Import a car from Japan to Canada
Canada’s federal 15-Year Rule exempts a car from Motor Vehicle Safety Act requirements, measured from the month and year of manufacture — JDM sports cars, Delicas and kei trucks included once eligible. We bid at the auctions and ship to Vancouver; you clear with CBSA and register provincially.
Old enough, and any JDM car can come to Canada
What Canada requires
Canada exempts vehicles 15+ years old, measured from month and year of manufacture, from Motor Vehicle Safety Act requirements — the reason JDM classics, Delicas and kei trucks flow north. It is not a guarantee of provincial registration.
15-Year Rule
A vehicle 15+ years old, measured from month and year of manufacture, is exempt from MVSA requirements. In 2026 that means a 2011 or older build. We verify the date on every sheet.
RHD or LHD federally
There is no federal LHD-only rule in the age exemption, so RHD cars are importable once 15+ — but provincial safety, inspection and licensing requirements still apply, so check your province.
Transport Canada, CBSA & provincial reg
You clear the car with Transport Canada and the CBSA at the border/port, then title and register it under your provincial rules.
Duty, tax & provincial reg at your end. Canada charges import duty (around 6.1% on non-CUSMA cars) plus GST, and provincial sales tax and registration. These are paid to the CBSA and your province — not in the JapanAuc landed cost. Confirm current rates.
How to import to Canada with JapanAuc
Register & set a budget
Sign up free and place a refundable deposit. Tell us your target model and budget, and that it’s headed to Canada.
Find eligible cars
We filter the auctions to units built 15+ years ago (2011 or older, by month and year of manufacture) and translate the auction sheet so you bid with confidence.
Win & inspect
We bid on your behalf. On winning, the car moves to our yard for real yard-in photos and export preparation.
Pay the balance invoice
After you’ve seen the yard-in photos, settle the balance (hammer price + commission + export + freight) by bank transfer, Wise or PayPal.
Export & ship
We complete export deregistration, book RoRo or a container to Vancouver, and send you the Bill of Lading and full document pack.
Clear at Vancouver
Your Canadian customs broker pays the import duty and GST and registers the car with your province. We help with any document you need.
Osaka · Kobe
Japan → Vancouver
Cars for Canada sail by RoRo or in a container from Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka or Kobe. Vancouver on the West coast is fastest; Halifax serves the East.
Models buyers ask for
Nissan Skyline GT-R
R33/R34 now clear the 15-year rule.
Mitsubishi Delica
Cult 4×4 camper van — huge in Canada.
Honda Acty / Suzuki Carry
Tiny 4×4 work trucks, wildly popular.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI
Rally-bred all-wheel-drive icon.
Your JapanAuc landed cost to Vancouver
Everything JapanAuc charges is in Japanese yen and transparent: the hammer price you win at, our commission (flat ¥35,000 up to ¥1,000,000, then 3.5%), the Export Package (auction-house fee + inland transport + export handling), then ocean freight. Added up, that’s your CIF Vancouver price.
Canadian import duty, GST and provincial registration are charged separately on arrival — not part of our quote. Use the calculator for a live CIF figure, then add your local clearing costs.
Importing to Canada — common questions
15 years or older, measured from the month and year of manufacture, which exempts it from Motor Vehicle Safety Act requirements. In 2026 that means a 2011 or older build. Vehicles under 15 years are generally inadmissible unless another exemption applies.
There is no federal LHD-only rule in the 15-year age exemption, so RHD cars are importable once eligible — but provincial safety, inspection and licensing requirements still apply, so check your province.
Yes — kei trucks and vans that are 15+ years old are importable and very popular in Canada, subject to provincial road rules.
Around 6.1% duty on non-CUSMA cars plus GST, and provincial sales tax and registration — all paid locally and outside our CIF quote.
Ready to import your car to Canada?
Register free, tell us your model, and we’ll find eligible cars at the source.