FAQ's
1. Why import direct?
You can obtain the exact car that you want at wholesale price, avoiding the larger retail markups. You pay a brokerage fee only in addition to the wholesale price of the car ex Japan. We buy directly to your specifications, and know the exact quality of the cars that are presented for auction in Japan from the vehicle auction sheets.
2. What about the quality of the vehicles?
By only buying direct from the auctions themselves and not from retail Japanese agents, the exact grading and condition of the vehicles can be determined. The auctions use a grading system to specify the quality and condition of their cars - broadly ranging from grades 0 through to 5, with 0 being the worst and 5 being the best. There are some near new vehicles that are given higher gradings than 5, depending on their mileage, condition etc. Our recommendation is that we only normally buy grades 4 and above to ensure high quality. The auction sheets specify and show diagramatically whether or not the car has any minor damage of any description, e.g minor scratches, dents etc. We only bid on cars that satisfy our clients, satisfy our criteria for quality and that have genuine mileage. You are provided with a copy of the original auction sheet to keep with your car documentation after purchase is confirmed.
3. How long does it take?
Once we have purchased a suitable vehicle it takes approximately 6-7 weeks for the vehicle to arrive in NZ, be complied and be on the road for you to drive away. In return for this wait you will have saved a considerable amount on retail and hand picked exactly what you want. Some patience is required but this is rewarded handsomely in the end results.
4. Do you handle everything including all paperwork etc?
YES!! That is one of the many advantages in using our services! EVERYTHING is done for you on your behalf, until you pick up the vehicle from compliance. You have nothing to do except drive it away!!
5. How much cheaper can it work out?
Comparing like with like, for a car of the same grading and quality typical savings are normally in the order of $3000 - $4000. There are some cases where the amounts saved are even higher than these figures. Something to be aware of when comparing prices to retail, is that not all the cars on the yards were of high grading when they left Japan. A lot are grade 3.5’s, and in some cases even lower. By purchasing through us , you will know exactly what your car was in Japan and you will have a copy of the actual auction sheet for your vehicle as soon as the purchase is confirmed.
6. How does the buying process work?
Simply contact us, and tell us what you want. We can then look through previously sold vehicles that are similiar to what you are after to give you an estimate of what we would expect to pay for a similar vehicle. If you would then like us to go ahead and find you a car, we do exactly that. We search the auctions each and every day, until we find a suitable one to bid on for you. If you are happy with the example/examples found, we lodge a bid and wait for the results to come through. If we have succeeded in buying the car - it is yours (on receipt of final payment) and it is then booked on the first available ship out to New Zealand.
7. How specific can I be when ordering a car? Can I specify a favourite colour or colours?
You can be as specific as you like - if you have “must haves” for your purchase that is fine! So long as the car was manufactured with it - you can have it! For example: sunroofs, alloy wheels etc. Colour preferences can also be specified, but the primary buying criteria will always be quality and condition. In this regard, if you are happy to specify more than one colour choice, this will widen the search and enable a more expeditious purchase, as sometimes we have to wait for a car of better quality when searching for a specific colour; and with car purchases quality and condition should always be the primary determining factor. Sometimes too you may wish to pay less for a high grade car that does not have alloy wheels fitted, but then purchase your own to taste here when the car has arrived.
8. How do the new emissions regulations affect the car buying process?
The new regulations have been promulgated and are now in effect. We buy totally and only in accordance with these new regulations. The major impact has been on diesel vehicles, with petrol vehicles having fared quite well. Broadly, the effects of the new regulations are as follows:
For Petrol Vehicles: Minimum standard is now Japan “GH”/Euro 3 emissions standards. Broadly speaking this means mainly Year 2000 and onwards for Japanese vehicles, with the majority of European vehicles only meeting this standard from approximately 2002 onwards. There are some exceptions, and each and every vehicle is individually checked to ensure that it complies with the standards required, and only imported if meeting or exceeding the standards required by law to be imported into New Zealand.
For Diesel Vehicles: The rules on diesels have a far greater impact and essentially most vehicles prior to 2004/2005 will no longer comply. Minimum current standard is Japan 02/04 (Euro 4) emissions regulations. We check the eligibility of each and every vehicle under the new regulations prior to commencing any search. From now on all diesel vehicles will be the very latest models only.
