Japan auction import · US pilot
We bid at Japanese auctions for you.
Most of Japan's best used cars sell at dealer-only auctions such as USS. Tell us what you want and your maximum bid; we send you matching lots with the auction sheet, bid only with your approval, and export and ship the car to the US.
Japan auction import is opening soon. You can post a regular "find me a car" request in the meantime.
Find me a car instead- 1
Your request
Model, years, grade, mileage and your maximum hammer price. Only cars that can be imported to the US now (25-year rule).
- 2
Quote and deposit
Our service fee, export and deposit up front. The deposit is paid to the exporting company on its invoice.
- 3
Lots for you
Before each auction you get matching lots privately: photos, translated auction sheet and expected price.
- 4
You approve, we bid
You set a maximum for each lot. We never bid above it. Not won? We keep looking.
- 5
Export and ship
Won cars are exported, shipped and tracked on your order page through US customs to you.
What you pay
- Hammer price (at most your maximum)
- Auction fees, inland transport and export paperwork
- Ocean freight and marine insurance
- US duty (2.5% cars, 25% trucks and vans), customs fees and broker
- Service fee — fixed in your quote before you pay anything
Every cost is shown in your quote and order before you pay; there are no add-ons later. Estimates are not customs determinations.
Deposit and bidding rules
- We bid only on lots you approved and never above your maximum.
- Full deposit refund if no car is won within the quoted time.
- A car won at or below your maximum is a binding purchase; if you then cancel, only documented costs actually incurred are kept.
- You pay the exporting company's account on its invoice only. MOTORAVI never asks you to pay a personal account and never sends bank details in chat.
Who you buy from
Auction import is run by a verified Japanese export company on MOTORAVI; its name is shown here and on your quote before you commit.
How to read a Japanese auction sheet
Every car at a Japanese dealer auction is inspected by the auction house before the sale. The sheet gives an overall grade, an interior grade and a map of marks on the body. With each lot we send you the sheet and its translation.
Overall grade
- S
- New or nearly new — registered recently, very low mileage.
- 6
- Near-new condition.
- 5
- Excellent — like new, hardly any marks.
- 4.5
- Excellent — very few small marks.
- 4
- Good — minor marks and wear for its age.
- 3.5
- Average — visible marks; some repairs may be needed.
- 3
- Below average — noticeable wear or repairs needed.
- 2
- Poor — significant wear, corrosion or damage.
- 1
- Very poor — heavily modified; flood or fire damage possible.
- RA
- Minor repaired accident damage.
- R
- Repaired accident history.
- 0
- As-is / not graded.
Interior grade
- A
- Excellent
- B
- Good
- C
- Average, some wear
- D
- Poor
- E
- Very poor
Damage codes on the body map
A letter for the kind of mark and a number for its size: 1 = small, 2 = medium, 3 = large. Example: A2 is a medium scratch, U1 a small dent.
- A
- Scratch
- U
- Dent
- B
- Dent with scratch
- W
- Repair mark / paint wave
- S
- Rust
- C
- Corrosion
- Y
- Crack or hole
- P
- Paint damage
- H
- Faded paint
- X
- Needs replacement
- XX
- Replaced
- G
- Stone chip in glass
Grades describe the car on the day of the auction and differ slightly between auction houses. They are not a guarantee; ask for more photos or a fresh inspection before you bid.
Import eligibility and costs are estimates, not legal or customs determinations. Confirm with US Customs and Border Protection or a licensed customs broker.