Terms of Use

OgiAuto is a licensed Japanese used-vehicle dealer and buying agent. We find, inspect where possible, buy, prepare and export vehicles from Japan for buyers outside Japan.

When we buy at a Japanese dealer auction or from a third-party seller, we act as your agent: we buy on your instructions and pass the vehicle to you. When we sell a vehicle from our own stock, we are the seller.

Our partner company Globalink handles auction buying, export paperwork and shipping bookings, and is named on the invoice and as the exporter and shipper. We are not the importer of record in your country. Importing, customs, registration and legal compliance there are your responsibility (see section 11).

Used vehicles from auctions, dealers and our stock are sold as-is, where-is. Neither the auction, the original seller nor OgiAuto gives a warranty, unless we agree otherwise in writing for a specific vehicle.

Auction inspection sheets are written by the auction's inspector and the seller, not by OgiAuto. Inspections are brief and can miss defects, especially on older, higher-mileage or lower-grade vehicles.

We translate auction sheets and listings in good faith and as completely as we can. Translations, photos, descriptions and our opinions are guidance to help you decide, not a guarantee of condition. The decision to bid or buy is yours.

From the moment a bid is won or a purchase is confirmed, mechanical, electrical and cosmetic issues, and the cost of fixing them, belong to the buyer, unless section 7 (auction claims) applies.

• Vehicle price ¥10,000 to ¥1,000,000: ¥120,000 service fee.
• Vehicle price over ¥1,000,000: ¥120,000 plus 5% of the amount above ¥1,000,000. A ¥1,500,000 vehicle carries a fee of ¥145,000.

Included in the service fee: pre-purchase consultation, auction fees [Sam to confirm], domestic bank transfers, export paperwork, Japanese customs clearance, de-registration, shipping-line booking and freight forwarding.

Not included (charged at cost): the vehicle price; inland transport in Japan (quoted per vehicle and auction location); ocean freight; marine insurance, if chosen; optional inspection reports; mechanical work; storage beyond the free period; and all import costs in your country.

Mechanical and preparation work in our workshop is charged at ¥12,500 per hour plus parts. Bodywork by partner shops is passed on at their price [Sam to confirm].

All prices are in Japanese yen (JPY). Figures in US dollars or other currencies on our website are approximate and for reference only.

Japanese consumption tax is not charged on vehicles exported from Japan. If a vehicle is not exported, for example if you cancel after purchase and it is resold in Japan, Japanese taxes may apply.

Before we bid at auction or reserve a vehicle for you, we need a refundable security deposit of 10% of the expected total FOB cost or ¥120,000, whichever is greater.

The deposit is credited to your purchase. If you decide not to buy, it is refunded on request, minus bank transfer charges [Sam to confirm].

If you win a vehicle and don't pay as required in section 6, your deposit is forfeited and used to cover our losses.

You give us a maximum bid in yen for a specific lot, in writing (email or WhatsApp), at least 2 hours before auction bidding time.

We will not bid above your maximum. If the vehicle sells for less, you pay the actual winning price.

Auction results are final. Some auctions have reserve prices, so a lot may not sell even at your maximum. Once placed, a bid can't be withdrawn, and a won bid is a binding purchase.

On request, we will send you a copy of the original auction invoice for your vehicle.

Full payment of the invoice (vehicle, service fee, inland transport and, where quoted, ocean freight) is due within 7 days of the invoice date.

Pay by bank transfer or Wise transfer in JPY to the account shown on your invoice. You pay your own bank's charges and any intermediary charges, so that we receive the full invoiced amount.

Payment security: OgiAuto will never change its bank details by email or message. If you receive a request to pay a different account, do not pay. Call or WhatsApp us first on +81 90-1444-1811.

Late or missed payment: late payments incur a fee of 10% per week [Sam to confirm] from the day after the due date. If payment isn't received within 30 days, we will cancel the purchase, resell the vehicle and charge you any losses (auction penalties, fees, transport, storage and any shortfall on resale), first from your deposit and then by invoice.

Ownership passes to you, and we begin export, only after full payment has cleared.

If a vehicle has a significant defect that the auction sheet didn't disclose, we will file a claim with the auction where its rules allow.

Claims must be made within the auction's deadline, often a few days after the sale, and usually before the vehicle leaves Japan. Most auctions don't accept condition or mechanical claims on older vehicles (often over 10 years old) or on cars sold ungraded.

