You are completely wrong if you think that only big dealers can buy cars from Japan. People from all over the world, from Pakistan to Australia, the UK to Dubai, are buying their dream cars directly from Japanese car auctions. These cars are also much cheaper than they are in their own countries. By the way, did you know that Japanese auction houses flip through around 30k to 70k cars daily? Most of these cars are top-notch because Japanese owners take super good care of their rides.
But the most important question is still how to place a bid and where to start. That’s where JapanCars steps in. They’ll guide you through from selecting the right car all the way to it turning up at your house. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about how to bid at a Japan car auction, what to watch out for, and how a reliable exporter can make the whole process easy and stress-free for you.
What Are Japan Car Auctions and How Do They Work?
First, there is one thing that should be made clear: Japan car auctions are far from being those ordinary open-market auctions where anyone is allowed to step into and start bidding. Professional auctions include USS, TAA, JU, HAA, and SAA in Japan. They offer more than a thousand cars each day.
The cars are sourced from citizens who have upgraded their cars to newer versions. This explains why the cars are of superior quality. The whole selling process takes no more than 20 to 30 seconds per car.
Since this kind of auction is not accessible to people from the general audience, an exporter and/or an agent licensed to work within the auction house needs to act on your behalf. That is precisely why it is essential to choose a proper export partner when learning how to bid in Japan car auction.
Every auctioned vehicle from Japan has its own auction form containing details such as the grade, mileage, engine capacity, chassis number, condition of the inside and outside of the car, and marks of damage on the car. Grade One to Five is the standard for Japanese auctions. Grade Four or Four and a Half cars are seen as the best deals for importers since they’re in great shape yet cheaper than Grade Five cars.
What Should You Do Before Placing a Bid?
However, before starting to think about making any bids, there are several matters that you should take care of first. Firstly, you need to find a reliable Japan car exporter who will act as your representative at the auction with direct access rights to the auctions.
When you have done this, you should determine your budget expressed in Japanese Yen because you can make all payments only in this currency. To get the total budget of yours in Japanese Yen, use an importing calculator.
When bidding, learn to read the auction sheet, it outlines the car’s grade, mileage, history, and engine condition. Never forget to compare the average price at which such vehicles sell before making the bid. In addition, be sure that you are aware of your country’s import policies because there may be certain age requirements or emissions standards.
How to Place a Bid at Japan Car Auction Step by Step
The first step involves registration at a legitimate Japan car exporter company or contacting the exporting team. Companies such as TheJapanCars directly deal with the Japanese auction halls. They place your bids in real-time during live auctions.
With the registration process out of the way, you will be able to view the different auctions on offer. You can use filters to search for particular makes and models depending on the year of manufacture, mileage, and auction grades. From here, you will be able to select several cars as backups.
The next step involves examining the auction sheets for the cars you are interested in. For those who cannot read Japanese language, your exporting agent will provide translation services to give you details on damage codes and other significant details.
After that, determine the highest possible bid you would want to put on each of the cars you have selected. You will be given advice on reasonable bidding prices according to the average sales of the vehicles.
Just keep in mind that average prices are not set in stone, and vehicles normally sell between 10 and 15 percent below average prices on the right day. Real-time bidding takes place in Japan, and it only takes seconds. You do not have to be physically there or online during the bidding; your exporter does all that for you.
Once bidding is complete, you will get feedback from your exporter about how the process went. If you won the bid, then you proceed to make payments, documents, and ship the car. If not, you just have to bid again.
Best Bidding Tips That Will Increase Your Chances of Winning
The most common mistake that a beginner can make during the auction of a car is placing the bid just on one car and hoping that this bid is successful. Experienced buyers and dealers always bid on 5-10 cars per day. As soon as one of your bids succeeds, the system will automatically reject all other bids. Using the numbers game method, your chances of buying the best car for your budget increase significantly without additional risks.
Auctions that take place in the evening time in Japan (about 5 or 6 pm Japanese time) normally have lower prices since most of the dealers will complete their quota of the day at this moment. Participating in such auctions on behalf of your exporting company will allow you to buy the car for less than its average price.
On busy days, lots of cars get low bids and sell for less than they’re actually worth. That’s when you get your best chances to score. One should not be worried or depressed if they fail in their initial attempts. The time taken for buying through bid offers ranges from just one week to three weeks on average. The process requires patience. It’s time-consuming, though the savings compared to buying locally make it worthwhile
What Happens After You Win the Bid?
When you win the auction bidding, your exporter will confirm your success by providing you with an invoice for the automobile. Once the payment is received, the exporter will send you the vehicle directly from Japan to your destination country.
It takes two to six weeks for the delivery, depending on where you live. In the meantime, your exporter ensures that all export documentation is in place. This includes an export document, bill of lading, and vehicle inspection report.
You need all these documents to clear the car at the port when it arrives in the destination country. Your exporter handles all the export paperwork. So, your car arrives without any delays or problems.
Why Place Your Bid Through TheJapanCars?
The Japan Cars is a car exporter company based in Japan, providing direct access to the best auction sites in Japan. Their services cover exporting cars to Australia, the USA, the UK, Canada, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Dubai. They manage auctions, paperwork, and shipping, covering everything in one place.
Regardless of whether you are new to car imports or have done it before, The Japan Cars provides round-the-clock support for a hassle-free experience. If you would like to know how to place your bid at Japanese car auctions without getting lost in the process, their specialists will help you every step of the way.
Final Thought
Winning the bid for a Japanese vehicle is not hard if you know how to do it correctly, along with the help of a suitable Japanese exporter. This involves selecting the car you need among the available ones and reading its auction sheet. Setting a reasonable budget in Japanese Yen is next, after which you give the bidder the mandate to proceed with the bidding process for you.
In the event that you lose the bid, keep on going until you win the auction. Finally, after winning the bidding process, you get to own a fine Japanese car at a low cost that cannot be matched anywhere else.
