Used Vehicles

The Japanese used car auctions move several million vehicles a year, and every one of them is inspected and graded by the auction house before it crosses the block. That inspection sheet is the reason buying from Japan is different from buying used anywhere else: you are not taking the seller word for the condition.

Reading the auction sheet

The overall grade runs from 6 down through 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3 and below, with R marking a repaired accident history. Interior condition is graded separately from A to D. A diagram on the same sheet marks every scratch, dent and rust spot with a code. We translate the sheet and send it with the car rather than summarising it, because the summary is where sellers hide things.

What we cover

• Passenger and hybrid. Aqua, Prius, Fit and similar. Volume is steady and pricing is predictable, which makes this the easiest segment to plan around.
• Commercial vans and trucks. Hiace, Canter and light trucks. Strong demand across Africa and the Middle East, and often the most profitable line for a dealer building a business.
• SUV and 4WD. Land Cruiser, Prado, Hilux. The most sought-after category in both regions, and priced accordingly at auction.
• Premium. Lexus and imported marques. Higher unit value, slower to turn, and worth buying only against a buyer you already have.

Destination rules matter more than the car

Many countries limit the age of imported vehicles, and some require pre-shipment inspection by a designated agency before the car may be shipped at all. Getting this wrong means a vehicle that cannot clear at the other end. We confirm the current requirements for your country before purchase, and arrange the inspection as part of the shipment.

Practical notes

• Right-hand drive. Fine across much of Africa, South East Asia and the Gulf trade, prohibited in others. Worth settling before we start looking.
• RoRo or container. Single cars usually go RoRo. Several units, or a car plus parts, are often cheaper containerised.
• Paperwork. De-registration and the export certificate are ours to handle. Nothing ships without them.

Tell us the segment, the age and mileage you want, the destination and how many units per month. We will send auction listings with translated sheets and a landed cost estimate.