Japanese Car Import Questions
Browsing & buying
How do I confirm a vehicle is still available?
Send an inquiry from the vehicle page with your destination. Our Japan team then confirms current availability, the vehicle reference and the next reservation step. Live stock is checked by staff before anything is agreed, so ask first. Browse Japan stock to find the reference.
Can I request more photos or the condition documents for a vehicle?
Yes — send the vehicle reference by email or WhatsApp and we confirm what is available. Extra photos, chassis details and source condition documents vary by vehicle, because fixed-price supplier stock does not always include the same source documents. Ask before you pay.
Are the prices on WI Car Export stock pages fixed?
Yes — the catalogue is live fixed-price Japan stock. You choose a listed vehicle, share the stock reference and destination, and our team confirms supplier availability before issuing an itemised quotation. Browse the fixed-price catalogue or read the import guide first.
Who is WI Car Export and who handles the export from Japan?
WI Car Export is a subsidiary of Washin Auto. Washin Auto sources vehicles across Japan and handles their export from Yokohama, while WI Car Export helps dealers, fleets and private buyers review stock, quotations and destination requirements. Contact the Japan export desk.
Can I reserve a vehicle before paying?
You can request a reservation, but nothing is secured until our staff confirms. We check availability with the supplier first. The reservation amount and cancellation terms depend on the vehicle and are confirmed in writing on the applicable quotation or proforma invoice before payment.
What is Scan & Translate and can I rely on it?
Scan & Translate turns a stock image into a structured English summary; it is not an inspection. The output is AI-assisted image interpretation, so the original sheet and photographs remain authoritative. Send uncertain points to the Japan desk. Read how it works.
Payment & pricing
What payment method does WI Car Export accept?
T/T bank transfer only, confirmed manually by staff. There is no online checkout and no automated payment gateway. Bank instructions are issued with your proforma invoice after vehicle availability and buyer details are confirmed. See payment safety before you transfer.
Are listed prices FOB or CIF?
All listed stock prices are FOB Japan. Ocean freight and insurance to your destination port are quoted separately. Destination port charges, customs duty, tax, registration and local delivery are also separate unless they appear in your confirmed quotation. See the import guide.
What does FOB Japan actually include?
FOB Japan covers the vehicle and the agreed Japan-side export scope up to the loading point. Ocean freight is excluded. C&F adds ocean freight to the named destination port, and CIF adds the insurance stated in the quote; neither automatically includes destination duty, tax or clearance.
Is the export total shown by the on-page estimator a final quote?
No — the estimate is indicative and confirmed on your quotation. Amounts are converted at our published rate per US$1. Ocean freight to some ports is quoted individually by the Japan export desk, and destination duties, taxes, clearance and registration are separate unless stated.
Is the vehicle price the same as my landed cost?
No — a vehicle price is not automatically a landed price. Record the quoted basis and the exclusions: FOB price and quote validity, freight, inspection and any marine insurance, then verify destination taxes, duties, port, agent, registration and local transport separately. Use the import checklist.
How do I check that payment instructions are genuine?
Check the beneficiary name and account details against your invoice before sending money. Official bank details are issued only on the itemised quotation or invoice from WI Car Export sales staff. If anything looks different, re-confirm through the official channels on payment safety.
How are cancellations and refunds handled?
Cancellation and refund terms are stated on your buyer quotation or invoice. The reservation amount and terms depend on the vehicle and the stage of the transaction. Costs already incurred for sourcing, inspection, documentation or freight may affect cancellation options. Ask before transferring.
Shipping & documents
How long does shipping from Japan take?
Transit time depends on the destination, carrier, sailing schedule, inspection status and whether the vehicle travels by RoRo or container. We provide a route-specific planning window with the confirmed quotation; it is not a guaranteed delivery date. Ask for a current route estimate before reserving.
Should I choose RoRo or container shipping?
RoRo is commonly suitable for operable standard vehicles where the route is served. A sealed container may suit high-value, non-standard or multi-vehicle shipments, subject to loading and destination requirements. Both are quoted by vehicle, load and route, and schedules are carrier dependent.
Can I ship personal items inside the vehicle?
Only with carrier approval — written for RoRo, carrier and customs for container. On RoRo, cargo inside the vehicle requires written carrier approval; in a container it requires carrier and customs approval. Ask the Japan export desk to confirm what your carrier and destination permit before the booking is made.
Which export documents do I receive?
Your accepted scope states which documents apply and when they are released. These can include the Japanese export and deregistration record, the commercial invoice, a carrier release document such as a bill of lading, and an inspection certificate where the destination requires an appointed inspection and it is included in the quote.
Is marine insurance included in the price?
No — marine insurance is included only when it is selected or required and shown on the accepted quote. Ask for the available policy option before shipment. Coverage, exclusions, evidence requirements and claim deadlines depend on the issued policy and the carrier.
Import & destination
Can you confirm the import rules for my country?
We can share route-specific export information, but buyers should confirm current requirements with their destination authority. Age, emissions, inspection, duty and registration rules apply to the exact vehicle and change over time, so check with a licensed broker before purchasing. Use the import checklist.
Does listing my country mean my vehicle can be imported?
No — listing a route does not confirm that a particular vehicle can be imported. The destination summaries in our import guide are official starting points, not vehicle approvals. Confirm eligibility, steering, inspection and taxes with the destination authority and a licensed broker.
Who handles customs clearance at my destination?
The buyer or appointed customs broker normally completes destination clearance. They pay local charges and arrange registration or onward delivery. We prepare the agreed Japan export documents and coordinate the shipping handover described in your quotation, which is port-to-port unless the quotation says otherwise.
Do I need a pre-export inspection before shipping?
Only when your destination requires it, or when it is available for the route and you select it. Inspection appears on the accepted quote when it applies, and the certificate is provided where the destination requires an appointed inspection and it is included in the quote. Confirm the current inspection route before reserving.
Didn't find your answer? Contact our Japan team and include your destination and vehicle reference.