The biggest worry when buying a used Japanese import car is often the mileage or the distance the car has traveled. Unfortunately, odometer fraud (illegally winding back the kilometers) is a widespread problem in the global used car export market. To protect yourself and ensure you’re getting a fair deal, you must follow a strict process to confirm the car’s genuine mileage.
The Golden Rule: Check the Paperwork
The most reliable evidence for a Japanese car’s mileage comes from official documentation that was recorded before the car was exported. You should demand and review these three core documents:
1. The Japanese Export Certificate (Deregistration Certificate)
Before a car can leave Japan, it must be officially deregistered. This process creates the Export Certificate, which is the most important document for mileage verification.
- What to Look For: This certificate lists the vehicle’s odometer readings and the dates those readings were recorded during its last two mandatory roadworthiness inspections (called Shaken in Japan).
- The Check: Compare the mileage recorded on this certificate to the mileage currently showing on the car’s odometer. If the car’s current reading is less than the last reading on the certificate, the mileage has been tampered with.
If you are specifically interested in used Toyota cars for sale in Japan, this certificate is non-negotiable. Because Toyotas are so reliable and popular, they are often targeted by scammers. Genuine paperwork is your best defense against buying a “clocked” car.
2. The Original Auction Sheet
If your car was bought through a Japanese auction (which most are), it comes with an auction sheet. This report is filled out by an independent inspector at the auction house.
- What to Look For: The auction sheet clearly shows the odometer reading at the time the car was auctioned. You should also check the notes section for special symbols next to the mileage reading.
- An asterisk (*) often means the inspector suspects the odometer has been changed and cannot confirm the true mileage.
- A hash sign (#) or dollar sign ($ ) may indicate that some records exist but the reading is not fully guaranteed.
- The Check: Cross-reference the mileage on this sheet with the Export Certificate and the current odometer. All three numbers should show a logical increase in distance traveled over time.
Advanced Verification Methods
While the official documents provide the necessary paper trail, a few extra steps can give you absolute peace of mind.
3. Independent Verification Services
Several international and Japan-based inspection companies specialize in verifying the history of imported cars.
- JEVIC (Japan Export Vehicle Inspection Center): JEVIC offers independent odometer verification services, often checking against Japan’s national vehicle database. They can issue a certified certificate guaranteeing the mileage is genuine.
- QISJ (Quality Inspection Services Japan) or BIMTA (British Independent Motor Trade Association): These organizations also offer services where you submit the car’s chassis number (VIN) to check against their records of past inspections and auction data. Paying for one of these checks is a small price to pay to avoid a massive, costly mistake.
4. Physical Inspection for Inconsistencies
Mileage rollback often happens without hiding the physical wear and tear. A car that claims to have only 50,000 km should look and feel almost new.
- Interior Wear: Look for excessive wear on the driver’s seat cushion, the steering wheel (if not covered), and the rubber on the brake and accelerator pedals. A car with genuine low mileage will have minimal wear in these areas.
- Service Stickers: Check the engine bay and door jambs for service stickers written in Japanese. These stickers often include the date and the mileage at the time of the previous service, providing extra proof of the mileage progression.
Conclusion: Mitigating Your Risk
The key to confirming a Japanese used car’s mileage is transparency. If a seller or importer cannot, or refuses to, provide the original Export Certificate and Auction Sheet, walk away from the deal. These documents are fundamental to the import process and are readily available if the car’s history is clean. By cross-checking the mileage across multiple official sources and investing in an independent check, you drastically reduce your risk of buying a car with fraudulent mileage.