Frequently Asked Questions

All the answers on a single page.


How to Buy With Japanese Classics

A lot of our first-time customers think that buying an import from us will be harder than buying a domestic car. It’s not!

We’re a licensed used car dealership, and it works just like buying a used Toyota from the dealer down the street.

As with any vehicle purchase, the first step is to secure funding. Information about payment options can be found below. From there, simply give us a call directly so we can discuss the vehicle and see if it’s the right fit.

Vehicles can be purchased in full via bank wire transfer, certified check, or cashiers check. NO PERSONAL CHECKS WILL BE ACCEPTED – NO EXCEPTIONS. 

We also work with financing companies or you can secure your own lender. www.JapaneseClassics.com/financing/

Most of our customers are out-of-state, so we have a deposit system in place to hold vehicles. This allows potential buyers to schedule a time to inspect vehicles or to ask for additional information if they’re unable to come by our dealership.

**Deposits are 100% refundable and will hold a vehicle for up to 7 days.** 

Deposit amount is based on vehicle price:

Vehicle Price: Under $10,000 – $3,000
Vehicle Price: $10,000 and up – $6,000
Vehicle Price: $20,000 and up – $8,000

If financing – a letter for the loan approval and any required down payment can be used as a deposit.

Vehicles will not be held without a deposit. 

We completely understand and realize not all of our customers are able to come to our facility to view the vehicle in person.

In fact, we ship 40% of our vehicles sight unseen. We strive to accurately represent each vehicle before accepting any form of deposit/payment.

We will conduct a walk-around over the phone to discuss any issues or flaws. Basically what this means is that we will go over the vehicle as if we were buying it for ourselves – being overly critical of any imperfections or flaws. We will do this for exterior, interior, and mechanical systems, so you have full knowledge of the vehicles exact condition.

We’re also happy to provide additional photos and information by request.

If you’re unable to take delivery at our dealership – We can arrange shipping to your front door and are happy to provide an accurate shipping quote at any time.

For vehicles being picked up at our dealership – We can provide 30 day temporary tags for your journey home.

Importing Questions

Almost anything that is 25 years old (25 years is counted down to the month it was manufactured)

Absolutely not, and no, we do not know anyone that can get you one either. Sorry to say, but as soon as those models start turning 25 years old we will bring them at that time.

Sorry we do not import cars newer than 25 years old, no matter what.

We bring cars in when we find unique, desirable, or otherwise good quality vehicles, all cars we receive will be posted on the site only after they are stateside, customs released, and inspected – not before, so please be patient. Unfortunately due to the long time spans between finding a suitable vehicle, processing, shipping, and clearing of the vehicles we currently are not taking customs orders. However, please email us at info@japaneseclassicsllc.com if you are looking for a specific vehicle and we will let you know when we have one arriving.

We don’t stop at mechanical reconditioning. Japanese Classics ensures all of the paperwork for your import is in order. We go through the process of obtaining a Virginia title for all of our vehicles we sell and provide copies of all US Customs, EPA, and DOT paperwork as well for your records. The paperwork process can be difficult to navigate, which is why we take care of it for you!

Purchasing Questions

We personally inspect ALL of our vehicles prior to purchase in Japan, this ensures you get a quality car, every time! We are very particular about the vehicles we import and are proud of the vehicles we sell.

Yes, we are Licensed by the Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board to sell cars. We are also a bonded importer with U.S. Customs.

No, we do not offer any type of financial assistance, but we do have relationships with independent credit companies that offer financing for rare, classic, and specialty cars. Visit our page on financing for more info.

No, the prices listed are 100% Out-the-Door pricing, with the exception of a $399 processing fee, this fee will be added to the advertised price as we are required by the state of VA to charge all customers the same fee. No additional import fees are added on top of the advertised prices.

You get the vehicle, a valid VA title (fully transferable to all 50 states), and a copy of the customs release. You are responsible for supplying your own insurance. All cars listed on the site are available for same day pickup in Richmond, VA. We do not post any of the cars we may have processing or in transit, only after each car is ready for immediate sale will they be posted on the site.

We sure can! 40% of our customers buy remote and have their vehicle shipped to them. We offer the most competitive shipping rates and don’t mark them up. You’ll pay the shipping company directly, not us, so you know you are getting the best price! Additionally, we provide all our customers who are not coming to see their new vehicle in person with a comprehensive digital evaluation performed by one of our trained vehicle evaluators. This process includes about an hour-long phone call along with 50-100 additional images of the vehicle so you know the exact cosmetic condition of your vehicle before it arrives!

Just submit the request form on any vehicle page to get a shipping quote.

Unfortunately, due to the age and nature of the cars being imported there is no warranty or returns that apply. But upon potential purchase we invite your mechanic to fully inspect the vehicle to understand the actual condition both cosmetically and mechanically. We will however assess any post-purchase issues individually on a per-case basis to see if we can help resolve any problems or help acquire replacement parts from Japan if needed.

Because we stand behind the vehicles we sell, we offer a trade-in program for any vehicle we have previously sold. This allows our customers to enjoy their vehicle for a few years and trade it in for something different if your needs or tastes change. Thinking of trading your vehicle in? Shoot us an email for details!

We offer complimentary airport pickup for any of our customers flying into Richmond International Airport. Just give us a heads-up when you book your flight and we will arrange to meet you at the airport.

Our customer experience doesn’t stop at the sale. Our goal is to ensure your ownership experience is stellar too! As a customer, you’ll have access to our large database of interchangeable parts that you can source here in the US to help ensure our customers have the easiest possible access to maintenance parts. Our friendly post sale support staff is here to make sure you get the information you need to keep your car on the road throughout your ownership, just give us a call. If a part happens not to be available in the US we can even show you how and where to source the part from Japan!

Financing FAQ’s

No it is not, but we have a specific arrangements for our customers with J.J. Best Banc & Co. who specializes in financing specialty cars and offers the same deals that we would if we had the capacity for in-house financing.

That depends on a number of factors, but rates are typically 5–8%.

Of course the higher your credit rating, the more solid your credit history, and the larger your down payment, the better. But you may be surprised by the deals that you can get. Including down payments as low as 10%!

Please visit the J.J. Best Banc & Co website or give them a call to find answers to your questions. We want you to be able to purchase your JDM dream and are happy to help with any assistance credit companies may need.

Vehicle Condition FAQ’s

We set the bar high and perform a 205-point mechanical inspection on every vehicle we import and perform any necessary repairs. In addition, all of our retail vehicles pass Virginia state inspection. But don’t take our word for it! Request a verified vehicle inspection report complete with photos and see for yourself!

Depending on each individual car’s inspection, we top off, change or flush the major fluid systems: Motor oil, coolant, transmission fluid, and sometimes even brake fluid.

We inspect and replace coolant system components as necessary to satisfy faster, higher-intensity US driving demands. These can include upper hoses, lower hoses, radiators, and sometimes fan motors and housings.

Let’s face it, most 25+ year-old vehicles will need some type of cosmetic repair at this point in their lives. We moved all of our refinishing work in-house in 2022, which allows us to control quality. Our robust 15k sqft refinishing facility is equipped with trained body and paint technicians and 2 full-size paint booths. We use PPG refinishing products to ensure a long-lasting, quality job.

All of our vehicles undergo a third-party mileage verification process by Automotive Technologies LTD prior to leaving Japan. More on this service can be found on their website. We include their odometer certification certificate with each vehicle we sell unless it does not qualify.

One of our technicians drives every vehicle at least 100 miles to do our best to ensure that you don’t experience any unpleasant surprises in performance.