JDM import

[ragu]

Has anyone imported any car from Japan recently? Looking to understand basics from auction, condition etc and if the savings on DIY are worth it vs say going through an importer.

Feel free to pm or post and we can chat. Thanks!

[The BMW Guy]

Were e you able to get in contact with anyone? I am also interested in learning more about DIY vs paying $1000 for an importer to do work.

[ThePenIsMightier]

Also interested.

[Shlade]

Is anything even remotely affordable anymore like it used to be or has everything went sky high in pricing too?

[Uncle Flappy]

I've imported two vehicles, most recent one was in November 2020. Prices are still very reasonable and it is well worth using an importer. Will Baird from jdmconnection.ca makes the process very easy. The prices of jdm's have not went up crazy amounts like domestic sales, except for stuff like evos and supras which are crazy.

[zechs]

Will is definitely the guy to deal with.

As for pricing, I don't think the concern is the vehicles themselves. Shipping costs have gone up, but car transport (which are special ships) vs container I am unsure.

[Graham_A_M]

I would very highly recommend Brian at B-pro imports. I bought my (legal at the time) 1999 Suzuki Carry through him, process was perfect. His fees were minimal and I ended up with the perfect truck given my budget at the time. He gave me a dozen trucks to choose from.


Bought it for $5k all in sold it for $6500 5 years later. His parts supply for it after were on point.

Edit here
https://b-pro.ca/
Only reason I sold it was because I bought an 04 gmc sieŕra fully loaded, regular cab with the long 8ft box for a song and a dance. Still have it to this day. It's utterly mint. Love it to bits.

[pheoxs]

I would very highly recommend Brian at B-pro imports. I bought my (legal at the time) 1999 Suzuki Carry through him, process was perfect. His fees were minimal and I ended up with the perfect truck given my budget at the time. He gave me a dozen trucks to choose from.


Bought it for $5k all in sold it for $6500 5 years later. His parts supply for it after were on point.

Edit here
https://b-pro.ca/
Only reason I sold it was because I bought an 04 gmc sieŕra fully loaded, regular cab with the long 8ft box for a song and a dance. Still have it to this day. It's utterly mint. Love it to bits.

I'm really tempted to go this route for a little shop truck. All the landed Kei trucks are priced through the roof, quite ridiculous

[Graham_A_M]

I'm really tempted to go this route for a little shop truck. All the landed Kei trucks are priced through the roof, quite ridiculous

Do it. The little Carry cost $5k best truck ever for everything under 330kg nothing to operate. Honestly. I loved how much attention it got. Amazing advertising piece.i was going to swap the engine for a 05 yamaha R1 engine, which I still have, 200hp in the truck would have been a blast but lost interest.

I used to use it as the shop truck where I used to work. Great for picking up and dropping off shit. The fold down box worked great. I picked up countless items way more weight then I should have. It just dealt with it and went

[pheoxs]

Do it. The little Carry cost $5k best truck ever for everything under 330kg nothing to operate. Honestly. I loved how much attention it got. Amazing advertising piece.i was going to swap the engine for a 05 yamaha R1 engine, which I still have, 200hp in the truck would have been a blast but lost interest.

I used to use it as the shop truck where I used to work. Great for picking up and dropping off shit. The fold down box worked great. I picked up countless items way more weight then I should have. It just dealt with it and went

Thats basically all I want. I've moved far too much stuff on the roof rack of my fiesta and definitely over the weight capacity. Having a bed would make moving material so much easier.

[shakalaka]

Has anyone done this as a DIY? I know the vehicle has to be 15 yrs old at least and there are companies that do it, however, curious to see if someone has done everything as a DIY and if it's doable or not worth the headache? Seems like something fun to try on the face of it, but without knowing the exact specifics it may actually be a pain in the ass so just trying to understand the process.

I know the general overview of the process, but not the specifics. Thanks.

[flipstah]

Just call B-PRO and they'll deal with everything

[ThePenIsMightier]

*end of P-car countdown officially begins...

[Darell_n]

I overnighted an entire vehicle from Japan once.

[vengie]

Biggest issue I have heard of is having someone on the other side confirming the actual condition of the vehicle.

[you&me]

I overnighted an entire vehicle from Japan once.

That has become prohibitively expensive in the last 6 or so months... Like 4-5x what it normally is.

[Darkane]

That has become prohibitively expensive in the last 6 or so months... Like 4-5x what it normally is.

Not sure if serious…

[you&me]

Not sure if serious…

Yes, serious... Though to be fair, not sure if relevant to Shak's inquiry.

Darrel_n posted about "overnighting" a car from Japan, which implies air freight... The rates for air freighting cars out of Asia has skyrocketed recently, to the point where it's not merely expensive, but prohibitively so for all but the most expensive vehicles.

To be fair, the vast majority of vehicle exports from Japan / Asia are sea canned. Those rates have also increased, but not to the same degree... Just wanted to point out that "overnighting" a car from Japan probably isn't a viable option right now... We all know how patient Shak can be ;)

[2Legit2Quit]

Fast and furious bruh

[DonJuan]

I've done it a few times, a sealed container with 3 cars as well as single cars open deck. It's a pretty straight forward process. Best thing is to get a company in Japan that will do everything for you on their end as well as export documentation etc. I am not sure if the companies I used are still in business.

