Shipping Cost from Tbilisi to Tokyo

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.

The "Japan 25-Year Rule" refers to a U.S. law (Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988) that allows vehicles 25 years or older (based on date of manufacture) to be imported without meeting strict U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety/emissions standards, making it easier to import iconic Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) cars like Skylines and Silvias into the U.S. Each month, new Japanese cars turn 25, becoming legal for import, opening up access to a wider range of sought-after models.

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.