Shipping a Vehicle to Japan and

Overland Japan

Shipping to Kobe - Japan – April 2023

Vehicle Paperwork Requirements:

Japan is a signatory to the Carnet De Passages En Douane (CPD) agreement. There is no other alternative.

  1. 1.We wished to travel for 4 months however the Australian residents visa to Japan was for only 90 days. The local Japanese embassy could not help but eventually with an email reply from the Japanese immigration department, if we left japan for a few days on returning, our 90 day free visa would start again.

From: info-tokyo@i.moj.go.jp “Regarding to your inquiry, yes after you finish the 90 days of your stay, you can go out and go back again and you will receive again another 90 days.”

  1. 2.Obtain your Carnet from Australian Automobile Association in Canberra

    Be sure to list the value of the vehicle, AND separately the value of Spare Parts, AND separately the value of Camping & Cooking Equipment. I also made a complete list of contents with photographs of each and every drawer, storage area.

    Best also if you can list your vehicle as a Camping Car, rather than a motorhome

  1. 3.Consult with your shipping agent - In our case Colless Young who will introduce you to their recommended agent in Japan. As we were shipping to Kobe, Apex International Ltd is based in Osaka  ( close by  Kobe ) and in Tokyo.

  2. 4.Most information re shipping a vehicle to Japan can be found here from JAF : https://english.jaf.or.jp/use-jaf-more/bringin  . JAF is the equivalent of the Australian Auto Association and will have to authenticate your Carnet before you present it to the import customs agent ( Apex)

    You will need to make an early appointment at a JAF agency.

    NOTE: Not all JAF agencies can process this document.

  1. 5.You will also need obligatory Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (CALI) for your vehicles time in Japan. The team at http://www.japaninsurance.net/driving.html are very good, and it was easily arranged.


In order to apply for the JCI (Japanese Compulsory Insurance, “Jibaiseki”), please proceed with the following:


  1. 1. Fill in all inquiries from 1 through 10 of the attached JCI information form. 

  2. 2.

  3. 3Please send it back to us with a copy of your Carnet.- Please be sure to send us the page of the Carnet with your vehicle information.

 

Please read the important information below before submitting: 

  1. •JCI is a mandatory insurance which covers third party injury only  Therefore, third party damage, your injury and damage for your vehicle will NOT be covered by this insurance 

  2. •JCI will be conducted by the country and not by the insurance company/agency. In case of an emergency or accident, please directly call for ambulance(119)/police(110). We will have no responsibility in negotiating for the emergency nor accident. 

  3. •The minimum policy period will be a month and will be monthly based 

  4. •The premium is a fixed amount 

  5. •We will not be able to answer questions over phone call 

  6. •The policy will be issued once the payment is confirmed 

  7. •The policy starting date cannot be a date before the payment confirmation date 

  8. •Refunds cannot be made in any circumstance 

  9. •If there is a lack of information on the form, we will not be able to approve and will be asking you to resubmit 

 

About the process 

Please either 

A. Visit our office to complete the payment by cash and receive your policy there

B. Complete payment by bank transfer and receive your policy by post in Japan - You will need the policy when picking up your car at the port. Therefore, please inform us with the Japanese address(where you would be staying at first) so that you can received it there. We do NOT post overseas.

 

JCI Premium rates 

1 month:  5,860 yen

3 months: 7,100 yen

4 months: 7,720 yen

Please note, depending on your vehicle type the premium will be different. 

The above premium will be for a car. Other types such as camping cars and motorcycles will have a different premium. 

 

For more details on JCI, please visit our website from the link below; 

http://www.japaninsurance.net/driving.html 

 

After you have received your policy… 

Please be sure to keep it in the car at all times! 

 

This was easily done with a copy sent to me by e-mail before we left and the original posted to the Hotel address where we collected on arrival.

Cost for 4 months A$85.00


  1. 6.I learnt that there are few lawyers in Japan to argue your case the legal system, and it is NOT the same as Australia, Europe, Americas, or even Africa that is based on a European system. Police have the overriding rule and not being able to speek Japanese I also elected to get some further insurance should I damage another car, telephone pole, fence etc.  That was easily arranged via japan Insurance who introduced me to Hollis Humphreys of Kairos One Corporation : hollis@kairosone.jp

     This was the quotation from Japan Insurance Net, including his commission: Bolton - Quotation.pdf. Note this excluded damage to my vehicle

Cost for 4 months: A$563.00

  1. 7.On arrival into Japan you do NOT need to add to the customs declaration card ‘Unaccompanied baggage” in relation to the vehicle and its contents. We were told by 2 previous overlanders that this was necessary  - it is no longer provided all items on the Carnet are listed as above.

  2. 8.The first task is to get your Carnet authenticated and arrive at the pre-appointed time. It takes about 1/2 hour and cost is Y3000
    payable in cash.

Cost: A$33.00

On our document the vehicle was called a ‘CAR’ i would suggest that it should be  called a ‘CAMPING CAR’ .  I did ask them to change but they said it would ]not make any difference. We plan not to use toll roads but ?? , but for ferry rides interislands a car/camping car is much cheaper than a TRUCK.





  1. 9.They also gave us a letter that could be presented to Police etc that this is a foreign vehicles temporary imported legally into Japan. Google translated below






















  1. 10. Take the signed document and the original carnet to the Customs agent for them to process the clearance

  2. 11.






















 Travel in Malaysia:

Campsites listed in our blog at : Malaysia Travels

Malaysia see:     GoannaTracks Across Malaysia


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