So after almos a year of trying, I finally got my driving license.
Since I pretended to stay in Japan for the years to come, I am planning to get a new car instead of second-hand, I was thinking of an Aqua or similar car with high km/L
That being said, I have no idea how to proceed. Is the price the same in all of Toyota’s agencies ?
Also, since I need insurance, I was told that getting one from an online store is better since it’s cheaper than the ones at physical stores.
Tbh is my first time buying a car, and I’m alone in Japan, so there is no one I can ask with more experience,I welcome any and all suggestions and warnings you can throw
4 comments
Do you have a parking spot? I’d get that sorted first.
If you live near a US military base, there will be new and used dealerships outside the base that speak English. They can also help you with taxes, insurance etc.
But first of all, make sure you can get a parking spot near your residence.
A ton of info out there already, search the sub and Google. Sorry, but lengthy guides have been written a hundred times on the subject.
Don’t buy a new car. New cars drop in value 30% the second they are off the dealer lot. Buy a car that’s a year or two old, at least. But cars in Japan are super well taken care off and reliable. So long as the kilometers are well under 100K and has a stable service record, you’re golden. Get all the service done on time and take care of it, it’ll last for decades.
Online only insurance is cheaper, but also only in Japanese and can cost more than some places that cater more to foreigners due to them relying more on in-Japan driving history.
Make sure to have your 印鑑 (seal) and 印鑑証明書 (seal certificate) ready, they would need that. And you can try to negotiate the price to be below sticker price, since it’s a new car they can drop the price by quite a bit!