Car auctions in Japan are like no other car auction you’ve seen. You probably already know that Japan exports a lot of vehicles. Despite the economic downturn, they are still one of the top car manufacturing countries in the world.
What you may not know is that on almost every day of the week in Japan, thousands and thousands of cars are being sold at auctions all over the country. In one auction house alone, there can be as many as ten thousand cars available on the day of the auction. The variety of makes and models that are availble every week is truly mind boggling.
Where do the cars come from? The vast majority of them are from average people who are trying to sell off their current car in the easiest possible way. Japanese people have a lot of incentive to get rid of their old car because of a biannual inspection called Shaken. These inspections get expensive when their car gets older, and people in Japan have a tendency to prefer new over used items.
Are the cars any good? Japanese people tend to keep their cars in pristine condition, washing and maintaining them fastidiously. The cars are usually in very good condition. On top of that, the mileage on the cars tend to be very low compared to other countries due to the crowded and narrow roads. The auctions are a good way for the Japanese to sell their used cars, and many people overseas in countries such as Australia, UK, and New Zealand often import them and resell the cars at a profit.
How do you know the cars are reliable? Independent inspections are done that show every detail about the car so that buyers know what they are getting is reliable. The inspectors have a great reputation for accuracy, and the inspection themselves are much more strict than other countries. Diagrams and charts on the inspection sheet let the buyer know everything about the car in great detail, including even the tiniest scratch or mark.
What is bidding like? The auctions are incredibly fast and take about a minute. All the participants have an individual station that lets them bid via a handheld clicker. In fact, these days it’s possible to bid from home via the internet if you have the right equipment. As bidders click their buttons the price runs up. Many times sellers will impose a price that the highest bid must reach or the car will not sell. This is called a reserve price. When no one is clicking the button anymore, the auction is over.
What do you do if you have the highest bid? It’s time to buy the car! If you are exporting the car, there will be some more work you need to do. When exporting, transportation from the auction house to the ship needs to be arranged. If you are not exporting, you can have the car as soon as you submit payment.
JDM enthusiast everywhere import cars fresh from Japan all the time. You can learn more about buying and importing, as well as seeing actual auction listings here: Learn More about Japanese Car Auctions