Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Yokohama to Buenos Aires

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 your time, food, lodging, and significant vehicle wear-and-tear, making driving less cost-effective despite lower upfront gas costs. The decision balances direct fuel savings against the hidden costs and time commitment of a long drive, with shipping offering convenience and preserving your car's mileage and condition.

For Private importers: The private package is $2400 NZD plus Clean Car tax and any GST applied if the vehicle is shipped to any of the main ports and delivered within the metropolitan area. If delivery is out of the metropolitan areas, there will be extra transport charges applicable.