FAQ

Auctions in Japan are held from Tuesday to Saturday. Due to the time difference of approximately +7/+8 hours compared to our time (depending on summer or winter time), we need to prepare for the auction earlier. Always make sure when the car will be auctioned. Bids can be submitted no later than 20:00 on the day before the auction; at that time we also provide an approximate inspection and auction time.

We can perform a live inspection with paint thickness measurements at the largest USS auction houses:

Tuesday – USS Yokohama

Wednesday – USS JAA Tokyo

Thursday – USS Tokyo

Friday – USS Nagoya

Saturday – USS HAA Kobe

At the remaining auction houses, we can arrange a photo inspection or a call with the auction house inspector.

All cars imported through us are insured from the moment of purchase at the auction, through sea transport to the port, and up to transport to Poland.

Please contact us via WhatsApp or e‑mail. You can also submit a request using the “order car inspection” button on the website.

New auction listings in Japan appear daily. Auctions are held 5 days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday.

Auction times are given according to Japanese time, which is 7 hours ahead (summer time) and 8 hours ahead (winter time) of Polish time. For detailed information about auction hours, please contact us via WhatsApp or by phone.

Approximately 4–5 months. The given time covers the period from the moment the car is purchased to delivery to the client. It may change depending on ship capacity and the place of purchase in Japan.

To obtain translations of auction sheets, contact us via WhatsApp or e‑mail and provide the auction number, auction date and the auction house location.

The auction sheet contains:

- vehicle details (model, mileage, equipment),

- overall vehicle grade,

- interior grade,

- seller’s notes,

- inspector’s notes,

- diagram and markings showing body damage.

What additional costs are there besides the car purchase?

- auction house commission,

- transport of the car from the auction house to our branch in Japan and then to the port,

- deregistration in the Japanese office and preparation of export documentation,

- registration history in Japan obtained from the Japanese authority,

- sea transport from Japan to Germany/Belgium,

- insurance from the moment of purchase at the auction, through sea transport to the European port, up to land transport to Poland,

- cost of port fees and customs clearance by a customs agency, duty, VAT,

- excise duty in Poland,

a) 3.1% of the customs value (invoice + duty) for cars with engines up to 2000 cm³,

b) 18.6% of the customs value (invoice + duty) for cars with engines above 2000 cm³.

- cost of transport from the European port to the client,

- potential expert opinion for the customs office in Poland.

When listing a car at auction, the seller must set a STARTING PRICE – the amount from which bidding begins. The STARTING PRICE does not directly determine the final sale price. The RESERVE PRICE is the amount below which the vehicle will not be sold. This price is not public – only the bidder finds out during the live auction whether the reserve has been met. The MARKET PRICE is the value worth considering when looking for cars on the Japanese market. We can provide data on previous auction results to estimate the price range within which a given vehicle may be purchased.

Grade S: Mileage below 10,000 km, no signs of wear or need for repairs. Applies to vehicles up to 12 months from first registration.

Grade 6: Mileage below 30,000 km, minimal signs of use, no repairs needed. Engine and body in excellent condition, up to 12 months from first registration.

Grade 5: Mileage below 60,000 km, barely noticeable signs of use or damage. Virtually no need to replace parts. Engine and body still in great condition.

Grade 4.5: Mileage below 100,000 km. After repairing indicated elements, the grade can be raised to 5.

Grade 4: Mileage below 150,000 km, normal wear with minor defects such as paint chips or small dents. Some parts may require repair.

Grade 3.5: Mileage up to 150,000 km, more evident wear and larger damage; bodywork/paint repairs or major service including parts replacement may be needed.

Grade 3: The vehicle requires a general refresh. Interior, body and drivetrain repairs may be necessary.

Grade 2: Very poor technical condition, significantly reduced market value.

Grade 1: Car after flooding or activation/use of the fire‑extinguishing system.

Grade R/RA/R1/R2: Vehicles after repairs or with replaced structural elements. You can find good deals, but also heavily worn examples. Always check the inspector’s remarks on the auction sheet!

Grade ***: Damaged vehicle, does not start. No warranty.

Interior condition letters:

A: Like new.

B: Very clean and well maintained.

C: Average condition, wear consistent with age, minor damage possible.

D: Unpleasant odour, holes, scuffs and other damage; below standard.

As part of our import service, our advisors coordinate the entire process. The vehicle is thoroughly checked before purchase during a live pre‑auction inspection. We also supervise the entire customs clearance process. The price also includes a complete set of document translations. The commission is independent of the car’s value and amounts to 8,000 PLN gross.