Importing a vehicle from Japan in 2023

Importing a car from Japan in 2023, many Japanese brands are showing innovation in the automotive field. One example is hydrogen engines, which are used by no less than eleven different manufacturers, while Europe shuns this energy (rightly or wrongly?). Whether it is for this reason or another to Import a car from Japan in 2023, if you wish to import a used car from Japan you will have to follow a precise administrative process. And if the paperwork gives you hives, you should know that you can be accompanied by import brokers who will take care of all the administrative formalities in your place.

In spite of an exceptional rise in 2020 and 2021, the prices of second-hand vehicles in Japan remain reasonable; leaving room for repatriation costs and other made-to-measure transatlantic accompaniment services, which Motorimport proposes to help you with your procedure.

WHY IMPORT A CAR FROM JAPAN TO FRANCE?

Some models in Japan are simply unavailable in Europe (or certain versions of models we know in our latitudes). In several segments for Importing a car from Japan in 2023, the second-hand offers are much more interesting than in France. Brands such as Toyota, Honda, Suzuki and Mazda are all legendary manufacturers that make up Japan's automotive reputation. Many of their iconic models are not or no longer sold in Europe. here is this link to check the history of a car from Japan.

WHAT ARE THE CUSTOMS FEES FOR IMPORTING A CAR FROM JAPAN?

This fee amounts to 10 % of the value of the vehicle. This value is determined by the Argus price of the car. When a car is not yet listed at the Argus (less than one year old), this value is defined by an expert appraisal or by the prices charged for new cars, together with a percentage of obsolescence per month of circulation.

On the other hand, if the vehicle is no longer listed at the Argus (more than 15 years old), its valuation is made according to the prices charged on the second-hand market. Or, again, by appraisal.

ALL VEHICLES DESTINED FOR THE JAPANESE MARKET MUST BE FRANCIZED Unless the imported vehicle complies with EU car regulations (in which case it has a European Certificate of Conformity, the COC) to Import a car, it will have to undergo a type approval (RTI) on arrival in France.

The first step is to go to the DREAL (Direction régionale de l'environnement, de l'aménagement et du logement) in your region so that the car can be analysed to determine whether it is non-compliant. Following this, the DREAL issues an opinion and the owner must make the requested changes if he or she wishes to register the vehicle in France (the ANTS manages applications for registration certificates).

Want to be at the wheel of a beautiful Japanese car: drive a Fast and Furious car with Motorimport your car dealer in Japan!

JAPANESE IMPORTED CLASSIC CARS AND JAPANESE SPORTS CARS ARE NOT EXPENSIVE

The UTAC (Union Technique de l'Automobile, du Motocycle et du Cycle) then checks that the modifications comply with the requirements for importing a car from Japan in 2023. The test bench costs approximately €2,000 to €3,000 depending on the model. It is therefore important to go ahead and pass the test for your car from Japan.

There is a new trend for cars from Japan in recent years which has indeed shown a marked interest in the great classics NISSAN SKYLINE, TOYOTA SUPRA AND OTHERS;

Once your vehicle has been obtained, repatriated and cleared through customs... drive legally by applying for your vehicle registration document in France.

Is there a retrofit for cars from Japan

THE IMPORT US FORMULA PROPOSED BY Motorimport to import a vehicle from Japan: TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS Optimize the costs of importation and transport directly from Japan, reduce the time spent in administrative procedures: call on a professional of importation in JAPAN. Your Car Agent will detail each of the steps.

• Study of your favourite ads
• Contacting vendors
• Obtaining administrative documents
• Vehicle analysis :
• Verification of actual mileage
• Study of the maintenance history
• Check accident and theft
• This offer can be complemented by our container and truck repatriation service, which allows you to receive the vehicle at your doorstep (with the possibility of a closed truck on request).

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO IMPORT A VEHICLE FROM JAPAN?

About 2 months. This is the standard time allowed for a successful (administrative and logistical) import.

HOW CAN WE HELP YOU IMPORT YOUR VEHICLE FROM JAPAN?

Japan remains an el dorado for Japanese car enthusiasts, indeed the country of Manga and successful car brands. Honda, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Lexus... So, the Japanese island is a must for the lovers of beautiful mechanics concerning a car of Japan in 2023.

Japan is a country full of automotive jewels, some models that are rare in Europe can be found very easily and in much better condition there. This is the case of the mythical Japanese sports cars of the nineties, they represent a golden age for Japanese cars and are a real Grail for some collectors.

The search and import procedures are sometimes difficult for French buyers, as importing a new or used car from Japan requires a number of constraints. As for importing from Japan, it is necessary to go through a maritime transport, customs clearance procedures and a phase of setting to the standards then of approval and finally of registration to obtain the French grey card.

