It happens more often than you'd think. Someone drives a JDM car in Tokyo, falls hard for it, and spends the flight home scrolling auction listings. A few months later, the same model is sitting on a ship heading for their home port.
If you've driven a JDM car here and want one at home, importing directly from Japan is a well-worn path. Here's how it works, step by step.
Check your country's import rules first (the US generally allows cars 25+ years old; Canada 15+). Most export cars come from Japanese dealer auctions, graded by inspectors. Read the auction sheet, inspect, then the car is de-registered, shipped, and cleared through customs at home. ARTCARS offers sourcing, inspection and shipping with a free quote.
Step 1: Check your country's import rules
Import rules decide which cars you can bring in, so start here.
| Country | General age rule |
|---|---|
| United States | Cars generally become much easier to import once they're 25 years old, under federal exemptions for older vehicles |
| Canada | Cars 15 years or older can generally be imported without meeting current Canadian standards |
| Elsewhere | Rules, taxes and compliance checks vary — ask your national authority or a licensed importer |
Don't buy first and check later. A car that's legal to export from Japan isn't automatically legal to register at home.
Step 2: Source the car
Most JDM exports come from dealer auctions in Japan, where thousands of cars change hands every week. Each car comes with an auction sheet prepared by an inspector, showing an overall grade, an interior grade, and a hand-drawn map of scratches, dents and repairs.
Dealers can also source from their own stock or from private sellers.
Auction sheets use short codes on the body diagram — for example letters for scratches, dents and repairs, with numbers for size. Once you can read them, you can judge a car from thousands of kilometres away. A bilingual agent makes this much easier.
Step 3: Inspect
- Read the auction sheet line by line.
- Ask for extra photos: underbody, engine bay, interior.
- Get an independent inspection if you can.
- Look out for rust, accident repairs and modifications that may not be legal at home.
Step 4: Ship and import
The car is de-registered in Japan and prepared for export. It's shipped by roll-on/roll-off vessel or in a container. At home, you or your agent clear customs, pay duties and taxes, and register the car under local rules.
How long does it take?
It depends on how fast the right car appears at auction, paperwork, and shipping schedules. Several weeks to a few months is typical.
ARTCARS JDM export
ARTCARS sources cars from Japanese dealer auctions, inspects them and arranges shipping. Our team speaks English and Japanese, so the auction sheet, the seller and the paperwork never get lost in translation. Ask us for a free quote.
Visiting first? Drive a GT-R or 350Z with us and find out which car you really want to live with.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a car in Japan as a tourist and ship it home?
Yes, through a dealer or exporter who handles de-registration and shipping.
Why are some JDM cars so expensive now?
Popular 1990s models have become collectible, and overseas demand has pushed prices up.
How long does exporting a car from Japan take?
Often several weeks to a few months, depending on sourcing, paperwork and shipping.
Do I need to come to Japan to buy?
No. A trusted agent can bid, inspect and ship on your behalf.