Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Tokyo to San Antonio, 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.

Collection to port (JP): $200–$500. U.S. delivery: Typically $800–$1,200 (distance/equipment dependent). State registration/taxes: Registration $100–$800 plus state/local sales tax ; kei cars and RHD may face state-specific rules. Transport coverage: International coverage typically 0.5–2% of vehicle value.

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.