How to Import a Car from Japan to the USA in 9 Steps

Most of our customers have never imported a car before. The process looks complicated from the outside, but it breaks down into nine steps.

OgiAuto handles the Japan side. You, usually with a US customs broker, handle the US side.

Steps 1 to 7: the Japan side

1. Tell us what you want

Model, budget, the state you live in and when you need the car. We check it can be imported before you spend anything. For most Japanese-market cars, that means checking the 25-year rule.

2. Send a refundable deposit

The deposit lets us bid for you. It is 10% of the expected total FOB cost or 120,000 yen, whichever is greater, and it is credited to your purchase. If you decide not to buy, we refund it minus bank charges.

3. Find and check the car

We search the auctions, translate the auction sheet line by line and, where we can, look at the car in person.

4. Bid

You set a maximum bid in yen. We never bid over it. If the car sells for less, you pay the actual price. A winning bid is final, so decide your maximum before the auction, not while it runs.

5. Pay the balance

By bank transfer or Wise transfer in yen, within 7 days of the invoice. Export starts once the money has cleared.

6. Export from Japan

The car is taken off the Japanese register, gets its export certificate and goes by truck to the port. Keep the export certificate safe: you need it, with its English translation, to title the car in the US.

7. Ship

By RoRo ship or in a container, to the US port you choose. RoRo is usually cheaper for one running car. Containers suit non-running cars, valuable cars and cars shipped with parts.

Steps 8 and 9: the US side

8. Clear US customs

Your customs broker files the entry and the safety and emissions forms, and pays the duty. The main forms are the Importer Security Filing, the CBP 7501 entry summary, the NHTSA HS-7 and the EPA 3520-1.

You can file the entry yourself as the owner, but one mistake can hold the car at the port. Most first-time importers use a broker.

9. Title and register

You take the customs papers to your state DMV and register the car. Every state is different, and some restrict kei trucks, so check with your DMV before you buy.

How long it takes

Usually two to three months from winning the car to collecting it at a US port. Most of that is waiting for papers and ships, not work on your side.

What it costs

Our car prices are FOB Japan: the price covers the car up to the port in Japan. Shipping and US costs are extra. Our fee is 120,000 yen for a car priced up to 1,000,000 yen, and 120,000 yen plus 5% of the amount over 1,000,000 yen above that.

The costs chapter of our import guide lists every cost between the auction and your driveway, and who you pay each one to.

Ready to start?

Read the full import guide, browse our current cars, or send us an inquiry with the model, your budget and your state. You talk to the same small team from the first message to the shipping papers.