Hey guys hope this sub reddit can help me. I’ve been dabbling with the idea of opening up a JDM import buisness and had a few questions about it. A few things to know I’ve been in the car business my whole life working under my family’s dealer license at a used car lot. So the world of buying and selling isn’t new to me. I currently reside in Washington state and that’s where I plan on setting up shop.
1. How do I apply for an importing license? Who do I need to talk to?
2. what auctions does everyone use/recommend to buy a JDM car?
3. How does a dealer get involved and signed up with these auctions? How do I pay for the vehicles? Do I need a Japanese bank account?
4. Once I’ve bought some cars what’s the process of getting them home?
5. Once they enter the states what steps is necessary to get them fully legal and registered? What do I need to show customs? Obviously I know the 25 year rule
6. Are they’re private sellers/wholesalers in japan willing to sell to an importer?
7.once I have inventory all legalized in the states and I have an out of state customer most notably someone from California is there any hoops I need to jump thru to sell them a vehicle I wouldn’t need to if they were in state?
8. What am I expected to spend on business expenses in the beginning?
9. Any vehicles I should avoid? I’ve bought and sold a few RHD cars that were already imported like Crowns GX90s a nissan be-1 kei trucks and all seem to sell within reasonable time periods is there certain things that sell faster than others? Some I should avoid at all costs?
10. How long does it take to get a car from japan? Also whats usual rate going on shipping right now?
Any input is appreciated thank you!
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/y8edkc/how_do_i_become_a_jdm_car_importer/
1 comment
The problem that you are going to run into is the same one I ran into when I started looking into this. Most of the desirable vehicles that are now outside the import restriction age have already been bought by other big importers. There are whole warehouses in Japan full of these cars waiting to be shipped here. You might be able to find them here and there at used car dealerships, but the price will be jacked higher than you would expect, and then, with low volume, the shipping and customs clearance costs become more pronounced, and ultimately leaves little room for enough profit to make it sustainable. I discovered all this just prior to covid and I can’t imagine the situation has improved.