The cost of importing a car from Japan

Japanese cars have been very popular for years and still many people are thinking about bringing their dream car precisely from the country of cherry blossoms. This is primarily due to the fact that the Japanese care about the technical condition of vehicles, and you can often buy premium cars with low mileage and left-hand drive. How much does it cost to bring a car from Japan?

Table of contents

1. Cost of importing a car from Japan — calculator
2. Search and purchase of a car
3. Transportation of a car from Japan - the cost
4. Customs from Japan
5. VAT on cars from Japan
6. Excise duty on cars imported from Japan
7. Adaptation of a car from Japan to Polish regulations
8. The cost of registering a car imported from Japan

9. Frequently Asked Questions

Japanese exotics and European classics are the most bought used cars from Japan. In recent years, the import of vehicles from this country has become very popular, so many people are wondering what the costs of importing a car are and what is included in it. European customers are tempted by the low mileage and the fact that at the auctions there appear really interesting proposals in very good condition.

The cost of importing a car from Japan will vary each time and it is difficult to estimate, for example, due to the variable rates of vehicle transport charges, which depend on the availability of ships and containers and the geopolitical situation in the world.

The first component of the cost of importing a car from Japan is the very stage of its search and purchase. The cars we offer are mostly sold by auction houses. What matters here is the value of the car, the commission for the auction house, as well as checking the vehicle for technical aspects before we proceed to the auction. In addition to this, in Sakura Motors we set an upper limit to which we will bid on your behalf. You can change it at any time to increase your chances of winning.

After the purchase, it is necessary to transport the car to the port, and then send it from Japan to Europe. Freight time insurance must also be added to the transport costs. It will also be necessary to provide transportation of the car to the address indicated by the buyer.

The duty depends on the value of the car. Tariffs are the same throughout the European Union. The duty for passenger cars is 10% and for trucks — 22%. Exempt from customs duties are vintage cars that are more than 30 years old and have not been produced for at least 15 years, and also have 75 percent of original parts.

Buying a car in Japan and importing it into the European Union is subject to VAT. This one varies depending on the country where the destination port is located. Ports in Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany are most often used.

VAT rates:

• Belgium and the Netherlands — 21%.
• Germany — 19% . ,
• Poland — 23%,

For vintage cars, the VAT rate is much lower and amounts to 7% in Germany, 8% in Poland and 9% in the Netherlands.

Excise duty is another component of the cost of importing a car from Japan. Excise rates depend on the type of drive and engine capacity. The good news is that in the case of electric and vintage cars, it is not necessary to regulate it.

Current excise duty rates for cars imported from Japan:

• 3.1% — cars with internal combustion engines up to 2000 cm3;
• 18.6% — cars with internal combustion engines of more than 2000 cm3;
• 1,55% — cars with a hybrid drive (HEV) and an internal combustion engine with a capacity of up to 2000 cm3;
• 9.3% — cars with a hybrid drive (HEV and PHEV) and an internal combustion engine with a capacity of more than 2000 cm3;
• 0% — electric cars
• 0% — vintage and collectible vehicles

Japan is chosen primarily due to the fact that it is easy to buy a well-groomed car there. While the technical condition of the car usually does not raise objections, it happens that the vehicle in question has to be adapted to right-hand traffic. Fortunately, the steering wheel no longer needs to be moved. For premium cars, the Japanese buy cars with left-hand drive, which is a symbol of social status. However, you may find that it will be necessary to replace the headlights from symmetrical to asymmetrical. This obligation does not apply to vintage cars.

The optional cost of adapting a car from Japan can include the conversion of the radio, since the lower range of UKF waves is used in Japan.

It is also worth paying attention to the tires, and this is not about their condition, but about the type of homologation. If they do not have European approval, it is worth replacing them, because in the event of a road accident, the insurance company may not want to pay compensation due to the non-compliance of the tires with European requirements.

The total cost depends on the prices of the parts and the components to be replaced.

The fees associated with the preparation of documents for vehicle registration in Poland are largely fixed. The difference can only be due to the cost of hiring a sworn translator and the cost of hiring an appraiser in the case of a vintage car.

All original documents of the car should be translated into Polish by a sworn translator. The cost of translating Japanese export documents is usually up to 250 PLN.

If the car is not damaged and complies with the requirements of Polish regulations, a visit to the diagnostic station will cost PLN 98. If it requires additional repair, a repeated visit to the diagnostician will be required. In the case of vintage cars, the technical examination costs 305 PLN.

Polish law allows temporary registration of a car for the purposes of, for example, performing a technical examination at a diagnostic station. The cost of temporary plates is PLN 61 (PLN 30 for plates, PLN 12.5 for legalization stickers and PLN 18.5 for a temporary permit). They are valid for 30 days and can be extended for an additional 14 days. On the day of registration it is necessary to purchase short-term liability insurance. Often, such a procedure can turn out to be cheaper than the cost of transportation by tow truck.

The costs of registration in the communication department are regulated from above, so everywhere they will be the same and are presented as follows:

• license plates — PLN 80 for normal plates, PLN 1000 for individual plates;
• registration certificate — 54 zł
• temporary permit — 13,5 zł
• registration fee — PLN 1.5
• legalization stickers for license plates — 12,5 zł

In the case of vintage cars, the following fees apply to the registration fee:

• hiring an appraiser — from 300 to 600 PLN;
• issuance of a white vehicle card — PLN 300;
• the cost of yellow license plates — PLN 200,50.

Importing a car from Japan can cost up to half the value of the car. However, if you want a strong, well-equipped and meticulously maintained car, it is worth bringing cars from Japan. It is also an excellent investment of capital in the case of, for example, youngtimers.

The cost of transportation depends on whether the car will flow in a bulk container or not. Added to this are the availability of containers and market freight prices, which depend on the geopolitical situation in the world. The ship can sail across the Red Sea or around Africa.

The tariff rate for cars imported from Japan into the European Union is 10% for passenger cars and 22% for trucks. Vintage cars are exempt from customs duties.

If How to bring a car from Japan and save, you can use the freight to one of the German ports. The VAT rate in Germany is 19%, while in Poland it is 23%. You have to pay for it even if you import a vintage car.

Persons who import an electric or vintage car are exempt from having to pay excise tax. In the case of an electric car, of course, this is due to the type of drive.

Importing a car from Japan is associated with the need to adapt the car to Polish traffic regulations. The Japanese car will have symmetrical headlights, and in Poland and Europe asymmetric headlights are used, which illuminate the roadside.

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