If going with the single car open deck, the arrival location is in Vancouver so you have to either do the import paperwork there, pretty easy just have to deal with the Form 1, and customs inspections (agriculture/customs inspections etc) from the federal govt and then the the shipping company releases the car to you. Or you can arrange to have the vehicle shipped In Bond to CGY/EDM with a bonded transporter. They will also handle your soil inspections and Form 1 etc. It's the easiest method.

Once the car gets in your hands, you get it insured and an in-transit sticker from registries. Registries will need the Form 1 and insurance. The completed Form 1 becomes your "bill of sale".

After that comes Out of Province inspection etc and once that passes you have your JDM.

Pitfalls to AVOID along the way:
- Get a GOOD company in Japan to source your car, either auction or private.
- Plan out your Bonded agent etc. before your car leaves Japan. It can accrue fees sitting at the destination shipping dock.
- If clearing the car in Vancouver, get it at least looked at in Vancouver before you drive across the mountains with it.
- Talk to your OOP inspection facility before taking your car there, some are picky about running lights etc.

[jwslam]

Back in 2 weeks to see the thread "Exporting a vehicle back to Japan?"

[shakalaka]

I've done it a few times, a sealed container with 3 cars as well as single cars open deck. It's a pretty straight forward process. Best thing is to get a company in Japan that will do everything for you on their end as well as export documentation etc. I am not sure if the companies I used are still in business.

If going with the single car open deck, the arrival location is in Vancouver so you have to either do the import paperwork there, pretty easy just have to deal with the Form 1, and customs inspections (agriculture/customs inspections etc) from the federal govt and then the the shipping company releases the car to you. Or you can arrange to have the vehicle shipped In Bond to CGY/EDM with a bonded transporter. They will also handle your soil inspections and Form 1 etc. It's the easiest method.

Once the car gets in your hands, you get it insured and an in-transit sticker from registries. Registries will need the Form 1 and insurance. The completed Form 1 becomes your "bill of sale".

After that comes Out of Province inspection etc and once that passes you have your JDM.

Pitfalls to AVOID along the way:
- Get a GOOD company in Japan to source your car, either auction or private.
- Plan out your Bonded agent etc. before your car leaves Japan. It can accrue fees sitting at the destination shipping dock.
- If clearing the car in Vancouver, get it at least looked at in Vancouver before you drive across the mountains with it.
- Talk to your OOP inspection facility before taking your car there, some are picky about running lights etc.

Thanks for sharing. Though you say it's a straight forward process, seems like a lot of work. Haha. Might be just easier to go through a company route. I imagine they would charge a fixed fee to do all the leg-work. As mentioned, I guess biggest thing would be to have local contacts in Japan to inspect the vehicle in order to ensure it doesn't have any issues or anything.

[dj_rice]

Shak's getting a R33 GTR?????????????????

[ExtraSlow]

kei car.

[pheoxs]

Thanks for sharing. Though you say it's a straight forward process, seems like a lot of work. Haha. Might be just easier to go through a company route. I imagine they would charge a fixed fee to do all the leg-work. As mentioned, I guess biggest thing would be to have local contacts in Japan to inspect the vehicle in order to ensure it doesn't have any issues or anything.

I used B-pro about 7 years ago and had a positive experience and no issues. Honestly I’d go that route even if he charged more. Most of the cost will be the car itself, the paperwork, and the shipping across the ocean then shipping here to Calgary. The actual ‘fee’ that B pro charged was pretty small in the grand scheme of things. My evo6 was about 6.5k$ total landed here in Calgary. I think his fee was ~500$ of that. (Off the top of my head, may not be accurate)

It’s worth using a company that has connections mainly because you can’t see what you’re buying. Spending that extra might mean the difference between a clean car and a dud.

[Darkane]

Yes, serious... Though to be fair, not sure if relevant to Shak's inquiry.

Darrel_n posted about "overnighting" a car from Japan, which implies air freight... The rates for air freighting cars out of Asia has skyrocketed recently, to the point where it's not merely expensive, but prohibitively so for all but the most expensive vehicles.

To be fair, the vast majority of vehicle exports from Japan / Asia are sea canned. Those rates have also increased, but not to the same degree... Just wanted to point out that "overnighting" a car from Japan probably isn't a viable option right now... We all know how patient Shak can be ;)

It was a fast and furious joke/reference.

But good to know.

[DonJuan]

Thanks for sharing. Though you say it's a straight forward process, seems like a lot of work. Haha. Might be just easier to go through a company route. I imagine they would charge a fixed fee to do all the leg-work. As mentioned, I guess biggest thing would be to have local contacts in Japan to inspect the vehicle in order to ensure it doesn't have any issues or anything.

It is a bit of work, but a fairly linear process. Also I did this almost 8 years ago so the process could have also changed some. That's true, most import thing is the exporting company in Japan. Good ones I dealt with inspected the car before exporting and power washed underneath for the soil tests. A ST205 that they bought from an auction to export for me had an oil leak that didn't show up on the grade report. They said not to take this one and found another for me instead at no charge.

If it's just a Kei car or whatever your looking for then import company might be best bet. I find if its something specific with specific options etc. going through the import process makes it just a little sweeter when the car finally arrives.