YES!

In my case, it was cheaper. And not once, but twice!

For my 2007 Honda Fit and my 2008 Honda Fit.

Here’s a quick comparison chart to compare local Honda Fits and imported JDM RHD Honda Fits.

In my case, my 2007 Yellow GD3 Honda Fit in CVT after everything was $600 less than the average price with a whopping 130,000km less than the average marketplace car!

Would it be cheaper for you? Let’s break it down!

Here are FIVE items to consider when comparing local vs. imported cars.

1. COST OF THE CAR
2. LOCAL MARKET
3. LAW REGULATIONS
4. SHIPPING
5. INSURANCE

1- COST OF THE CAR

Japan's Regulations make owning older cars unattractive, flooding the used car market with vastly depreciated JDM cars for our benefit!

Keep in mind the current exchange rates and the deals might swing even more in your favor. Our CAD dollar is strong against the JPY right now.

I love visiting JDMWholesale.com. The currency is in CAD and you don’t get inspection sheets but it gives you a good baseline when you eventually search the car auctions. You can get results quickly using the filter and have a good sense of availability. 

The $/mileage is very high compared to North America, making bargains easier to come by.

2- LOCAL MARKET

Think about everyone’s "favourite" used marketplace, Facebook Marketplace. Even when you add an extra $1000 (for shipping/modifications/registration), the $/mileage is STILL very good.

You can even compare JDM vehicles already available in your area. These still command a “JDM Tax '' that can be avoided if you buy direct from Japan - as long as you’re ready to wait for shipping.

If you’re looking for a car that’s 25 years or older, you can also consider shopping in the U.S. as the next steps are the same - but I’ve yet to see prices cheaper than in Japan.

3- SHIPPING

Time to leave Japan! Cars come in by boat with packaged pricing that includes insurance and customs. I’ve tried deciphering the numbers and two steps-in with export certificate and bill of lading brings a dizzying amount of options. I’ll leave that to the professionals. 

Once at the closest port city, you can pick up your car from a customs broker or have it shipped directly to you in one fell swoop.

For MOST people the simplest and cheapest way is to have it shipped home by truck. If you have some free time and you’re willing to jump through some hoops, you can save a few hundred bucks and enjoy your first drive taking it back yourself.

Some notes to consider:

• Can your tires and basic fluids make the trip?
• You’ll need insurance and an “in-transit permit” to drive the vehicle
• You’ll need to shell out some cash to get to the customs broker (flights/uber/gas/food)

In the end, for my second import, I paid half what it would cost to ship for my first import and enjoyed a drive through the beautiful Canadian Rockies!

4- LAW REGULATIONS

Where do you live? Google “JDM vehicles [in your area]” to get an idea although I’m willing to bet it’s similar to my Canadian province.

In Alberta, there are strict guidelines for an out-of-province inspection vehicle regardless if it’s RHD or not. Luckily, the entire Inspection Guidelines are made available online!

My first Honda Fit required modifications to my headlights, tail lights and reflectors. My 2nd Honda Fit only required a Daytime Running Light kit to be installed. 

I strongly advise going with an inspector with a reputation for JDM RHD inspections. My experience with highly rated garages but new to JDM vehicles added headaches and wasted time.

5- INSURANCE

One point that may be overlooked is car insurance. Like any car, I recommend shopping for car insurance to get a ballpark figure before purchasing a vehicle and more so for an imported JDM RHD car.

Some notes:

• Cars that have Canada/US twins will be easier to shop for but any car can be insured as long as the underwriter approves
• 25 Year Old cars and older may qualify for “Classic Car Insurance”
• Instead of VINs to identify cars, Japan uses Serial #’s which makes applications tricky
• Some insurance companies require a full inspection, omits them from consideration if you plan to drive the car home as soon as it lands

As someone who resides in Alberta, Canada, I’ve had luck with Intact Insurance and TD Insurance. I wanted to go with Hagerty Canada for their car enthusiast approach, but they only insure classic cars (25+Years or older). Do you guys know of any JDM RHD Car insurance specialists?

I recommend applying for car insurance as SOON as you receive your “Bill of Sale” from Japan so that the insurance clears before the shipping vessel arrives on your shores. The VIN vs. Serial # causes some friction and needs to be handled manually by an agent.

When all is said and done, you’re the proud new owner of a JDM RHD Vehicle for a bargain!

If this helped you import a car of your own, let us know! We want to see your ride!