At Garage Apex, we specialise in importing cars from Japan to Australia. With our ISO9001 certification as a Registered Automotive Workshop (RAW) and our partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, we ensure the highest standards and seamless adherence to regulations.
We’ve been in the industry for over 20 years, during which we’ve handled the import of more than 500 cars each year. Being a family-operated business, we treat every import like our own and ensure personal care.
Our service doesn’t stop at importing. Once your car arrives, we also provide a Roadworthy Certificate (RWC) and Registration, ensuring you’re all set to drive your new JDM Car on our roads.
Sign up and get started with us! After you’ve settled our broker fee, our team will work with you to understand the exact JDM car you’re looking for. Whether it’s a specific colour, rating or model you have in mind, we’ll search Japan to find the perfect jap car for you.
Once we’ve pinpointed your dream car, the next step is securing the purchase. Rest assured, we only collaborate with reputable and trustworthy sources in Japan. With Garage Apex, you’re not only investing in a car but also in our commitment to quality, transparency, and your peace of mind.
Before your car sets sail from Japan, we ensure it has the required Vehicle Import Approval (VIA) permit. This ensures a smooth entry into Australia as the Australian Border Force Customs Control mandates this approval.
We take care of the entire shipping process to Import your car from Japan to Australia. Once it lands and clears customs, we ensure its prompt delivery to our compliance centre, prepping it for the Vehicle Compliance Inspection.
At our facility, your car undergoes a thorough assessment to ensure it meets Australian standards. After passing this inspection, it’s granted a Vehicle Compliance Plate and receives its Certificate Of Compliance.
The final step to getting your car road-ready! Once compliance is done and dusted, we can facilitate a roadworthiness evaluation and handle the registration details. Soon after, you can pick up your fully registered car, ready to drive on Australian roads!
We have 199 cars on our list that we have approval to import immediately.
If the car you’re looking to import from Japan is not on the list, please contact us and we will let you know if it can be imported.
With car prices in Australia skyrocketing in recent times, many Australians are finding it much more feasible to import vehicles directly from Japan. Not only can they access unique models, but often these cars are in top-notch condition and available at a more affordable price compared to the local market.
The Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS) list indicates which cars are eligible for import from Japan to Australia. Please refer to our list of cars you can import to Australia from Japan.
From the point of purchase in Japan to having the car registered and ready in Australia, the process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on various factors like shipping, customs, and compliance checks.
Depending on the car and its origin, some modifications might be needed for it to comply with Australian standards. This process is part of the compliance check and certification.
Apart from the vehicle’s purchase price, there will be shipping fees, customs duties, taxes, compliance costs, registration fees and any other incidental expenses.
Importing refers to the process of purchasing and shipping a car from Japan to Australia, ensuring it arrives safely and clears customs. On the other hand, compliance is the step where the imported car is checked and possibly modified to meet Australian standards and regulations. Only after a vehicle is compliant can it be registered and legally driven in Australia.
If individuals are sourcing, buying, and shipping the car on their own, they might approach us just for the compliance service. However, when opting for our importing service, we manage the entire journey from finding the car in Japan to making it road-ready in Australia.
