Japanese used cars

What Japanese used cars does

Autospecs Ltd. (trading as Japanese Used Cars, japaneseusedcars.com) operates an online auction-bidding and fixed-price marketplace that connects private buyers and car dealers worldwide to Japanese used vehicle supply. Founded in 1990 with the Japanese-dealer channel and expanded in 1997 to global private buyers over the internet, the company holds a Japanese Used Car Dealer License (452780005589) and is registered with the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association (JUMVEA). Members post a 150,000 Yen (US$1,500) refundable deposit and gain access to roughly 150,000+ vehicles at auction and 350,000+ dealer-yard vehicles weekly. The company differentiates by inspecting vehicles on behalf of buyers and rejecting over 50% of inspected units, by offering JUMVEA odometer certification, and by coordinating roll-on/roll-off and container shipping plus export documentation from offices in Sagamihara-Shi and Machida, Tokyo.

The product surface comprises four inventory channels — Daily Auctions, Preauction Fixed-Price, Low-Cost Fixed-Price Cars (under US$2,500), and Japan Domestic Dealer Fixed-Price Cars — supported by a vehicle-specifications catalog (catalog.japaneseusedcars.com), a production-month reference tool, a historical auction price database (estimates-data), a paid car-price-estimates request service, JAAI/JEVIC pre-export inspections, and JUMVEA odometer certification. Pricing is transaction-based: a tiered service fee ranging from 65,000 Yen (up to 1M Yen vehicles) to 6% of auction price (above 5M Yen), plus a flat 55,000 Yen RORO charge covering auction-house fees, inland transport, customs, and document delivery, with separate shipping and insurance costs. Volume discounts of 5,000-15,000 Yen per unit apply at 2-9, 10-19, and 20+ monthly purchase tiers. Customer segments are private individuals (enthusiast importers, family buyers, classic/JDM collectors) and SMB dealers in Oceania (NZ, AU), North America (CA, US), Europe (UK, IE), the Caribbean, and other markets; marketing relies on SEO-driven content (country guides, grading explainers, price-data pages) plus motorsport sponsorships across eight countries rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Japanese used cars

Legal name

Autospecs Ltd.

Website

https://japaneseusedcars.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Autospecs Ltd. operates japaneseusedcars.com, an online platform connecting private buyers and dealers worldwide to Japanese used car auctions. Members access 150,000+ vehicles weekly via a 150,000 Yen deposit, with vehicle inspection, JUMVEA odometer certification, and international shipping coordination.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Auction Vehicle Purchase - Service Fees: Service fees calculated as percentage of auction purchase price: 65,000 Yen (up to 1M Yen), 85,000 Yen (1-2M), 105,000 Yen (2-3M), 4% (3-4M), 5% (4-5M), 6% (over 5M). Plus 55,000 Yen Roll On Roll Off charges covering auction house fees, inland transport, customs, and document delivery.
2. Shipping and Logistics: Sea freight charged separately based on vehicle dimensions and destination. Marine insurance from 5,000 Yen. Full comprehensive insurance available from 25,000 Yen.
3. Odometer Certification: JUMVEA mileage certification service costing 5,000 Yen per vehicle
4. Inspection Services: JAAI/JEVIC inspections ranging 16,000-35,000 Yen (typically 24,000 Yen) for pre-export verification
5. Membership Deposits: 150,000 Yen (US$1,500) refundable deposit required for auction bidding access

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Japanese Used Cars (Autospecs Ltd.) operates an online platform connecting international private buyers and car dealers with Japanese used car auctions and dealer yards. Members access approximately 150,000+ cars at auction and 350,000+ dealer vehicles weekly, bid remotely, and have vehicles inspected, documented, and shipped internationally.

