Import a vehicle
A clearer path from a Japanese vehicle search to Australia.
Start with the vehicle you are looking for. Motor Imports AU helps explore suitable options in Japan and guides customers through the purchase and import stages that apply.
- Your brief
- The vehicle, specification and priorities that matter.
- The search
- Suitable vehicles and auction opportunities in Japan.
- The journey
- Guidance through the applicable import stages.
The import journey
From your brief to the road ahead.
Each import is shaped by the vehicle, the sourcing opportunity and the approval pathway that applies. This is a practical overview rather than a fixed schedule.
Shape the vehicle brief
Define the model, variant, specification, intended use and priorities that will guide the search.
Search suitable opportunities
Explore relevant vehicles and auction opportunities in Japan, with the search focused on the agreed brief.
Review the available information
Consider the specification, documentation and other information available for a suitable vehicle. The information provided can differ between vehicles and sales channels.
Decide whether to bid or purchase
If a suitable option is identified, the next step may involve an auction bid or another purchase channel. Availability and outcomes are never guaranteed.
Approval, shipping and import
The applicable import approval must be granted before the vehicle is imported. Once the pathway is confirmed, the relevant shipping and import arrangements can follow.
Compliance and registration guidance
Work through any applicable compliance or Register of Approved Vehicles requirements, then the separate registration requirements in the relevant state or territory.
The sequence, information required and work involved can vary depending on the vehicle, approval pathway and individual circumstances.
Before the search
What helps us begin.
You do not need every detail settled before the first conversation. A useful starting brief usually covers:
- The make, model, variant or year range you have in mind
- Essential specifications, features or intended use
- Where you have flexibility and what is non-negotiable
- The Australian state or territory where the vehicle is intended to be registered
Any documents or additional information needed later will depend on the vehicle, the approval pathway and who is making the relevant application.
Eligibility and approvals
Confirm the pathway before the vehicle is imported.
Australian Government guidance requires an import approval before a road vehicle is imported into Australia. The appropriate application type and supporting evidence depend on the vehicle and circumstances.
A vehicle being listed on the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicles Register is a first step in one pathway; the listing itself is not permission to import. Other approval, compliance and state or territory registration requirements may apply.
This page provides a general overview only. It is not legal or regulatory advice, and current requirements should be confirmed for the specific vehicle and circumstances.
Read Australian Government vehicle import guidanceStart the conversation
Ready to discuss the vehicle you are looking for?
Share the vehicle, specification and priorities you have in mind as the starting point for an import discussion.