The result (refund, price adjustment or cancellation) is decided by the auction, not by OgiAuto. We can't guarantee a claim will succeed.

We endeavour to check as many cars as we can before purchase, because it gives the best results in the end. There are situations where we can't attend in person, such as smaller auctions located away from our usual areas of operation. If we can't inspect a car before purchase, we will make this clear before placing bids or agreeing a purchase.

Our standard service includes basic photos of the vehicle before shipping [Sam to confirm].

An optional detailed inspection report (extensive photos, a video walkaround, a cold start and basic mechanical checks) is available for ¥20,000 per vehicle, where the vehicle's location and timing allow.

Inspections are visual and non-invasive. We don't dismantle components, and we can't guarantee to find every defect.

Inland transport is quoted per auction location. The price may rise for very low, oversized or non-running vehicles, remote auctions, or changes in the transport company's prices. Any increase is charged to the buyer.

Storage at our yard or the port is free for 30 days after payment, then ¥1,000 per day. Storage in Japan while waiting for import eligibility (for example the US 25-year rule) is available by arrangement through our sister company JPD Japan.

Loose parts or accessories that come with a vehicle are shipped inside it where the shipping line allows. Otherwise they can be packed and sent separately at cost.

We book shipping by RoRo or container (shared or exclusive) to the port you choose. Ocean freight is quoted per vehicle and depends on size, route and the shipping line.

Schedules are set by shipping lines and can change, be delayed or be cancelled. OgiAuto is not responsible for delays caused by shipping lines, ports, weather, customs or other events outside our control.

Marine insurance is optional and strongly recommended. Without it, loss or damage in transit is at the buyer's risk once the vehicle is handed to the shipping line or port.

We send the export documents (bill of lading or surrender/electronic release, export certificate with English translation, invoice) by courier or email. Courier cost up to ¥10,000 is included.

It is your responsibility to confirm that a vehicle can legally be imported, registered and driven where you live before you bid or buy.

USA: vehicles must generally be at least 25 years old, counted from the month and year of manufacture, to be exempt from US safety standards (NHTSA), and must meet EPA rules. Japanese records usually show the first registration date, which can be later than the manufacture date. We will share any manufacture information we can get, but we don't guarantee import eligibility. Our import guide explains the rules.

Import duties, taxes, customs-broker fees, port and terminal fees, inspections, compliance work, state titling and registration costs are paid by the buyer. We recommend a licensed customs broker in your country.

If a vehicle is refused entry, held, or must be modified in your country, the costs are the buyer's.

Vehicles in our stock are listed at an FOB Japan price unless stated otherwise. A vehicle is reserved only when we have your deposit and have confirmed the reservation in writing.

For vehicles bought from Japanese retail dealers or private sellers on your behalf, the final price is worked out case by case. It depends on the car's location, the cost of inspection, the seller's final price and inland transport from the seller's location. If you have found a car advertised in Japan and would like to buy it, please contact us for a quote.

Before a bid is won or a purchase is confirmed, you may cancel at any time and your deposit is refunded under section 4.

After a bid is won or a purchase is confirmed, the purchase can't be cancelled. If you don't go ahead, the late and missed payment terms in section 6 apply.

If you buy on behalf of another person or company, you remain responsible for payment, fees and any losses under these terms.

OgiAuto's total liability for any purchase is limited to the service fee we received for that vehicle, except where Japanese law doesn't allow this limit (for example, wilful misconduct or gross negligence).

We are not liable for indirect or consequential losses, such as loss of profit, resale value or use, or travel or rental costs.

We are not responsible for the acts of auctions, sellers, transport companies, shipping lines, ports, customs authorities or other third parties, though we will help you deal with them.

We use your information only to provide our services, communicate with you and meet legal requirements. See our Privacy Policy.

These terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any dispute will be handled by a Japanese court as the court of first instance. We'd always rather sort things out by talking first, so contact us directly.

We may update these terms. The version on this page on the date of your deposit, bid or purchase confirmation is the one that applies.

OgiAuto G.K. · Samuel James Ogihara White (owner) · WhatsApp and phone: +81 90-1444-1811

〒633-0256 Nara Prefecture, Uda City, Haibara-Akanedai 1-9-3, Japan