Buying a used car in Japan has more paperwork than most countries, but it is a fixed sequence. This page shows the whole journey from choosing a car to driving it, what you pay, what you sign, and what Yamaguchi Motors does for you. Everything on this page applies to cars bought for use in Japan. Export buyers follow the export process instead.
Choose your car
Browse the available stock. Every listing shows the price, mileage, Shaken status, auction grade and known condition notes. Cannot find the right one? Ask us to source it from the Japanese auctions.
Ask questions and get your total
Before any payment you can confirm the total for your situation: the vehicle price, what the vehicle’s package includes, registration costs for your address, delivery to your area and the expected timeline. Use “Request final price” on the vehicle page, WhatsApp, LINE or phone. Nothing is charged at this stage.
Buy now — pay in full
Click Buy now — pay in full on the car page. The amount is the total purchase price (支払総額) shown on the page, 10% tax included, paid once in advance by card through Stripe or by bank transfer to our company account. The car is held for you while you pay (about 20 minutes for card, 3 days for a bank transfer). Your purchase is confirmed and the car marked Sold when we verify receipt of the full amount; an unpaid order is not a confirmed purchase. There are no deposits, instalments or balance payments. Purchase & cancellation policy.
Payment
Accepted: card payment through Stripe (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express where supported) and Japanese bank transfer to the Yamaguchi Motors 合同会社 company account. Bank details are shown in your payment request and on your order page, never published on the website. Your order page always shows the total purchase price, payments received and the balance due (¥0 after full payment). Payment details.
Your information
After the full payment is confirmed you complete a short form: registration address, parking address, individual or company, whether the owner and the user are the same person, cash or finance, and delivery or collection. From this we generate your preliminary document checklist. You can also try the checklist now before buying.
Documents
Registered (white-plate) cars and kei (yellow-plate) cars need different documents. We prepare the forms, mark where you sign or stamp, and post the package to your home with a return envelope when physical originals are required. White-plate guide · Kei-car guide · Document center.
Parking
For a registered car, a parking certificate (車庫証明) from the police station covering your parking place is needed before the name transfer in most areas. For a kei car, some cities require a parking notification instead, and many areas require nothing. Own space, rented space or apartment parking each use different proof. Parking guide.
Registration and name transfer
With your documents back, we complete the ownership transfer (名義変更) at the transport bureau or the kei vehicle inspection association for your area, and arrange number plates if your registration area changes. Registration fees and taxes for your address are itemised on your invoice.
Vehicle preparation
Depending on the vehicle’s package: fresh 2-year Shaken inspection, engine oil and filters, and a final workshop check of lights, tyres, warning lights and air conditioning. What is included is listed on each vehicle page under “What your price includes”.
Delivery or collection
Collect in Ota, Gunma, or have the car delivered to your door. Delivery to any address in Japan is free. Delivery is scheduled after registration is complete. Delivery details.
After-sales
Warranty claims, Shaken renewals, servicing, repairs, parts, trade-in and your next car all go through the same team. After-sales support.
Track your purchase
Every purchase gets an order page with a live status: order placed, full payment received, information received, documents being prepared, documents sent, waiting for your documents, documents received, parking process, registration, Shaken and preparation, final check, delivery scheduling, ready, delivered. You receive an e-mail at each important step, so you never need to ask where your car is.
What you will need, in short
Registered car (white plate)
- Registered seal (実印) and seal certificate (印鑑登録証明書, within 3 months)
- Power of attorney (委任状) so we can file for you
- Parking certificate (車庫証明) where your area requires it
- Company buyers: company seal certificate and registry extract
Kei car (yellow plate)
- Certificate of residence (住民票, within 3 months) or seal certificate
- Application request form (申請依頼書) so we can file for you
- No registered seal and no parking certificate at the association
- Parking notification only in designated cities
Questions before you start?
Read the FAQ, the glossary of Japanese car terms, or message us on WhatsApp or LINE. We answer in English, Japanese, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi.
Requirements vary by vehicle type, buyer type and registration address. Yamaguchi Motors confirms your exact requirements before registration. Nothing on this page is legal advice.