Product overview

Japaneseusedcars.com is an online platform operated by Autospecs Ltd. that connects international private buyers and car dealers with Japanese used car auctions. The platform operates across four sales channels: Daily Auctions (membership-based live bidding), Preauction Cars at a Fixed Price (non-negotiable time-limited listings), Low Cost Fixed Price Cars (sub-US$2,500 budget vehicles), and Japan Domestic Dealer Cars at a Fixed Price (direct dealer yard sourcing). A comprehensive suite of supporting tools includes Price Data/Estimates Data (historical market pricing), Car Specs and Car Production Month reference databases, Vehicle Grading Information (Japanese auction grading system guide), Odometer Certification (JUMVEA mileage validation), PayPal Payment option, and country-specific import guidance with cost calculators for Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, UK, US, and other countries. The platform reports access to approximately 150,000 cars at auction and 350,000 cars in dealer yards weekly, serving customers in multiple countries with English-speaking support since 1997.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Daily Auctions Live online auction access to thousands of Japanese used cars each week. Members can view listings and submit bids through the website, with the company inspecting vehicles on their behalf and rejecting over 50% to ensure quality.
• Preauction Cars at a Fixed Price Cars available for a limited time at non-negotiable fixed prices, sourced from auction houses and dealer yards, listed on the website with details and pricing.
• Low Cost Fixed Price Cars Curated selection of pre-owned cars priced under US$2,500, available for a limited time, sourced from dealer yards and offered at fixed prices.
• Japan Domestic Dealer Cars at a Fixed Price Fixed-price vehicles sourced directly from Japanese domestic car dealers' yards, not in the company's possession, with pricing displayed on the website.
• Price Data (Estimates Data) Historical auction sales data accessible by make, model, year, chassis type, and other filters, showing past transaction prices and vehicle specifications to help buyers estimate market values.
• Odometer Certification Mileage verification service through JUMVEA (Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association), which validates odometer readings against official records and issues a certificate for a fee of 5,000 Yen.
• Auction Membership Program Membership program requiring a 150,000 Yen (US$1,500) refundable deposit. Open to both dealers and private buyers, providing preferential access to fixed-price vehicles and auction bidding.
• International Shipping and Logistics Sea freight services for purchased vehicles, charged separately based on vehicle dimensions and destination. Includes Roll On Roll Off transport (55,000 Yen covering auction house fees, inland transport, customs, and document delivery), marine insurance from 5,000 Yen, and comprehensive insurance from 25,000 Yen.
• Pre-Export Vehicle Inspection JAAI/JEVIC inspection services ranging from 16,000 to 35,000 Yen (typically 24,000 Yen) for pre-export vehicle verification, conducted to confirm vehicle condition before international shipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 50% of inspected vehicles rejected to ensure quality

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association (JUMVEA)coreOthersAutospecs Ltd (japaneseusedcars.com) is a registered member of JUMVEA. JUMVEA validates vehicle mileage based on official records and provides certification. This partnership provides credibility and odometer verification services for exported vehicles, addressing customer concerns about mileage authenticity.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Copart:
• USS (United System Stock): USS operates the largest physical used car auction network in Japan and has expanded into direct online bidding platforms for overseas buyers — a broader incumbent that supplies the inventory Japanese Used Cars auctions against, but is also a potential disintermediation threat.

Direct peers

• Be Forward: Be Forward is the largest Japanese used car exporter, offering a vast online inventory of cars sourced from Japanese auctions and dealer yards to global buyers — directly comparable to Japanese Used Cars in product, target market (overseas private buyers and dealers), and business model (auction access + inspection + international shipping).
• SBT Japan: SBT Japan is a major Japanese used car exporter providing online auction access, fixed-price inventory, inspection, and global shipping — directly comparable in offerings, customer segments, and fee structure to Japanese Used Cars.
• Autocom Japan: Autocom Japan is a Japanese used vehicle exporter offering auction bidding, inspections, and international shipping to private buyers and dealers — a direct competitor with overlapping product and customer base.
• Car From Japan: Car From Japan is a Japanese used car export platform targeting buyers in Africa, the Caribbean, and other emerging markets with auction-sourced inventory — a direct competitor with similar GTM and supply chain.
• Qualitex Trading: Qualitex Trading is a Japanese used car exporter with online bidding, fixed-price listings, and global delivery — operating in the same niche with comparable services for overseas buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Japanese used cars