Importing Vehicles Overseas Can Be Daunting.... but We Are Here to Make It an Easy Process!
At Karuma Autohaus, our premium import brokering service goes beyond the standard. From sourcing rare vehicles worldwide to handling shipping, compliance, and even registration, we provide an end-to-end experience. With access to auctions, dealerships, and private sellers across Japan, the UK, the USA, we ensure you get the perfect car. Plus, our support continues with maintenance and modifications, both before and after the car arrives in Australia.
How Our Import Process Works
Step 1: Pay the Import Broker Fee
To begin your search, we charge a fee of $1,095, or 2.65% of the vehicle cost if the car is valued at $65,000 or more. This fee is fully refundable if you decide to stop within the first 28 days. After that, the refund amount is reduced by $250 per month.
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Step 2: Begin Shopping!
Here’s where the fun begins—shopping for your dream car! But before you dive in, it’s important to note that Australian law only allows certain vehicles to be imported. This includes any vehicle over 25 years old, regardless of whether it’s left-hand or right-hand drive. For newer vehicles (up to 25 years old), they must be listed on the Specialist and Enthusiast Vehicle Scheme (SEVS).
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Step 3: Car Inspection
Once you've found a legal vehicle you’d like to import, we can start the hunt! We source vehicles from Japan's Yahoo Auctions, dealerships, and other auction platforms. We’ll send you matching options based on your preferences, and when you find the perfect car, we’ll arrange an inspection to make sure everything checks out.
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Step 4: Set Your Bidding Strategy
You decide your bidding approach with Karuma Autohaus—whether to bid at your budget, or adjust based on the car's condition. We handle the bidding process for you, ensuring it aligns with your financial expectations.
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Step 5: Secure Your Purchase
Once we successfully win the bid, you’ll have a two-week window to complete payment for the vehicle. We manages the entire transfer of funds to Japan, including any associated fees.
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Step 6: Shipping Arrangements
Once the auction ends, your vehicle will be delivered to the port where it will sit until the associated shipment is ready to be loaded! Sadly we have no control of the time frame, but allow a 2-6 week window! Once we have a shipping ETA, we will, send you the ship your vehicle is on so you can track it!
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Step 7: Compliance
Before the vehicle arrives (2-3 weeks prior) we will be sent the invoice for shipping (2500) and GST (10%)
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Step 8: Ready for Pickup!
Once your vehicle is complied, and all necessary paperwork for registration is done, your vehicle is ready to either be collected or delivered! Since we run dealership, we have wholesale rates on items such as - Dent Removalists, Tinters & Detailers, if you choose to opt in we can offer you a free quote for any of the above!
Understanding the Auction Sheet
AUCTION SHEET GUIDE
WHAT IS AN AUCTION GRADE?
A vehicle is graded primarily on the basis of its mileage, interior, and exterior condition. The auction grade helps you evaluate the condition of the vehicle. Please refer to the following table for Auction Grade’s interpretation.
| Mark | Meaning |
|---|---|
| S | The car is less than a year old from the date of first registration and has travelled less than 10,000 km. The car is in perfect condition, as good as factory new. |
| 6 | The car is in perfect condition almost as new, less than three years old from the first registration date, and the mileage is less than 30,000km. |
| 5 | The car has mileage of less than 50,000 km. There may be some minor scratches and marks on the body. There may be some interior stains, stains, glue marks, burns, breaks, etc. |
| 4.5 | The car has a mileage of less than 100,000 km. There are more minor scratches and marks on the body than Grade 5. It is equivalent to Grade 5 with minor repairs. There are several flaws on the exterior. The interior has some scorching holes, cracks, rubbing, discoloration, fading, etc. |
| 4 | The car mileage is less than 150,000km. The car has several noticeable scratches and minor dents on its body. There are noticeable interior defects that may require repair. |
| 3.5 | The exterior may have a few mid or large-size dents and scratches that require repair or replacement. There may be noticeable interior defects that may need replacement. The car may have done an outer welding panel replacement of the main panel. |
| 3 | Both the interior and exterior may have some large dents, scuffs, or scratches that require repair or replacement. There may be major mechanical defects. |
| 2 | Those with low commercial value. |
| 1 | Disaster vehicle (submerged vehicle, extinguisher spray vehicle, etc.) |
| 0 | Accident repaired car or accident unrepaired car. |
| R | Accident repaired car. |
| RA | Light accident repaired car. |
| *** | Accident car or Engine may not work. |
| Grade | Vehicle Condition |
|---|---|
| A | Mileage is within 30,000km. There are slight flaws. It may have some stains, scratches, glue, etc. |
| B | There are several minor defects. It may have cigarette burns, cuts, or tears. |
| C | There are several defects that require minor repairs. It has some cuts, tears, charred holes, glue marks, glue, etc. |
| D | There are several conspicuous defects that require repairs. |
| E | It is obviously in bad condition. It requires the replacement of major parts such as dashboards, headliners, seats, etc. |
| F | It is below Grade E's interior condition. |
| Grade | Vehicle Condition |
|---|---|
| A | It is close to new with slight flaws. It might have a slight repair trace. |
| B | There are conspicuous flaws. Windshields and lights might have small cracks. There may be a large flaw in bumpers, glasses, hoods, and screens. |
| C | There are several conspicuous defects. It may have a noticeable dent. It has repair marks that require re-repairing. |
| D | It has some defects that require repairs. It has noticeable corrosion. |
| E | It has many defects that require repairs. It may be with a lot of corrosion. |
| F | It is below Grade E's exterior condition. |
Should you have further questions about Auction Sheets, please email us at [email protected]
Affordable Car Imports
With our premium brokerage service, Karuma Autohaus takes the hassle out of importing your own vehicle, offering transparent pricing of cars from Japan or USA, or UK. Expect quick sourcing for late model cars, while rare finds can take longer; we provide a feasibility study during onboarding to ensure your requests align with your budget. Enjoy unlimited vehicle inspections, undercover storage, and access to discounted international shipping rates—all backed by our commitment to exceptional customer service.
Find Your Dream Car
Get in touch with Karuma Autohaus today for more information about our premium import services! Whether you have questions about the process, pricing, or vehicle options, our dedicated team is here to help. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to drive home your perfect car—reach out now.