FAQ

There are a lot of exporters in Japan that push unsuitable cars and don’t care much once you have paid them! We have seen time and time again, unsuspecting buyers get stuck with unusable cars when they arrive in NZ. Here are some examples: – Cars that were written off in Japan and patched back together for export – Cars arrive that have rust holes under the floor – Cars that have had odometer wound back and seized by NZ customs – Cars that don’t meet NZ emission standards – Cars that have had damage but not graded as accident damaged! Check with your local compliance centre and they will have a list of similar stories! Dealing with a NZ based company not only do you have the advantage of working with someone local, you are also protected by NZ laws like the Consumer Guarantees Act & Fair Trading Act.

We are a local company, not an overseas broker. Being local we know what cars suit New Zealand conditions and can provide advice and support on any matter relating to car importing.  Our experienced staff are happy to help you to choose and import right vehicle. We focus on quality, not quantity, so you benefit from better value and lower risk.

We offer a full range of services in New Zealand. In addition to our network of compliance centres, groomers, and mechanics, we also offer finance, warranty and vehicle accessory options.

Dealing with a NZ based company not only do you have the advantage of working with someone local, you are also protected by NZ laws like the Consumer Guarantees Act & Fair Trading Act.

Drop us an e-mail or call now for a no obligation quote to import your next vehicle direct from Japanese or UK. We won’t tell you what to buy, you tell us what YOU want. This is one of the biggest advantages with using ABS Direct.

You tell us your budget and we will work out the best “bang for your buck”. Many people are pleasantly surprised to find they can target a newer vehicle than expected or are able to save thousands.

Once you are satisfied with everything and have established with us your wants and needs, we can then start searching upcoming auctions each day and let you know if anything may be of interest to you. 

We will be able to provide you with all relevant information including year, mileage, colour, transmission, specifications and equipment lists.

A detailed appraisal and description of each vehicle will be provided to you on the auction day. We will be able to search the history of the prices for your particular make and model to help give you an idea on what the vehicle will sell for. All auction sheets can be provided to you direct from the Auction source.

The auction sheet provides an indication on what the vehicles true condition was upon its purchase in Japan. It will tell you the true condition of the vehicle whether or not it has been in an accident or not right down to minor scratches and dents.  

Once you are satisfied with a vehicle and wish to place a bid you tell us what you would like to pay. We can guide you by using previous auction history but you control the final bid amount. If we find multiple vehicles suitable for you on the same day don’t worry as we have a system in place to aid in your decision making. 

Once you have been successful then and ONLY then, will we require a deposit from you.

The First Payment will be roughly 70 – 80% of the Total on Road price quoted to you. With this we can pay for your vehicle, have it cleared from the Auction and start organising its shipping. We will require the balance upon its arrival in order for us to ensure a smooth transaction on our side.

We would prefer payment to be made as mentioned above to eliminate our overheads. No overheads means we can provide you with vehicles at TRUE wholesale prices. *If you would prefer another method of payment or require finance feel free to ask regarding other options.   

Allow 2-3 weeks for us to organise and book your vehicle on the soonest vessel leaving its nearest port. Once your vehicle has been loaded, allow 2 weeks on the water in transit.

As soon as your vehicle arrives we will arrange for it to be delivered to compliance. There it will stay for up to 3-4 working days depending on compliance and their work load at the time. Once complied your vehicle will be issued with a WOF (6 months minimum). ABS Direct will register your vehicle and organise the vehicle to be groomed and delivered to your desired destination.  

Once your vehicle has been purchased allow 7 weeks for the vehicle to be delivered to you. 3 weeks in Japan, 2 weeks on the water and 2 weeks on our side. (Time frame can vary slightly depending on where in Japan the vehicle is purchased from).

ABS Direct offer finance through a range of leading finance institutions. We also provide options for small business owners and people with past credit issues.

 

Whether you want to add a rear or front camera, dashcam, front or rear sensors, stereos, alarms or other accessories, ABS Direct can offer top brands at great prices.  We also have a mobile installation option available.

