Japan's best vehicles, sourced and shipped to your door.
A family trading house with over seventy years in Japan. We buy from the country's major auto auctions, inspect every unit ourselves, and ship to nine regions across six continents — from Africa and the Caribbean to the Americas, Asia and Europe.
Why buyers choose us
- Direct access to 100,000+ auction vehicles every week
- Every unit inspected by our own mechanic before loading
- Clear FOB / CIF quotes — no hidden margins
- Documents couriered before your car arrives
- Same family, same phone number, since 1954
Any vehicle on the Japanese market — we find it.
Japanese used car exporter — coupes, sedans, vans, wagons, SUVs, MUVs and trucks. We don't sell from a fixed lot: you tell us what you need and we source it from Japan's auctions and dealer network at the right price and grade.
Sedans & hatchbacks
Corolla, Axio, Fit, Note, Aqua — the everyday cars every market wants.
SUVs & 4WD
Harrier, RAV4, CX-5, X-Trail, Land Cruiser, Prado — for any terrain.
Vans & minibuses
HiAce, Noah, Voxy, Sienta, Serena — fleet and family workhorses.
Trucks & machinery
Dyna, Elf, Canter, Hino — plus construction equipment on request.
Buy in 5 easy steps
From deposit to driving away — the whole process, start to finish.
- 01
Advance deposit
A 100% refundable deposit — it simply avoids last-minute cancellations once a vehicle is bought.
- 02
Place bid
Search the live auction and send us your bid request. We bid on your behalf in the Japanese auto auction.
- 03
Full payment
Bid won — congratulations. Transfer the balance as per our invoice to our Japan bank account or Wise.
- 04
Shipment
We arrange the next available sailing and prepare all documentation once payment is received.
- 05
Receive vehicle
Collect your vehicle and complete customs clearance at your destination port. Enjoy your car.
We were exporting from Kobe before most of our competitors existed.
Imperial Motors grew out of Imperial Trading Co. Ltd., founded in 1954 by Mr. B.S. Sethi. Generations later, the same family answers the phone — small in people, big in service.
- 1954 Imperial Trading Co. Ltd. founded in Kobe
- 1990s Focus shifts to used Japanese vehicle export
- Today Auction member, licensed dealer, shipping to six continents
Direct access to Japan's auto auctions.
Over 100,000 vehicles cross Japan's auction halls every week. Register for free, get verified by our team, and browse the live auction view yourself — then we inspect and bid on your behalf.
- ✓ Live listings with auction grade sheets
- ✓ Transparent auction fees, itemized
- ✓ Access approved within one business day
From Kobe to six continents.
Regular RoRo and container sailings to the ports our customers use. Hover a region to see its routes.
Africa
Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Walvis Bay, Beira
4–7 WEEKS · RHD & LHD4–7 WEEKSCaribbean
Kingston, Bridgetown, Port of Spain, Georgetown
6–8 WEEKS · CONTAINER CONSOLIDATION6–8 WEEKSSouth America
Iquique (Chile), Callao (Peru), Bolivia & Paraguay via Chile
5–7 WEEKS · LHD MARKETS5–7 WEEKSNorth America
Los Angeles, Vancouver, Halifax — JDM classics for collectors
3–5 WEEKS · 25-YR (US) / 15-YR (CA) RULES3–5 WEEKSOceania
Suva, Lautoka, Port Moresby, Honiara, Auckland
3–5 WEEKS · REGULAR RORO3–5 WEEKSSouth Asia
Karachi, Colombo, Chittagong
3–4 WEEKS · RHD MARKETS3–4 WEEKSMiddle East
Dubai (Jebel Ali) and onward to the Gulf
3–4 WEEKS · LHD3–4 WEEKSEurope
Southampton, Dublin, Limassol, Valletta, Poti
6–9 WEEKS · RHD MARKETS, IVA GUIDANCE6–9 WEEKSRussia & Central Asia
Vladivostok, onward to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia
1–2 WEEKS · SUBJECT TO CURRENT REGULATIONS1–2 WEEKS
A licensed motor vehicle dealer in Japan.
Imperial Motors holds a motor vehicle dealer permit (自動車商) issued by the Hyogo Prefectural Public Safety Commission — the plate every legitimate Japanese dealer must display. Buy from a registered company, not a middleman.
Permit No. 631210900027Answers before you ask.
Stock, payment, auction access, shipping times — the things every buyer asks first.
Do you have vehicles in stock?
We source to order rather than hold a fixed lot. That means you get the exact vehicle, grade and budget you want from over 100,000 auction listings a week — not whatever happens to be in a yard.
How does the auction access work?
Register for free on our auction platform (auc.imperialmotors.co.jp) with your name, company, country and phone. Our team verifies you — usually within one business day — and once approved you log in and browse the live auction listings yourself. Send us the lot numbers you like; we inspect, advise on grade, and bid on your behalf.
How do I pay?
Bank transfer (T/T) to our Mizuho Bank account in Kobe, or Wise in GBP or EUR. All details are published on the Payment page. We never accept payment to personal accounts and we never change bank details by email.
What is the difference between FOB and CIF?
FOB covers the vehicle and all Japan-side costs up to loading; you arrange shipping. CIF adds sea freight and insurance so the price is delivered to your port. Every quote is itemized so you can see each cost.
How long does shipping take?
Typically 3–8 weeks depending on destination: about 1–2 weeks to Vladivostok, 3–5 weeks to Oceania, North America and South Asia, 4–7 weeks to Africa, 6–9 weeks to Europe and the Caribbean. See the Shipping page for the full table.
"Never delayed shipping, the car arrived exactly as described. A company you can deal with for years."Repeat customer — Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Tell us the car. We'll handle the rest.
Send your request and get a quote to your port, usually within one business day.