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How much is it to import a car from Japan?
My partner lives in Japan, but she’ll be moving to California soon. We’d like to ship her car overseas, but we have no idea how much it costs. What is the usual cost of importing a single car from Japan to California?
Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congratulations on the big move! Luckily, it’s fairly easy to ship your car overseas—but shipping costs will start around $2,000 and could go even higher! Here are some of the biggest factors affecting the shipping cost:
- Your car
- Shipment type
- Distance
- Any tariffs
Since you’re shipping your car from Japan to California, you’ll likely have a lower shipping cost than someone in New York. The process will usually take between eight to 10 weeks, so getting started as soon as possible is ideal.
When your car arrives in the United States, you’ll need to get new insurance that meets
California’s minimum requirements
. While you may have a grace period, try to find coverage as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could be fined for driving while uninsured.
The one challenge you may have is finding the right insurance company to insure your imported vehicle. Companies like GEICO
, Hagerty, and Grundy have particular insurance policies for imported, exotic, and classic cars, which is what you will want to look for. For help finding the best rate on the coverage you need on your stateside vehicles, try the
Jerry
app. As a licensed broker, Jerry can help you compare personalized quotes from over 55 top providers like Progressive and Allstate. Jerry can even send you new quotes when your policy comes up for renewal so you always know you’re getting the best possible rate.View full answer
- Gregory R.
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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