Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Tokyo to Houston, Texas

As your car enters the port warehouse, the vehicle is prepped for shipment. Then as the ship leaves the port, you will receive a Bill of Lading and notification with the ETA. How long does it take to import a car from Japan to the USA? Shipping a car from Japan will take on average 8-10 weeks.

Japan's "3-year car rule" refers to the mandatory, costly vehicle inspection called Shaken, where new passenger cars first get a 3-year certificate, then renew every 2 years, encouraging frequent car replacement and boosting the used car export market, rather than a strict scrapping law. This system, along with higher taxes on older cars, makes it economically sensible for many owners to trade in before major maintenance, creating a large supply of relatively young used vehicles.

Importing a vehicle on your own is extremely easy and economical. There are two ways to import, informal and formal entry. If the commercial value is less than $2,500 the entire do-it-yourself informal entry process, including the filing of all documents, customs fees, and duty can be done for under $150!