Exporting Japanese cars from Japan or the U.S. requires compliance with customs regulations.
Japanese cars are now manufactured in the United States, as well as in Japan. If you plan on moving from either country, or selling your car overseas, you can export your Japanese vehicle by following the customs exporting rules for each country. The required documentation differs slightly, but you can find the forms you need on the Japan Customs or the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol websites. Each site also provides a list of official ports and custom areas, so you can find the closest one to you.
Instructions
Exporting Japanese Cars from Japan
1. Visit the Japan Customs website and read the basic rules for exporting. You or a Customs Broker will need to follow exporting regulations for vehicles.
2. Fill out an Export Declaration, or Customs form C-5010. You can download the proper forms from the Japan Customs website.
3. Create or obtain an invoice for the car, proof of ownership documents and any paperwork required by the country you're shipping it to.
4. Take the car to the nearest Customs or Hozei area for inspection, and present all your documents. After inspection and document authentication, you will be issued an export permit.
5. Make arrangements to ship the vehicle from Japan, and comply with the importing laws of the country you're shipping it to.
Exporting Japanese Cars from the U.S.
6. Visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Customs and Border Patrol website and read all the regulations on the "Exporting a Motor Vehicle" page.
7. Obtain the necessary proof of ownership paperwork for your vehicle. For used Japanese cars, you need a Certificate of Title or a Salvage Title. Originals are preferred, but certified copies of each will work.
8. Obtain a letter of approval from a third-party owner. If your car is still under lien, you need the bank or financing company's written permission to export the vehicle. Obtain a manufacturer's Statement of Origin (SO) for new Japanese vehicles that don't yet have a title.
9. Make shipping arrangements for the car and determine which port you will ship it from. This will depend on where you're shipping the car to, whether to want to ship by air or boat and how much you want to spend. The "Move Cars" link in the Resource section will give you a list of companies that provide this service
10. Present the vehicle and all the necessary paperwork to the customs office at your shipping port at least 72 hours prior to shipping. Contact the port director for specific office hours and any questions about documentation.
11. Ship the car after you receive your documents back from customs. They should be stamped as cleared for export if everything's in order.