MOTORIMPORT can bring you its experience in choosing this professional for a Japanese car.

The first is of course to find the ideal vehicle, for this we have a vast network of partner garages all over Japan with whom we have defined a very strict vehicle selection protocol. Thanks to this close relationship to Import a car guide to buying a car in japanWe are able to find vehicles that are almost impossible to find these days. Once the ideal vehicle has been identified, it will be necessary to visit the vehicle to check its general and mechanical condition. At Motorimport we also carry out a full analysis of the vehicle's history from 120 Poibts. Once you have reached an agreement with the seller, you will have to arrange the transport of the vehicle to France. Typically, vehicles travelling from Japan to France by container can take up to 5 weeks.

If the car you wish to import is not sold in the European Community, then it will not have a COC (certificate of conformity) to Import a car from Japan. You will therefore have to start the procedure to bring your Japanese car up to standard and get it approved. To do this, go to the DREAL (Directions Régionales de l'Environnement pour une voiture du Japon en 2023, de l'Aménagement et du Logement), which is the competent authority for the RTI (reception en titre isolé). Please note that in order to obtain your single vehicle approval, the car you wish to import into France must be brought into compliance with the standards applicable in France and pass the technical inspection. If you do not do this, the car will not pass the inspection tests and you will not obtain your RTI report.

No registration fees for vehicles over 30 years old.

Provisional registration of the imported vehicle Obligatory, the registration before being permanent, is temporary and is carried out in the Prefecture.

You will have understood that importing a car into France from Japan is an administrative challenge, but not insurmountable if you have time to devote to it and if you are sufficiently prepared. Nevertheless, it is advisable to qualify this conclusion, because we evoked in this article only the purely technical and administrative aspects related to the automobile importation. Before getting to the actual importing stage, the buyer will have to face a number of challenges, such as researching and identifying the vehicle they wish to import, checking its general condition and history, etc. This is a delicate stage for the buyer, as it is not always easy to find the right vehicle. This is a delicate stage for a neophyte, as the foreign market has different specificities from our national market.

=> 3000 e, on average, all inclusive, including dock charges including port charges, handling charges, opening of containers and unloading of the vehicle; these charges vary according to the origin and age of the vehicle.

TRANSIT YOUR VEHICLE FROM JAPAN WITH MOTORIMPORT: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS for Importing a car from Japan?

Make the choice of importing your car from Japan easier with Motorimport, and make your dream come true:

• step-by-step advice,
• support in all your endeavours,
• sharing of information and follow-up of your routing file from JAPAN,
• early transparency on costs and their correspondence,
• monitoring the quality and safety of the entire vehicle repatriation process from Japan.

Here are some of the checkpoints at the RTI for your JAPANESE CAR:

• Interior and exterior mirrors
• Safety belts
• Headlights
• Engine and exhaust noise level
• The windows
• Pollution
• Trimmer for xenon lights
• Interference suppression
• Braking
• The sound of the horn

This approval process is to proceed to an isolated approval at the Dreal of your region. A technical file must be compiled and a certificate of conformity (non-compliance or partial compliance) must be provided. The Real will carry out compulsory tests in terms of noise, simplified braking, field of vision, emission of pollutants, weighing, interference suppression, but will also proceed with the compliance of the vehicle and finally the validation by the Dreal inspector. At the end you will receive an acceptance report.

The Certificate of Conformity is mandatory for the application of your imported car: It must be ordered and only. The manufacturer's certificate of conformity is a certificate that certifies that the vehicle, when it leaves the factory, complies with all the requirements established by the EU in terms of EC type approval and European certificate of conformity. A vehicle with a European certificate of conformity is therefore compliant in Europe and can therefore circulate freely in all European countries since its certificate of conformity proves its European type approval. The so-called European certificate of conformity is also valid throughout the European Community in order to obtain the vehicle registration document. The certificate of conformity is only possible for vehicles manufactured for the European market.

Parking.fr can also be used to import a car into Japan.

• We will then be able to contact the seller and take all the necessary information for a possible purchase.
• We will select the shipping company including the marine insurance.
• The customs file will be prepared in advance by our services and presented to the customs authorities in charge of your file.
• You will be able to collect the vehicle at the port of Le Havre or Marseille depending on the shipping company.
• We can also arrange for direct delivery to your home by lorry (quote on request).
• Of course, we offer our services for the issue of provisional WWs as well as for the issue of the final vehicle registration document.
• If the vehicle is more than four years old, a technical inspection must be carried out in France.

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Mickael ibers

Manager Usa and Dubai Motorimport at Motorimport

Car enthusiast Mickael has become an expert on vehicle imports from Dubai and the United States. He knows the costs, transportation and regulations for each vehicle.

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