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You’re all set in your new venture: buying cars from Japan. You already have a couple of car models in mind and you may also have chosen a website to browse through. Is that enough? Aren’t you forgetting something? To make sure you’re on the right track in finding the right car for you and for your family, here are 4 things you should keep in mind as you go on your online shopping. Import regulations It would be unfortunate if you have finally settled on a great car that fits all of your needs, only to find out it couldn’t be imported into your country. Different countries have different restrictions about importing new and used cars, trucks, buses, and even auto parts, so check your national import laws and regulations. These regulations would state who can import (usually natural-born citizens and some migrants), what can be imported, details on the import application process, and the requirements needed for importation. LHD or RHD? LHD refers to left-hand drive; RHD of course is right-hand drive. Which driving mode does your country use? Some websites fail to properly separate LHD and RHD vehicles, making it tedious for customers to sift through their stock. Some customers buying cars from Japan settle for the “wrong” handed vehicle and simply have their car converted upon arrival in their country. Though many countries allow the use of both kinds of vehicles as long as you stay on the right side of the road, it would be better to buy a car that would be easier to handle considering your country’s traffic flow. Technically, the steering wheel placement (which tells whether the car is LHD or RHD) is opposite to the traffic flow: left-hand traffic countries use RHD vehicles; right-hand traffic countries use LHD. Pricing terminologies FOB, CIF, C&F—these are acronyms you would encounter when buying cars from Japan, and all of these have something to do with the price of a vehicle for sale. What do they mean? FOB, or Free on Board, is the most basic price, which includes a sold car’s transport from the dealer’s stock yard up to the port where it is to be shipped. It doesn’t include the cost of transportation and marine insurance yet; if you want to include these expenses in the dealer’s price computation, ask for the CIF amount, or Cost Insurance and Freight. C&F means cost and freight, which is basically CIF but minus the marine insurance. Secure payment Online shopping for cars, though easy and convenient, does have a few risks, especially if you don’t personally know the seller which is commonly the case. How can you protect yourself from scams and fraudulent exporters? You may check the seller’s background and look for feedback regarding their trade practices. If customer testimonials are good, the probability that the seller is trustworthy is good as well. In addition, opt to pay for your car using a secure payment service, which “holds” your money until you receive your car in the promised condition. Only then will the seller receive your payment. Keep these things in mind as you go on buying cars from Japan to make your import experience easy, safe, and hassle-free.
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