WHY IMPORTING A USED JAPANESE CAR CAN MAKE MORE SENSE THAN BUYING ONE LOCALLY

1.Low Prices

Cars in Japan rapidly depreciate, much faster than they do in North America. This is due to Government regulations and market preferences.

 

Government Regulation:

Japanese vehicles are subject to a mandatory inspection system called "Shaken" every 2 years. This inspection is extremely strict and becomes increasingly expensive the older the car becomes. Due to this, owners tend to sell their cars rather than pay for the expensive inspection.

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Market Preferences:

The Japanese market strongly favours new cars which leads to mass production of new vehicles and a quick turnover of used cars, resulting in lower prices.​

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2. Better Quality Cars

The Japanese simply don't drive as much as North Americans. This is why it is not uncommon to find 20 year old cars with only 50,000 kms on them. Japanese people tend to take great care of things, just look at how clean the streets of Japan are. Servicing is commonly done on time and taken care of at the dealership.​ Also due to the strict rules of Shaken, the cars are kept at like-new conditions

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3. Models not available in North America

Skylines, Silvias, Chasers, Beats, Pajeros & so many more were never sold in the North American market. Even models that were sold in North America had much better versions kept for the Japanese market. These JDM-exclusive models offer unique styling, performance and features that can't be found in their North American counterparts. These cars carry real heritage as they were built with a deep focus on driving experience often rooted in motorsport history or a uniquely Japanese automotive culture. It's not just about transportation or owning something rare. It's about decades of innovation, racing pedigree and pride. It's about becoming part of the story.