Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Tokyo to Buenos Aires

Japan's "3-year car rule" refers to the mandatory, expensive vehicle inspection called Shaken, where new cars first require this rigorous safety check three years after purchase, then every two years, and annually after ten years, encouraging frequent vehicle replacement and boosting the used car export market due to high costs and taxes, say www.japan-guide.com, Reddit, and Bloomberg.com. This system ensures high road safety standards but leads many owners to scrap older cars rather than pay for extensive repairs, fueling the international market for seemingly newer used vehicles, according to Bloomberg.com, Facebook, and Reddit.

It's usually cheaper to drive for shorter distances, but for long cross-country moves, shipping can become competitive or even cheaper when you factor in the "hidden" costs of driving (gas, hotels, food, wear-and-tear) versus the upfront shipping fee, especially if you're moving with others or have an unreliable car.

Importing a car from Japan costs anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $10,000, depending on the car's price, shipping, and destination country's taxes/fees, with major expenses including the vehicle itself (FOB), ocean freight (around $900-$1500), customs duties (e.g., 3% in the US), VAT (e.g., 20% in the UK), local compliance/registration, and agent fees. Expect costs for a cheaper car to be around $2,000-$5,000 in total, while pricier models add significantly more.