Aristo627

Hello how is everyone? I just wanted to put this question out there and get some feed back.
I live in Okinawa Japan and own a 1991 Aristo, one day I plan on leaving this place and going back to the states and take my Aristo with me. Can anyone give me some advice on shipping a vehicle back from Japan. I have heard so many different things that it just dosn't seem worth it.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
thanks

BKLexus

Hey whats up. The only way possible to probably ship your car is on a boat. Though it might get a bit costly. Shipping is probably not going to be cheap. Plus you probably have to fill out tons of paper work. However, if you really love your car it's then definetly worth it.

LXOGOOD

A good friend of mine moved back to Thailand and shipped his SC400. He is a member here and his screen name is "rthammar" . From what I remember, he had to pay something like $25,000 US dollars for shipping his car by boat. Maybe you should PM him and try to get some info. Good luck

BTW: His car out there is probably worth over $80K.

rodel

iTrader: (3)

More important than shipping is meeting emissions and US transportation standards.

jtanoyo1

Good luck trying to get it approved with the Department of Transportation. As I understand it, you will be able to bring the car in but you won't be able to drive it because of emissions problems or it will cost you a whole lot to make it street legal (crash test, etc).

newyorker

I had shipped my BMW to South Korea which is close to Japan..
It is not worth it back to US. IF you want to send it from US to Japan, that is fine but not the other way.

For example, BMW530 in US is about 50,000~60,000
in Korea it's about 80.000
see the fact. it's because of the import tax.

I sent my 2001 BMW 530i the cost was 7000 us dollars.
It include the shipping and registration in Korea(which if you do in any country, it's big problem) usally the emission problem. let the carrier do everything for you and delevierd to your door, I picked up my car at the seaport about 45days.

One more thing, Tax in Korea was 30 percent ^-^ to get plate.( import)

See it's not worth it....but I i did because it only had 6000 KM and was Canadian(bought in Toronto)
I could not sell it in US because it had KM based system.

If you bring your lexus ,, you have to change the metric system but you can't sell it in US...

SO my suggestion.... sell it and come here and buy a new one...hehe

Stage3

iTrader: (3)

I know for a fact that FedEx ships cars by air. but be prepared to shell out some serious coin. The guy told me they could have it to your door overnight for close to 60-70k. for that kind of scratch, id just sell it and buy a new one.

Aristo627

Yea I will probably just sell it before I Go back. Im in the Military and I get a lot of things shipped back for free, I have even been told I rate to take a car back since I have been here 3 years. I havn't got an offical answer on that but that's the rumor. I have also heard that you have to establish a contract with a company in the states who will take care of everything as far as getting it legal over there. I also had one company tell me if I was going to bring my Aristo I would have to bring FIVE! more Aristos so they could crash test them. The only reason why I am serious about doing this is because Aristos are cheap over here I picked mine up for about 5 grand.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

yeah i don't think you can register the car here?