A Japanese used car exporter should be on your list if you are shopping for a second hand car. You could narrow down your list of Japanese used car exporter companies by looking for those who refurbish instead of sell used cars as-is. The difference between the two is that a refurbished car has been fixed up and gone through some work to make it more roadworthy. The refurbished used cars are sold at a higher price so this may be something that may change your mind if you are buying on a tight budget.

Buying used cars as-is should not be dismissed completely. It would really be a big savings for you provided you find the right importer. As in any industry, there are the scalawags and the legitimate. It’s not going to take a full blown investigation to find the reliable importer. The important thing is not to be tempted by cheaper than market prices on used cars.
There are some buyers who don’t want to buy a car that looks like a second-hand unit, and so automatically they should only buy refurbished. Other buyers are more concerned about mechanical soundness and making sure engine-wise, there are no problems.  They relax more on the exterior requirements because they know that over time, the car can be fixed up and spruced to look better under their terms and budget limitations. In some cases, they would even know someone who could fix up the car for a big discount thereby increasing their savings on any modifications they would want done to the car.
The truth is, it’s far better to buy a car that will run perfectly than one that looks perfect. Here are other guidelines for buying from an importer:
  • Know the market value of the car you want to buy
  • Research on resale value in case you want to unload the car after a few years
  • Know where to buy spare parts
  • Have the car inspected by a trusted mechanic
  • Check the history of the car
  • Ask for the import tax receipts and car registration papers. These should be in English
  • Find out the process for having an imported car transferred to your name as new owner and how much it would cost
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