Japan import glossary.

106 terms

25-year ruleCountry

USA federal exemption: vehicles 25+ years old are exempt from FMVSS/EPA compliance and can be imported freely. Drives R32 Skyline, JZX100 etc. trade.

Accident-repaired (R / RA)Auctions

Auction grade for cars with prior structural repair. We disclose this on every listing.

Aid / NGO waiverSchemes

Registered humanitarian organisations may import vehicles duty-free under a finance-ministry exemption letter.

AP permitCountry

Malaysia's Approved Permit, restrictive licence required for used-car imports; controlled distribution.

ARFCountry

Singapore Additional Registration Fee, 100-320% of OMV depending on vehicle value tier. Single largest cost of importing into Singapore.

Auction gradeAuctions

JAAI's numeric condition score: S/6 (new), 5 (excellent), 4.5 (above average), 4 (average), 3.5 (below avg), 3 (worn), R/RA (repaired).

Auction sheet (Rakusatsu-hyou)Auctions

JAA-style grade sheet from a Japanese auction noting damage map, repaint, accident history, mileage and grade. Single most important condition document.

B/L (Bill of Lading)Documents

Shipping company's title document for the cargo. Released to the consignee after payment; required by destination customs to claim the unit.

BAF / CAFShipping

Bunker Adjustment Factor and Currency Adjustment Factor, fuel-price and FX surcharges the shipping line adds on top of the base freight, usually 3-10%.

Baggage scheme (Pakistan)Schemes

Allows overseas Pakistanis returning after 2+ years to import one used car under personal baggage rules with fixed FBR duty.

Bank charges (OUR / SHA)Payments

On a SWIFT wire, OUR means sender pays all fees, SHA means fees are shared. Always send OUR so we receive the full invoiced amount.

Bid stepAuctions

Minimum yen increment between bids at auction (usually JPY 3,000-10,000). We bid in the smallest legal step to protect your maximum.

Bill of SaleDocuments

Document transferring ownership from seller to buyer. Some destinations (Tanzania, Mozambique) require notarised translation.

BreakbulkShipping

Cargo loaded loose into a ship's hold rather than RoRo or container, used for oversized machinery (cranes, large excavators).

BRTACountry

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, registers imported vehicles after duty payment and inspection at Chittagong.

C&F (CFR)Trade

Cost & Freight, like CIF but without marine insurance. You arrange your own cover if you want it.

CARBCountry

California Air Resources Board, separate, stricter emissions regime. A car can be federally compliant but fail CARB registration.

Carnet de passage (CPD)Registration

Customs document allowing temporary import of a vehicle without paying duty (overland travellers). Not used for permanent imports.

Catalytic converter cert.Registration

Some markets (EU, UK, NZ) require proof the catalyst is intact and not stolen/replaced. Bring receipts if recently changed.

Chassis number· Shadai bangouDocuments

Japan's vehicle identifier (analogous to VIN but not always 17 characters). Stamped on the firewall and printed on every export document.

Chicken taxCountry

USA's 25% import duty on light trucks (HS 8704). Forces pickups/cargo vans into commercial-use or 25-year exemptions.

CIFTrade

Cost, Insurance & Freight, FOB price plus ocean freight and marine insurance, delivered to your discharge port.

CISSCountry

Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme, Nigeria pre-arrival inspection levy, 1% of FOB.

COECountry

Singapore Certificate of Entitlement, auction-bid 10-year right to register a vehicle. Often SGD 80,000+ for category B.

Commercial invoiceTrade

Final invoice issued after payment, presented to destination customs as proof of transaction value.

Container (20ft / 40ft)Shipping

Vehicle sealed inside a steel container. 20ft fits one sedan / one mid-SUV; 40ft fits 2 SUVs or 4 small cars. More protection, more cost.

Container stuffingShipping

Loading vehicles into a container at the warehouse: chocking, lashing and bracing. Adds ~$120-200 per unit but protects on long routes.

CRSP· Kenya reference priceCountry

Kenya Revenue Authority's Current Retail Selling Price, government-published value used as the duty base, regardless of invoice.

DAP / DDPTrade

Delivered At Place / Delivered Duty Paid, seller delivers to a named place in destination country; DDP also covers duties. Rarely used for vehicles.

DemurrageShipping

Daily storage penalty charged by the port (or carrier, for containers) once the free days elapse. Clear quickly: rates compound and can exceed the vehicle's value.

Deregistration· Yushutsu Masshou TourokuDocuments

Cancellation of the vehicle's Japanese registration before export. The Export Certificate is proof of deregistration and is required for title transfer abroad.

DetentionShipping

Late return penalty on the empty container itself, distinct from demurrage. Only applies to containerised shipments.

Diplomatic FranchiseSchemes

Customs duty + VAT exemption granted to accredited diplomats and international organisations on presentation of MFA exemption certificate.

Disabled-person schemeSchemes

Most jurisdictions waive or reduce duty + VAT on adapted vehicles for persons with disabilities, up to a value cap and one vehicle per period.

DVLACountry

UK Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, issues V5C logbook after IVA pass and HMRC duty payment.

