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Notes on importing JDM cars from Japanese auctions
Practical guides for import shops and dealers: reading auction sheets, grades, the 25-year rule, agents and what a car really costs once it lands. For the whole process end to end, start with the importing guide.
Import costsJDM import cost calculator: from hammer price to landed costPut in the hammer price and your agent’s fees and get the landed cost, line by line, plus the sale price your margin needs.Auction sheetsHow to read a Japanese auction sheetWhere everything is on the sheet, how to turn H13 into 2001, and the damage codes that should change your bid.Auction gradesJapanese auction grades explained, from S to RThe overall grade, the interior letter and what an R really tells you, with what each one usually means for reconditioning.25-year ruleThe 25-year rule: which JDM cars you can import in 2026Model year 2001 is clearing month by month. How the exemption is counted, what proves it, and the cars worth watching.Export agentsChoosing a Japanese export agent: a checklist for import shopsTwelve questions to ask an export agent before your first bid, and why many shops keep more than one account.Kei trucksImporting a kei truck from Japan: what to check firstKei trucks sell fast, but state rules and classification can turn a good buy into a slow one. What to check before you bid.