Please be aware that there are restrictions on importing vehicles into Australia. To be eligible, a vehicle must either be listed as a Specialist Enthusiast Vehicle or be over 25 years old. You can find the complete list of approved imports on our website. If the vehicle was manufactured before 1999, it can be imported without restriction under the rolling 25-year rule, including left-hand drive vehicles. If the vehicle you’re interested in isn’t on the approved list and wasn’t originally sold in Australia, there may still be options for importing it. Please contact us for further assistance.

Our fees are calculated based on factors such as the scope of work needed, the vehicle’s location, and its price. Our fee structure varies, ranging from $990 to $9990 AUD. Specifically, for vehicles valued under $30,000, the fee is $1100AUD including GST. For vehicles valued between $30,000 and $60,000, the fee is $1400AUD including GST. For vehicles valued between $60,000 and $90,000, the fee is $1900AUD including GST. For vehicles valued over $90,000, fees are determined on a case-by-case basis, with a maximum fee of $9990 AUD for vehicles exceeding $200,000 AUD in value.

Determining the exact selling price of a particular vehicle is unpredictable. We can only offer a precise estimate based on prevailing market conditions and our extensive experience in sourcing vehicles from Japan. Hence, we advise all our clients to maintain a budget within $10,000 of the current market price in Australia. The selling price of a vehicle is influenced by various factors, including the auction reserve price, mileage, auction grading, overall condition, transmission type, and modifications.

Expected expenses, illustrated with the example of a pre-2000 year vehicle we imported, are as follows:

Pre-2000 vehicles necessitate asbestos testing, exclusively conducted at the Osaka port. The testing fee is $350 AUD, and if asbestos is detected, a $75 AUD charge is incurred for removal, in addition to the cost of replacing the affected part at cost price. Additional expenses may include transportation costs from the auction house to Osaka.
Luxury Car Tax applies at a rate of 33% for every dollar exceeding $76,950 AUD.
Please be aware that our breakdown does not encompass Roadworthy Certificate (RWC), Registration, or Stamp Duty expenses, as these vary across states. These costs are separate from compliance costs.

Are you seeking assistance in purchasing vehicles from dealers or available stock in Japan? We’re more than capable of aiding you in this endeavor. If you come across a vehicle listed for sale on platforms like Goonet, Beforward, Carfromjapan, and similar sites, we can not only facilitate the purchase but also negotiate discounted prices. It’s common for vehicles on these platforms to be inflated in price due to associated fees. By directly engaging with dealers, we often secure significant discounts from the advertised prices. Our services extend to vehicle inspection, export and import arrangements, and ensuring compliance for road use in Australia.

We can only import vehicles with “minimal” modifications. Anything highly modified will not pass compliance in Australia.

“Minimal” meaning

• Rims
• Coilovers
• Front Mount Intercooler
• Exhaust

If you are wanting to import a heavily modified vehicle we can import it under the race/rally criteria for use in racing and track events only. You can import it under this rule and return it to stock to have it complied in the future.

No. It is a step-by-step process and your payment will be divided in a few installments throughout the process.

Step 1 – Pay Our Deposit Fee $1190
Step 2 – Pay 50% of the total cost when a car has been won in the auction/purchased from dealer
Step 3 – Pay rest of the 50% when the car arrives in a port in Australia.
Please note it does not include RWC, Rego and Stamp duty.

Certainly! We’re able to provide assistance with financing.

We can help source your vehicle from Japan.

It takes around 12-16 weeks for a vehicle to be on the road in Australia once it has been purchased from auction in Japan.

We have contacts around the globe and can have vehicles inspected no matter the location.

We send the auction listings for your desired vehicle each night through our Facebook business page or Whatsapp, we have found this is the quickest method. We cannot grant our clients direct access to the auction system, we pay a premium for exclusive access. If you prefer to recieve the listings by email or text please let us know.

In Japanese auctions, the bidding window lasts only 10-40 seconds, leaving no time for discussion; thus, our clients must set a maximum budget for their chosen vehicle and hope to secure the vehicle below the max bid amount. Auctions feature multiple “lanes” where cars are put up for auction approximately every 20 to 30 seconds throughout an extensive 8 to 12-hour period; furthermore, a significant number of bidders participate remotely, not physically present at the auction site.

Auction Grades Explained

Motor Imports AU has a minimum standard of 3.5 grading for the vehicles they purchase unless the client is willing to purchase a lower grade.

5 – a car that looks brand new and has no blemishes.
4.5 – excellent condition and could pass for a new one, with only minor imperfections that only the most meticulous buyer would notice.
4 – indicates a vehicle with better-than-average wear and tear, in clean overall condition despite a few minor marks.
3.5 – cars with normal wear and tear based on their age and mileage, and may need some cosmetic work such as paint touch-ups or minor repairs to interior parts.
3 – Vehicle is in very poor overall condition. Expect paint fade, smokers smell, scratching, rust, chassis cutting and more.
R – Repaired vehicles: Most sports cars produced before 2000, such as Skylines, Silvias, RX7s, Chasers, etc., are repaired vehicles in Japan. Repairs can range from minor alterations like cutting the radiator support for a front-mount intercooler to significant front-end damage. These vehicles will always be cheaper and sometimes worth considering if the damage is not significant.
A – represents a brand new car with no signs of wear or tear.
B – is very clean and has better-than-average wear and tear.
C – signifies a car with typical wear and tear based on its age and mileage, which may include some marks or tears on the seats. However, significant issues are usually mentioned separately in the auction notes.
D – denotes a car that is very rough or has been stripped as part of a weight loss program for racing.
E – indicates an interior that is in extremely poor condition. Dash cracks, smokers smell, sticky or melting plastics.

We use Top Secret Compliance and their subsidiaries for compliance. We can help comply vehicles in any state.

If you have any questions about the registration or compliance process please contact us.

Rust & Corrosion remain significant worries for buyers, yet with the right knowledge, they can be effectively circumvented. Firstly, by avoiding purchases from north Japan, and secondly, by relying on a well-trained team capable of physically inspecting vehicles with a keen eye for identifying potential issues.

In the past 3 years of importing cars to Australia, we have never purchased a vehicle that couldn’t meet compliance standards.

Japanese cars undergo an annual roadworthy/warrant of fitness examination, ensuring they are in optimal condition and comply with safety and emission regulations. For Australian buyers, this offers the advantage of having the government document odometer readings annually, providing a level of assurance that is not easily attainable when purchasing cars within Australia. We don’t buy vehicles that show any signs of odometer tampering.

The luxury car tax in Australia has just increased for the 2023-24 Financial year. It is $89,332 for non performance vehicles and $76,950 for performance vehicles.
For every dollar over these amounts you pay a 33% tax. Example below:

Step 1: work out the LCT value:

Customs value of the car is $90,000
Add GST applied at import is $9,000 (10% of $90,000)
Add import costs (GST inclusive) of $2,500
$101,500 (LCT value).

Step 2: calculate the LCT (LCT value − LCT threshold) × 10 ÷ 11 × 33%:

($101,500 − $76,950) × 10 ÷ 11 × 33%
$24,550× 10 ÷ 11 × 33%
$7,365

A deposit of $1190 AUD is required to secure the services of Motor Imports AU. The balance of our fee is payable upon securing the vehicle and you paying the seller for said vehicle. The total fee is based upon the final price of the vehicle and the country we are importing it from. Our fee is nonrefundable.

What’s your car worth? Receive the absolute best value for your trade-in vehicle. We even handle all paperwork. Schedule your appointment today!