1) What are the importing rules for Canada?

For most provinces (excluding Quebec and PEI 25 year rule) any car that is imported must be 15 years or older from the manufactures month.

2) what are the importing rules for the USA?

The USA has slightly different rules requiring imported vehicles to be 25 years or older from the manufactured month.

3)Why use a Canadian based importer to buy a car instead of directly buying it yourself?

At Inspired Automotive have carefully found ways to make import less intimating and cheaper than importing yourself. With limited knowledge about our rules and border agents from our exporters in Japan in leaves you with a large task of hiring/finding custom brokers, lawyers and transporters that wont cost you an arm and leg for a single time import. We have negotiated and through repeat business can offer you a cheaper method of importing a JDM with no stress.

4) What is “Cleared Customs Price”

The term cleared customs price is referring to what extra costs will be necessary to get the vehicle into Canada legally. This includes shipping cost, brokerage fees, and duty when it arrives into Canada. This is all INCLUDED in our posted price.

5) How can I receive the vehicle once it cleared through customs?

We offer many methods for you to receive you JDM. The most common way we get customers their cars is shipping from port to one of our many trusted inspections shops all over Canada. We arrange shipping directly to your city at an additional cost for the easiest experience possible. You may also pickup you JDM directly from the port and drive it home.

6) How do I know the vehicle from Japan is well maintained and well represented?

Over the years of personal and business importing we have established trust and commination with the exporters of these JDMs. We provide auction sheets, detailed inspection sheets, and disclose any concerns with the vehicle so you can make the proper and well educated decision when importing your next JDM.

7) Can we buy JDMs from the auction house?

Yes we can! using the custom order feature we can bid and inspect vehicles for you in Japan. With a 1000.00 CAD deposit this will give you access to bid on vehicles directly from any auction house in Japan.

8)Are all JDM vehicles right hand drives?

No, many European and luxury vehicles come in Left hand drive too. Example: BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Porsche, and many others.

9) Where do find parts for my JDM?

Our phones are always open to help anyone with a JDM to find parts. Over the last decade of our team owning and driving JDM cars we can find suppliers for anything.

10) How do I read the auction sheet grading?

Overall Grading

• S – Means that the vehicle you are looking at is as new. Registration date is no longer than 1 year, speedometer shows less than 10 000 km or more often smaller.

• 6 – Identify almost new cars, where the registration date is up to 3 years. Mileage varies till 30 000 km, generally till 10 000 km. On some auction pages, you may found a few almost invisible scratches.

• 5 – Signify used car in the excellent condition. Speedometer shows up to 50 000 km. On the body may be a few small scratches also may appear the little dents.

• 4.5 – Still high demandable vehicle. Speedometer shows mileage up to 100 000 km. Also, may be some scratches or dents and a little chance to find a car with the repair marks or changed body parts.

• 4 – The car has not been in the accident. Speedometer could show up to 150 000 km. May occur visible scratches, in the interior may be found tears, cigarette holes or stains.

• 3.5 – Define car where you could find noticeable scratches, dents, rust or corrosion (rare). Inside the vehicle often appear tears, cigarette holes, stains.

• 3 – Indicate cars with visible huge scratches, dents, paint stains, rust and corrosion. Interior full of tears, cigarette holes or food stains.

• 2 – Usually means lots of rust and corrosion, but may be found all kind of breakdowns. Generally, signify that the vehicle is in the terrible condition.

• 1 – As a rule flooded vehicles.

• RA – Car which has been fixed after an ordinary car crash.

• R – Usually vehicle from the serious car crash. This car may be repaired but probably need more fixing. Note that this car may be Immovable.

• *** (99, x, etc.) – This vehicle has been in an accident or has some serious engine trouble and was not fixed.

Interior Grading:

• A – Describe as new vehicle’s condition.

• B – Signify car in the good condition, as a rule, the interior looks nice and tidy.

• C – Inside the car could be found small food's stains or cigarette’s holes

• D – Inner vehicle consist of cigarette’s mark, stains, tears or even smell.

• E – Interior of the car is terrible. Grade E means all mentioned above and even worse.

Exterior Grading:

• A – Represent an awesome exterior condition.

• B – Could be found scratches up to 15 cm but usually smaller.

• C – Signify vehicle with scratches up to 30 cm or dents.

• D – Define visible scratches, rust or even corrosion.

• E – An awful car condition. It’s all about rust, corrosion and all variety of exterior breakdowns.

Next abbreviation could be found on the Auction List:

• AAC – Climate Control Air Conditioner

• AC – Air Conditioner

• AIRBAGU – Airbag

• AW – Original Alloy Wheels

• CA – Column Automatic Transmission

• F5 – 5 Speed Manual Transmission

• F6 – 6 Speed Manual Transmission

• FA/AT – Automatic Transmission

• KAWA – Leather seats

• NAVI – Navigator

• PS – Power Steering

• PW – Power Windows

• SR – Sunroof

• TV – Television

Next signs Japanese use for the exterior (the Number near the letter in the Auction List means how strong the breakdown is):

• A – Scratch

• E – Dimple

• U – Dent

• W – Repair Mark

• S – Place with Rust

• C – Place with Corrosion

• P – Paint blemish

• H - Paint dissolved

• X – Body part required to be replaced (has no number, located on the chassis)

• X – Cleavage on the Window (Usually with the number, located on the windows)

• XX – Body part has been replaced

• B – Dent and scratch

• Y – Crack or Hole

• R – Repaired Cleavage on the Window

• RX – Repaired Cleavage on the Window (needs to be replaced)

• G – Stone chip in the glass

Source: https://aaajapan.com/information/auction-grade