Yes, if you are looking for a specific model of car please enquire with us directly and we can help.

All of the key information (year, mileage, colour, condition) is available for the vehicles we shortlist. If you have any special conditions that you are looking for in a car (eg. leather interior, 7 seats, reversing camera, etc), you can let us know. Once you have completed the bidding agreement we will arrange for one of our agents on the floor in Japan to conduct an inspection on the vehicle prior to placing your bid. If the car does not have the features you are looking for or it comes up with any faults not mentioned in the auction sheet we will cancel the bid once confirming this with you.

Please note: In order for us to arrange a physical inspection on a car, the bidding agreement MUST be submitted to us BEFORE 10.00am the day of the auction.

ABS Direct has a 4 stage check system that guarantees the condition of your car.

1. ABS Direct uses only the most reliable auction houses in Japan. The inspection and grading of each individual vehicle is done independently by the auction houses, not by owner/seller of the car like some other sites. The auction houses follow a strict standard grading system in Japan that lists the car condition on a scale of 1 – 5. We recommended grades 4, 4.5 and 5 and would not suggest anything less than a grade 3.5.

2. Before any bids are placed, we always review the auction sheet. The auction sheet is a report of the vehicle, and it will list any additional sale features or caution notes listed by the inspector. If the car has any features like leather interior, reversing camera, sun roof, electric seats, etc, this may be listed in the auction sheet. It will also list any issues of rust, dents, scratches, stains, chips in the windscreen, curbed alloy wheels, etc. We will discuss with you if any issues are identified and confirm you are happy with the condition of the car before any bids are placed.

3. We also get the car inspected by one of our qualified independent agents on the floor in Japan. This inspection is an additional measure we rely on to reveal any underlying issues that may have been missed on the auction sheet. We also use this inspection to double check for any additional feature you may be wanting on the car. If the car comes back from inspection with any concerns or it does not meet your specific requirements, no bids are placed. In addition to this 3 step safety check, ABS Direct guarantees the condition and compliance of your car.

4. Due to the large numbers of cars sold each day at auction, detailed inspections are not possible at the auction house.  After your car is purchased at auction, the car is sent to a workshop to be inspected in more detail by our qualified agents in Japan. This inspection provides further certainty that the vehicle is as described by the auction house and there are no important issues uncovered that could result in the car not meeting your specific requirements.

If your car arrives in New Zealand and is not in the condition that was stated in the auction sheet and inspection process, we will cover the cost of any work required to get your car back to the condition you bought it in or offer a refund 100% of your deposit.

Seven to Eight weeks is the usual time frame from the auction end date to the arrival date in New Zealand. This estimate is based on the average amount of time it takes for the car to be shipped. We usually allow an extra week for the car to get processed off the wharf and go through Customs, MAF and compliance inspection here in New Zealand. We keep you updated on the whole process as it happens.

If you are happy with a car we will send an inspector to check the car before bidding. If he is happy then we bid on the car and if you win the auction for less, then that is all you pay! We will notify with the outcome of the auction and invoice you for the initial deposit.

In order to get the car shipped as soon as possible, we require an initial deposit of 80% of the total landed price. This is to cover the car cost, shipping and insurance. A prompt payment of this deposit means the car will be on the boat quicker. The remaining balance of 20% is the GST and customs fee to get it off the wharf here in New Zealand. This amount is due on arrival of the boat.

A prompt payment of this amount means the car will get off the wharf and in your hands quicker.

Yes, we can arrange finance. Most finance companies won’t provide finance on vehicles that are not yet in the country, so feel free to us about what finance options we can provide.

We can accept trade-ins, although we recommended that you sell your car yourself as you will get a better sale price compared to what we are able to offer for trade-ins. Trade-ins on vehicles are at our discretion and we have the right to refuse an offer.

We accept the following methods:

• Bank transfers 
• Paypal, and
• Credit card payment 

All payments must be made within the payment deadline.

The bank account details to make a payment is mentioned in the invoice.

ABS Direct offer finance through a range of leading finance institutions. We also provide options for small business owners and people with past credit issues.