Before you bid on a car in Japan, check that it can actually be imported and registered here, and what it will cost you once it lands. Most problems can be found from the chassis number and the auction sheet, but only before you pay. After that, you own the car whether or not it can come in.
Once you've paid, you can't undo it
A car that isn't eligible, doesn't fit a model report or has disqualifying damage can't be complied. You may be left paying for storage, export or destruction. If you're not sure about any check below, ask before you bid.
01Work out which pathway applies
There are two ways to import a car from Japan, and the car's age decides which one:
- Under 25 years old: the car must be on the SEV Register, covered by a model report and complied at a Registered Automotive Workshop. See importing a car under 25 years old.
- Over 25 years old: a simpler pathway, with no model report or workshop compliance. See importing a car over 25 years old.
Age is worked out from the build date, not the first registration date. A car that is only a few months short of 25 years needs particular care.
02Check the model code is on the SEV Register
For a car under 25 years old, the model code (the part of the chassis number before the dash, such as HFC27 on a Nissan Serena) must be on the SEV Register, and the entry must still be in force. Many cars sold at Japanese auctions aren't on it, and those can't be imported under this pathway.
You can search eligible models by model code. Check the exact code: two versions of the same model can have different codes and different entries.
03Check the build date is inside the approved range
Each SEV entry, and each model report, covers a range of build dates. The car's build date has to fall inside both. A car built just before or after the range can't be complied, even if it looks identical to one that can.
Some build dates can be decoded from the chassis number; others need a manufacturer record. If the date is close to either end of the range, confirm it before you bid.
04Check a model report covers the exact variant
The car is complied under a model report, and the report has to cover the car's make, model and variant. A report for one variant doesn't cover another.
Welcabs and campers need particular care. A factory welcab needs a model report that covers welcabs, and its fitout, such as a swivel seat or a wheelchair ramp, must match the one the report covers. A camper conversion is complied under a camper report and costs more to modify than a standard car.
05Read the auction sheet for damage and modifications
The auction sheet records the car's grade, any repairs and the inspector's notes. Look for:
- repair marks or notes about accident damage
- rust or corrosion, especially underneath
- modifications, such as aftermarket suspension, wheels or engine changes
Damage, corrosion or modifications can stop a car being complied, or add to the cost. A good overall grade doesn't mean the car is eligible.
06Consider asbestos
Asbestos can't be imported into Australia. Older cars carry the highest risk, most often in brake pads and shoes, clutch linings and gaskets. If Border Force isn't satisfied a car is free of asbestos, it can hold the car for testing at your cost. For an older car, plan to have the risky parts replaced or tested before it is shipped.
07Work out the full landed cost
The auction price is only the start. With J-Import, import approval and compliance start from $1,990 including GST for a standard vehicle. On top of that, budget for:
- the buying agent's fee in Japan
- shipping from Japan
- customs duty, GST and luxury car tax, worked out by Border Force
- port and biosecurity charges
- parts the model report requires, such as tyres or child restraint anchorages
- registration with your state
Campervan conversions, welcabs and cars with damage or modifications are quoted individually.
08Check your state will register it
Import approval and compliance get the car onto the Register of Approved Vehicles, but each state decides registration. Check your state's rules before you buy, particularly for a left-hand-drive car or a car over 25 years old.
09How J-Import can help
J-Import Auto Compliance is a Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW-000151) in Greenacre, Sydney. Before you bid, we check the car's pathway, SEV entry, build date and model report, and read the auction sheet with you. If the car is a good buy, we lodge the import approval and comply it when it lands.
Send us the chassis number and auction sheet and we'll tell you whether the car can be complied before you bid.
10Questions
Can I buy the car first and check it later?
You can, but it's the most expensive way to find a problem. Once you've paid at auction you can't undo the purchase, and a car that can't be complied can't be brought in and registered. Check before you bid.
Does a good auction grade mean the car can be imported?
No. The grade describes the car's condition. Whether it can be imported depends on its model code, build date and a model report that covers it, none of which the grade tells you.
What do you need from me to check a car?
The chassis number and the auction sheet. From those we can confirm the model code, the build date, which pathway applies and whether a model report covers the exact variant.
Do I need import approval before I buy?
No. The import approval is applied for after you buy and before the car is shipped. The checks on this page are what to do before you buy, so that the approval can be granted.
Found a car at auction?
Send us the chassis number and auction sheet. We'll tell you if it can be complied before you bid.