Engine numberDocuments

Stamped into the block, separate from chassis number. Some countries cross-check it against the export certificate.

EscrowPayments

Funds held by a neutral third party until shipping documents are presented. Used occasionally for first-time buyers above USD 50,000.

ETDShipping

Estimated Time of Departure from the loading port in Japan. Window is usually +/- 3 days due to weather and berth rotation.

ETLSCountry

ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme levy, 0.5% of CIF on imports into ECOWAS member states (Nigeria, Ghana, etc.).

Export Certificate (Masshou Touhon)Documents

Official Japanese government document showing deregistration and chassis number. Original is required by destination customs to title the vehicle.

EXW (Ex Works)Trade

Buyer collects the unit from our yard in Japan and arranges everything onwards. Lowest seller responsibility.

FBR fixed dutyCountry

Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue per-cc fixed duty table for used vehicle imports under TOR / personal baggage.

FMVSS / EPACountry

US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards. Sub-25-year vehicles must conform, usually impractical for JDM.

FOBTrade

Free On Board, the vehicle's price loaded onto the vessel at Japan, before freight and insurance.

Form C/E (Pakistan)Documents

Customs entry forms filed by clearing agent at Karachi/Port Qasim to release the vehicle.

Free daysShipping

Grace period (usually 7-14 days) the destination port grants before demurrage starts. Clearing agent must lodge papers in time.

Free time on containerShipping

Days you have to unload and return the container before detention begins (usually 5-7 days).

Fumigation certificateInspection

Australia, NZ and several African states require proof the vehicle was treated for insects, soil and plant matter before export.

GCC specCountry

Vehicle specification certified for Gulf Cooperation Council markets, heat-tolerant cooling, sand filters, Arabic UI. Preferred in UAE/Saudi/Oman.

GDDocuments

Goods Declaration, Pakistan customs entry filed by your clearing agent to release the vehicle from Karachi port.

Gift schemeSchemes

Several countries (Pakistan, Bangladesh) allow one gifted vehicle per recipient per decade with partial duty relief, subject to engine-cc cap.

Hammer priceAuctions

Winning yen bid at the auction. Vehicle CIF is built on top of this plus auction fees, transport, export service and freight.

HS codeTrade

Harmonised System code, 6-digit international tariff classification. Passenger cars typically 8703.xx; trucks 8704.xx; motorcycles 8711.xx.

IDFCountry

Import Declaration Fee, Kenya levy of 3.5% of CIF added to clearance.

Incoterms 2020Trade

ICC's international trade terms (FOB, CFR, CIF, DAP, DDP etc.) defining who pays what and where risk transfers.

ISPS surchargeShipping

International Ship and Port Facility Security fee. Small flat per-BL charge passed on by every carrier.

IVACountry

UK Individual Vehicle Approval, single-vehicle type-approval test for non-EU-spec imports. Costs ~GBP 500 + remediation.

JAAI· JAA / Nihon Jidousha Satei KyoukaiAuctions

Japan Auto Appraisal Institute. Provides the auction grade sheet that documents condition, mileage and damage on a 0-6 scale.

JDMCountry

Japanese Domestic Market, vehicle specification originally sold inside Japan (RHD, kph speedo, Japanese infotainment). Most of our stock is JDM.

JEVIC· JebikkuInspection

Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center. Third-party pre-shipment inspection mandated by many African and Pacific markets (Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, Fiji, PNG).

KEBSCountry

Kenya Bureau of Standards roadworthiness inspection conducted at Mombasa before release. Right-hand-drive only; max 8 years old.

Kei car· KeijidoushaCountry

Japanese light-vehicle class: under 660cc engine, max 3.4m length. Tax-advantaged in Japan, popular for export to Africa and Caribbean.

LCL / FCLShipping

Less than Container Load / Full Container Load. Vehicles are almost always FCL; LCL is used for boxed parts and accessories.

LCTCountry

Australia's Luxury Car Tax, 33% on the portion of value above the luxury threshold (different for fuel-efficient vs other cars).

Left-hand conversionCountry

Mechanical conversion of RHD to LHD (or vice versa). Cheap kits are not safe and many countries reject them; factory LHD is always preferable.

Letter of Credit (L/C)Payments

Bank-issued payment instrument guaranteeing payment to exporter upon presentation of shipping documents. Adds 1-2% in bank fees but reduces risk on first orders.

Mileage certificateInspection

Document attesting odometer reading at time of export, derived from shaken records and dealer auction sheet. Required by Kenya, Mozambique, Sri Lanka.

Negotiation (Shoudan)Auctions

Post-auction private deal with the seller when a car fails to reach reserve. Slower but often the cheapest way to secure a desirable unit.

NOVA (UK)Country

Notification of Vehicle Arrival, HMRC online declaration within 14 days of UK import. Required before DVLA registration.

Number-plate auctionRegistration

UAE and Singapore custom plate auctions can run into millions. Not part of standard import cost, opt-in.

OMVCountry

Singapore Open Market Value, LTA-assessed reference value used as base for ARF; not the invoice.

