Everything we do to get your Japanese car from auction to your driveway — fully managed, end to end.
Our Services
From finding your vehicle in Japan to delivering it registered and road-legal. EU compliance modifications available for all countries. Full end-to-end registration available for Netherlands, Germany, Poland and the UK.
Access to USS, TAA, and HAA Kobe auctions. We search, inspect, and bid on your behalf with translated auction sheets and condition grades.
Thorough mechanical and cosmetic inspection by our Japan-based team before purchase. Detailed photo reports and translated auction grades provided.
RoRo and container shipping from Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya to Rotterdam, Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Le Havre, Barcelona, and more.
Complete EU customs clearance: 10% import duty, local VAT, and country-specific vehicle taxes (BPM, VRT, NoVA, ISV, etc.) all handled by our licensed broker network.
Available for all EU countries. LHD vehicles require minimal work. RHD vehicles receive headlight beam adjustment, rear fog light, speedometer to km/h, and all other EU type approval requirements.
Full vehicle registration including inspection and plates — available in Netherlands (RDW), Germany (TÜV/DEKRA) and Poland (SKP). For other EU countries, please contact us to discuss options.
Enclosed or standard open transport from the EU port of entry to your address. Available EU-wide — cost quoted separately based on distance.
Bulk pricing, priority auction access, dedicated account manager, and consolidated customs processing for dealers importing multiple vehicles.
Expert guidance on registration taxes, VAT reclaim for businesses, the margin scheme for dealers, and the most cost-effective country to register your import. See our VAT Guide for Business.
How It Works
A transparent, structured process — you're informed and in control at every stage.
Tell us what you want — make, model, year, budget, condition. We advise on availability, estimated landed cost for your country, and timeline. No commitment required.
Our Japan team searches USS, TAA, HAA, and dealer networks. You receive auction sheets, photos, and condition grades translated to English. Once approved, we bid on your behalf.
We settle the purchase, de-register the vehicle in Japan, and obtain the Export Certificate (EPC). The vehicle is transported to the port for loading.
RoRo or container shipping from Japan to your nearest EU port. You receive a Bill of Lading and real-time vessel tracking. Transit time 6–8 weeks.
10% import duty and local VAT processed at port of entry. Country-specific vehicle taxes calculated and paid. All handled by our licensed customs broker network.
Available for all EU countries. LHD vehicles typically need minimal work. RHD vehicles receive headlight beam adjustment, rear fog light, reflectors, and speedometer conversion as required.
Full registration handled in Netherlands (RDW), Germany (TÜV/DEKRA) and Poland (SKP). For all other EU countries we complete customs and compliance — local registration support available on request.
Your Japanese import is delivered to your home or business. Choose enclosed or standard open transport. Quoted separately based on distance from port of entry.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about importing a Japanese car to Europe.
The typical end-to-end timeline is 10–16 weeks from the day you confirm a vehicle purchase to the day you drive it away registered in your name. Here’s how that breaks down:
Yes — we import both left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles. Whether you want an export-spec LHD model or an authentic JDM right-hand drive car, we handle the full process either way.
Some common scenarios:
For most Japanese performance, classic, and enthusiast vehicles, importing directly from Japan results in significant savings of 30–70% compared to equivalent examples available in the EU — once all import costs are included.
This is because:
The three biggest variables are VAT rate, registration tax, and approval fees. Here’s a rough ranking from most to least cost-effective for typical imports:
Vehicles that don’t pass the initial inspection are not automatically rejected — the inspector identifies what modifications are needed, and we arrange for the work to be carried out.
Common reasons for initial failure and their solutions:
Japanese vehicle auctions (USS, TAA, HAA Kobe, JU Group) are exclusively accessible to licensed Japanese dealers. Private individuals and foreign companies cannot bid directly — you must work through a licensed auction agent.
Zen Auto Import operates through established Japanese dealer partners who:
We accept international bank transfer (SWIFT/SEPA) as the primary payment method. Payments are structured in clear stages:
We operate under TradeA EU OÜ, an EU-registered company, subject to EU commercial law.
The Shaken (輯検) system is Japan’s mandatory vehicle inspection programme, required every 2 years for vehicles over 3 years old. It is significantly more rigorous than most European roadworthiness tests and covers:
Because the Shaken is expensive (¥50,000–¥200,000 / €300–€1,200), owners maintain their vehicles carefully to avoid failures. This results in Japanese used cars being exceptionally well-maintained compared to equivalent European examples.
Vehicles typically qualify as historic/classic when they are 30+ years old in most EU countries (25+ years in some). Historic status often brings significant benefits:
Most favourable for classics:
Japanese auctions use a standardised grading system (assessed by independent inspectors, not sellers) that is highly reliable: