Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Tokyo to Prague

Japan's "3-year car rule" refers to the mandatory, costly vehicle inspection called Shaken, where a new car's first inspection is due three years after registration, with subsequent inspections every two years, making older cars expensive to keep and boosting new car sales, often leading to trade-ins around the three-year mark. This strict system ensures high safety standards and creates a steady supply of well-maintained used cars for export, say www.alibaba.com and Japanese Nostalgic Car.

Driving is usually cheaper for shorter distances (under 500 miles), but for long cross-country moves (over 1,000 miles), shipping can become comparable or even cheaper when factoring in gas, food, lodging, and wear-and-tear on your vehicle, making driving better for short trips and shipping often better for long, busy, or difficult trips. The decision balances cost, time, and convenience, as shipping saves you time and adds miles/wear, while driving costs less upfront but adds stress and expenses.

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.