What You Need To Be Aware Of When Buying a Used Import Car

Japan is well-known globally for producing high-quality vehicles, which explains the number of imported Japanese used cars on our roads in New Zealand. In 2021 alone, there were over 160,000 used Japanese cars imported into New Zealand and in 2022, this trend is set to continue.

Buying a used imported car can be beneficial. You can sometimes get an almost new vehicle and pay less than buying a new one in NZ and there can be other vehicle models to choose from that are not available locally.

However, you do need to do your research when buying a used import to ensure your new car meets your expectations, as they may not be as good as they seem.

Here’s what you should look out for when you are considering a used import as your new set of wheels.

Import Grading

When a used vehicle is sold at auction to a foreign buyer, such as a car dealer, it comes with a detailed auction sheet about the vehicle's condition. This sheet provides an overview of the car's interior and exterior physical condition.

Here's a breakdown of each grade:

Grades 7, 8, 9 or S: these refer to a brand new vehicle with only delivery mileage.

Grade 6: similar to above but the vehicle may have a little more than just delivery mileage.

Grade 5: the vehicle is nearly as good as new and is in mint condition. It has low mileage, no physical faults, and has all original body parts.

Grade 4.5: the car is slightly used and has insignificant faults in one panel. The car is in excellent condition. It's hardly possible to notice the small marks.

Grade 4: the car is in great condition but with dents and scratches from everyday use. Typically, it has minor faults in more than one panel.

Grade 3.5: the vehicle has noticeable imperfections from normal wear and tear. It's in average condition with dents and scratches visible.

Grade 3: the car has dents and scratches in almost every panel. The vehicle is possibly rusty and has worn-out components. It needs significant paint and panel work as well as interior upgrades.

Grade 2: the vehicle has serious panel damages and is badly corroded.

Grade 1: the car has significant performance problems and is not far from becoming scrap.

Grade RA or A1: has been in a minor accident. Repaired to a good standard.

Grade R or A: has been in an accident and had some parts repaired or replaced.

When buying a Japanese import, it's best to look for grades 4 and above, so check with the seller before committing.

All used cars, including used imports must also have an accurate and complete Consumer Information Notice (CIN) displayed by the dealership. As well as the usual vehicle information – make, model, year, engine capacity, fuel type, etc. the CIN for used imports will include:

• the year the vehicle was first registered overseas
• the country where the vehicle was last registered before being imported
• whether the vehicle was recorded as damaged at the time of being imported.

For extra peace of mind, you should also get your own pre-purchase inspection done from a qualified mechanic or the AA before handing over your hard-earned cash.

Service History and Previous Inspections

Regardless of the grade, it's crucial to know the vehicle's service history. The service history helps you establish how well a car has been looked after, and as a result, you’ll avoid any costly surprises from performance or repair issues. For that reason, you should always ask for the written maintenance records when buying a used import.

However, often used imports from Japan don’t come with traceable service history, unlike new NZ vehicles. That's because vehicle ownership periods in Japan are much shorter than in NZ, so the necessity to maintain the car isn't as great.

If you don’t have the traceable service history, get a thorough mechanical inspection from a reputable mechanic or service centre. Your mechanic will help you identify hidden problems and possible future maintenance needs.

Odometer Readings

A car's odometer reading shows the mileage or kilometers the car has travelled and is often used to help establish the value of the car - the lower the km, the higher the price. If the odometer reading is suspiciously low, ask the seller or dealer to verify the readings. If they can't verify the readings, you should be cautious about buying the vehicle since suspiciously low odometer readings are a huge red flag.

Smoking

In 2019, about 17% of adults or 17.8 million people in Japan were smokers. The residual odours and the chemicals of smoking inside a vehicle affects the vehicle's interior.

If you’re allergic or consider this a health hazard, thoroughly inspect the car before you sign on the dotted line. If in doubt, find those dealerships that specify whether or not the previous owner smoked in the vehicle.

Service Manuals, Navigation Systems, and Japanese Radios

A used import car will come with a Japanese service manual, which can be very inconvenient when something goes wrong with the car or you want to check-up on something. Google Translate can be helpful for small sections, otherwise you can pay a fee to get the service manual translated online.

Another thing to consider is the navigation system. In most cases, Japanese navigation systems can't be reprogrammed for NZ because the system is country-specific. This may not be a big deal as you can use Maps on a mounted smartphone or buy a portable GPS. Used car imports are also fitted with a Japanese car radio which, without modification, only receives some New Zealand radio stations as the band width finishes at 90MHz.

For a charge, you can buy a band expander to fit to your aerial to enable you to receive your local radio station. The radio frequency on your car audio display will still show as incorrect though. It is recommended you replace your car radio with one designed for New Zealand as they have been found to cause harmful interference to sensitive two way radio systems at airports and other important radio infrastructure.

You can seamlessly play your CD's music selection on the vehicle's stereo since there are no restrictions between Japanese and NZ CDs and if you see 'AUX' 'iPod' or 'USB' written anywhere on the stereo, chances are you can locate a manual connection point. If there's none, you may need to buy a cable that connects to the vehicle you've purchased.

Safety Requirement & Specification Differences

A vehicle's safety requirements in Japan are different from New Zealand's, which is why it pays to check the specifications of the vehicle you are looking at against the equivalent model sold new in New Zealand.

For example, many used Swifts from Japan are imported with only two airbags, as opposed to a new Swift sold in New Zealand that come with six airbags.

On top of that, used imports from northern Japan can come fitted with snow tyres, which are unsuitable for New Zealand roads and warmer temperatures as they don't provide grip for windy roads, driving on wet surfaces or above 7 degrees Celsius. To find out if the car you are looking at has snow tyres, look for the snowflake symbol or the word ‘studless’ on the side of the tyre or ask the selling dealer. You will then need to factor in the cost of replacing all of the tyres to those more suitable for general road use.

Repairs and Parts

Another challenge with buying a used import, especially one that is not a popular model in New Zealand, is the cost and supply of spare parts. If the vehicle is not sold new here, you will have to rely on used or imported spare parts for repairs. Spare parts can be hard to locate, making it really inconvenient when something does go wrong and the costs can mount up when you have to bring in the necessary parts from overseas.

With cars relying more and more on computer systems, using a mechanic or service centre that is familiar with your type of car is essential. The more unique your used import is the more difficulty you may find in locating someone familiar with your car.

How to Identify If a Car Is a Used Import

Knowing whether or not a car is a used import is easy. Check the CIN card on display at the dealership. If the car is registered already, look at the date to the right where the vehicle's make and model are listed on the vehicle’s license label. This date shows the vehicle's first registration in New Zealand. If the date is later than the car's assembly year, the vehicle is a used import.

Follow these tips so you know what you’re expecting when buying a Japanese used import. After all, you don't want a car that will become a pain in the neck and a money-burner not long after purchasing!

If you’re on the hunt for a brand new vehicle, download our detailed Guide to Buying a New Car today!