Any update.

Just bought an Ignis hybrid

Top spec in co Dublin

Would loved to have gone down the import route,

but between lack of information and I'd a car to trade aswell I chose to buy.

Tried local ( cork ) to get a decent deal for near 2 months,no joy.

This is my 4 th Jap import and would seriously recommend them.

I was able to check my cars rating etc, got a decent trade on my 2012 Honda insight es.

6 months warranty and got a head unit installed and cars fully valeted and really like new.

Saved near e750 by going to Dublin.

Maybe if I'd enough cash to buy direct in Japan I'd do it,but I'm a worrier and the car u buy in Japan may not live up to your expectations when it rolls off the ferry.

I wish whoever buys direct the v best.

Few things to consider.

Make sure car comes with 2 keys,

Some don't.

Remember you'll have to get a head unit installed,and or language changed etc.

Not much yet. I've paid the initial 75% of cost. Waiting for car to arrive at port. Then should be getting sent some detailed photos.

I'm emailing them today to get an update.

Vat is 23%