Every term you'll encounter — from auction sheet to homologation.
The inspection report produced by the Japanese auction house for every vehicle. Shows exterior and interior condition grades, chassis number, mileage, accident history, and repair marks. The primary document used to assess a vehicle before purchase.
Japanese auction houses grade vehicles on a scale: S (new), 6, 5, 4.5, 4, 3.5, 3, 2, 1 (heavily damaged). Grade 4 and above is considered good condition. Grade R or RA indicates repaired accident damage. Grade A indicates minor repairs.
The main Japanese vehicle auction networks. USS (Used car System Solutions) is the largest. TAA and JAA operate regional networks. Most premium JDM vehicles pass through these auction houses before export.
Symbols on the auction sheet indicating damage or repairs: A = small scratch/dent, B = medium dent, C = crease/deep dent, U = rust, W = wave/ripple in panel, XX = replaced panel, E = engine problem, T = transmission issue.
Verification of the odometer reading. Japanese auction sheets include a mileage check status — confirmed (確認) or unconfirmed (不明). Always look for confirmed mileage.
Pricing term meaning the seller covers all costs up to loading the vehicle onto the ship at the Japanese port. Buyer is responsible for freight, insurance and all costs from that point. Most auction prices are quoted FOB Japan.
Price includes the vehicle cost and freight to the destination port. Does not include insurance. Buyer assumes risk once cargo is loaded.
Price includes vehicle cost, freight, and marine insurance to the destination port. Seller covers insurance during transit — but risk transfers to buyer at the port.
The official shipping document proving ownership of the cargo. Required to claim the vehicle at the destination port. Released by the shipping company once payment is confirmed.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off): vehicle is driven onto the ship and parked in the hold. Lower cost, slightly higher exposure risk. Container: vehicle is secured inside a shipping container. Higher cost, maximum protection. We use containers for rare or high-value vehicles.
ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival at destination port. ETD = Estimated Time of Departure from Japanese port. Transit time Japan → Europe is typically 4 to 6 weeks depending on route and port.
Vehicles manufactured specifically for sale in Japan. JDM specs often differ from export versions — higher power outputs, different safety systems, Japan-only trim levels, and features never available in European or US markets.
RHD = Right-Hand Drive. The steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle. Standard in Japan, UK, Australia, New Zealand. LHD = Left-Hand Drive. Standard in continental Europe, USA. RHD vehicles are legal to register in most EU countries.
Japan's mandatory vehicle inspection system. Required every 2 years for vehicles over 3 years old. Among the strictest in the world — high standards mean Japanese vehicles are typically very well maintained. A valid Shaken is a strong quality indicator.
Japanese manufacturers use alphanumeric codes to identify engines. Key JDM codes: RB26DETT (Skyline GT-R), 2JZ-GTE (Supra), C32B (NSX), 4G63T (EVO), EJ207 (STi), 13B-REW (RX-7), SR20DET (Silvia), CA18DET (Silvia S13).
Japanese term for mileage/odometer reading. Often abbreviated as 'T/C' on auction sheets. A low tenko combined with a high grade is the ideal combination.
The process of certifying a vehicle meets European road safety and emissions standards. Required to register any imported Japanese vehicle in the EU. Two types: type approval (for models already approved) and individual approval for unique or modified vehicles.
Union Technique de l'Automobile, du motocycle et du Cycle. The French technical approval body responsible for homologating imported vehicles. Required for individual type approval of Japanese imports in France.
Fédération Française des Véhicules d'Epoque. French organization issuing 'collection vehicle' certificates for cars over 30 years old. A FFVE certificate allows registration as a collection vehicle with reduced technical requirements and often more favorable tax treatment.
French ecological penalty tax applied to vehicles with high CO2 emissions or high engine power output. Calculated at time of first registration in France. Can be significant for high-performance JDM imports — we factor this into every import cost estimate.
The period roughly from 1985 to 2005 considered the peak of Japanese performance car production. Defined by the 'Gentleman's Agreement' horsepower limit (276hp), iconic platforms like the R32-R34 Skyline, A80 Supra, NA1 NSX, FD3S RX-7, and EVO/STi rivalry.
An informal agreement between Japanese manufacturers (Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Subaru) to limit all Japanese domestic market cars to 276hp (206kW). In practice, many exceeded this — the R34 GT-R's RB26 made significantly more. The agreement ended in the early 2000s.
Key aftermarket brands from Japan's performance tuning industry: HKS (turbos, exhausts, ECU), Greddy / Trust (turbos, intercoolers), Tomei (cams, exhausts), Rays Engineering (wheels — TE37, Volk), Bride (seats), Cusco (suspension), Nismo / TRD / Mugen / STi (OEM performance).
The winning bid at a Japanese vehicle auction before buyer fees, inland transport, documentation, and export charges. Your landed cost builds on top of this figure.
The all-in budget to put the car on the road: vehicle, auction and export fees, ocean freight, insurance, import duties, VAT, homologation, registration, and final delivery.
Japanese auctions are usually settled in yen. Moves in JPY versus your payment currency between quote and payment can change the final amount — something we account for when we give you a cost breakdown.
Our import process page explains every step in detail — or contact us directly.