You can obtain the exact car that you want at wholesale price, avoiding the larger retail markups. You pay a brokerage fee only in addition to the wholesale price of the car ex Japan. We buy directly to your specifications, and know the exact quality of the cars that are presented for auction in Japan from the vehicle auction sheets.
2. What about the quality of the vehicles?
By only buying direct from the auctions themselves and not from retail Japanese agents, the exact grading and condition of the vehicles can be determined. The auctions use a grading system to specify the quality and condition of their cars - broadly ranging from grades 0 through to 5, with 0 being the worst and 5 being the best. There are some near new vehicles that are given higher gradings than 5, depending on their mileage, condition etc. Our recommendation is that we only normally buy grades 4 and above to ensure high quality. The auction sheets specify and show diagramatically whether or not the car has any minor damage of any description, e.g minor scratches, dents etc. We only bid on cars that satisfy our clients, satisfy our criteria for quality and that have genuine mileage. You are provided with a copy of the original auction sheet to keep with your car documentation after purchase is confirmed.
3. How long does it take?
Once we have purchased a suitable vehicle it takes approximately 6-7 weeks for the vehicle to arrive in NZ, be complied and be on the road for you to drive away. In return for this wait you will have saved a considerable amount on retail and hand picked exactly what you want. Some patience is required but this is rewarded handsomely in the end results.
4. Do you handle everything including all paperwork etc?
YES!! That is one of the many advantages in using our services! EVERYTHING is done for you on your behalf, until you pick up the vehicle from compliance. You have nothing to do except drive it away!!
5. How much cheaper can it work out?
Comparing like with like, for a car of the same grading and quality typical savings are normally in the order of $3000 - $4000. There are some cases where the amounts saved are even higher than these figures. Something to be aware of when comparing prices to retail, is that not all the cars on the yards were of high grading when they left Japan. A lot are grade 3.5’s, and in some cases even lower. By purchasing through us , you will know exactly what your car was in Japan and you will have a copy of the actual auction sheet for your vehicle as soon as the purchase is confirmed.
6. How does the buying process work?
Simply contact us, and tell us what you want. We can then look through previously sold vehicles that are similiar to what you are after to give you an estimate of what we would expect to pay for a similar vehicle. If you would then like us to go ahead and find you a car, we do exactly that. We search the auctions each and every day, until we find a suitable one to bid on for you. If you are happy with the example/examples found, we lodge a bid and wait for the results to come through. If we have succeeded in buying the car - it is yours (on receipt of final payment) and it is then booked on the first available ship out to New Zealand.
7. How specific can I be when ordering a car? Can I specify a favourite colour or colours?
You can be as specific as you like - if you have “must haves” for your purchase that is fine! So long as the car was manufactured with it - you can have it! For example: sunroofs, alloy wheels etc. Colour preferences can also be specified, but the primary buying criteria will always be quality and condition. In this regard, if you are happy to specify more than one colour choice, this will widen the search and enable a more expeditious purchase, as sometimes we have to wait for a car of better quality when searching for a specific colour; and with car purchases quality and condition should always be the primary determining factor. Sometimes too you may wish to pay less for a high grade car that does not have alloy wheels fitted, but then purchase your own to taste here when the car has arrived.
8. How do the new emissions regulations affect the car buying process?
The new regulations have been promulgated and are now in effect. We buy totally and only in accordance with these new regulations. The major impact has been on diesel vehicles, with petrol vehicles having fared quite well. Broadly, the effects of the new regulations are as follows:
For Petrol Vehicles: Minimum standard is now Japan “GH”/Euro 3 emissions standards. Broadly speaking this means mainly Year 2000 and onwards for Japanese vehicles, with the majority of European vehicles only meeting this standard from approximately 2002 onwards. There are some exceptions, and each and every vehicle is individually checked to ensure that it complies with the standards required, and only imported if meeting or exceeding the standards required by law to be imported into New Zealand.
For Diesel Vehicles: The rules on diesels have a far greater impact and essentially most vehicles prior to 2004/2005 will no longer comply. Minimum current standard is Japan 02/04 (Euro 4) emissions regulations. We check the eligibility of each and every vehicle under the new regulations prior to commencing any search. From now on all diesel vehicles will be the very latest models only.