Packing listDocuments

Itemised list of cargo inside a container (vehicle + parts). Required for customs when shipping with spares stuffed inside.

Pre-shipment inspection (PSI)Inspection

Mandatory inspection performed at origin (Japan) by an authorised body before shipment, evidenced by a certificate the destination customs requires.

PreVOC / PVoCInspection

Pre-Verification of Conformity, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda require a Certificate of Conformity from an approved inspector (Intertek, Bureau Veritas, SGS) before shipment.

Proforma invoiceTrade

Preliminary invoice issued before payment showing vehicle, chassis number, CIF terms and total. Used for bank wire and import permits.

QISJInspection

Quality Inspection Services Japan, alternative pre-shipment inspector accepted by some African markets in place of JEVIC.

Radiation certificateInspection

Some Pacific and African destinations require proof the unit was screened for radioactive contamination at the loading port.

RDLCountry

Railway Development Levy, Kenya (2% CIF) and Tanzania (1.5% CIF) infrastructure levy.

Repaint (P)Auctions

Auction-sheet symbol on the damage map meaning a panel has been repainted. Common on cars over 5 years old; not a defect by itself.

Reserve priceAuctions

Seller's minimum acceptable price. If bids fall short the car is passed in; we may then negotiate.

Returning Resident Relief (Kenya)Schemes

Kenya scheme: returnees who lived abroad for at least 2 years with proof of ownership of at least 12 months can import one car duty-free (engine cap applies).

RHD / LHDCountry

Right-hand drive (steering on the right) or Left-hand drive. Kenya/UAE/Pakistan vary, see each country guide.

Roadworthy certificateRegistration

Destination-country sign-off that the vehicle is safe to drive, issued after post-arrival inspection.

Roll trailer (MAFI)Shipping

Flat trailer that carries non-driveable machinery onto RoRo vessels under a terminal tractor. Used for forklifts, excavators, generators.

RoRoShipping

Roll-on / Roll-off, vehicles are driven onto the vessel under their own power. Fastest and cheapest for single units; minimal protection.

RTACountry

Roads and Transport Authority, UAE's regulator. RTA inspection (Tasjeel) is required before an imported vehicle can be plated.

RTA TasjeelCountry

UAE Roads & Transport Authority's vehicle inspection centres. All imports must pass before plating.

SAD / CUSDECDocuments

Single Administrative Document, the standard customs entry form used across EAC, COMESA and EU territories.

Sea WaybillDocuments

Non-negotiable alternative to a B/L. Cargo can be released to the named consignee without presenting the original document.

SEVSCountry

Australia's Specialist & Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme, list of approved low-volume models eligible for personal import outside the 25-year rule.

Shaken· ShakenInspection

Japan's biennial vehicle inspection. Service stamps from shaken are how we verify a vehicle's mileage and maintenance history.

Shipping line booking no.Shipping

Carrier-issued reference identifying your cargo on a specific vessel sailing. Used for live tracking.

SWIFTPayments

Global interbank messaging network used to route international wires. Our SWIFT BIC is shared with every invoice.

T/T (Telegraphic Transfer)Payments

International wire payment. Standard method for vehicle exports, typically 100% before B/L release, or 30% deposit + 70% before shipping.

Telex releaseDocuments

Electronic B/L release, the shipping line emails proof of release to the destination agent instead of couriering the original. Faster, no courier cost.

THCShipping

Terminal Handling Charge, the destination port's fee for unloading the unit from the vessel and moving it to the yard. Typically 10-14% of freight.

TIMSCountry

Kenya's NTSA Transport Integrated Management System used for online vehicle registration after clearance.

TORSchemes

Transfer of Residence, duty-relief scheme in some countries (e.g. Pakistan, Kenya) for nationals returning home with personal effects, including a vehicle.

TOR1 (UK)Schemes

Transfer of Residence relief application, UK returnees who owned & used the vehicle for at least 6 months abroad get duty + VAT relief if not sold within 12 months.

TransshipmentShipping

Cargo transferred from one vessel to another mid-journey (e.g. Singapore or Jebel Ali hubs). Adds 7-14 days vs direct sailing.

TUVCountry

Germany's technical inspection, required to register an imported vehicle. Other EU states have equivalents (Italy MCTC, France DREAL).

USS / TAA / HAA / JUAuctions

Main Japanese auto-auction networks. USS is the largest (run by USS Co. Ltd.); TAA is Toyota-affiliated; HAA Kobe is large in west Japan; JU is dealer-cooperative.

Vessel ETAShipping

Estimated Time of Arrival of the carrier vessel at your discharge port. We share the booking number so you can track in real time.

Vessel name & voyage no.Shipping

Identifies the specific ship and rotation, e.g. M/V Glovis Courage 045A. Needed for terminal arrival lookups.

VIN plateDocuments

Manufacturer's plate riveted to the chassis showing chassis number, engine, build date and weights. Customs photographs this at inspection.

WoF / Compliance (NZ)Country

Warrant of Fitness + Entry Certification, NZ's two-step roadworthiness and import-compliance check.