Bringing a vehicle into Japan
 

Dear All,

Does anyone know what types of documents will be necessary for bringing a vehicle to Japan for touring purpose ?

My car is registered in PRC China, 2 years old and in good condition. As far as I know, temporatory importing a vehicle into japan require a carnet. However, there's no authoritiy issuing such document in China, can I bring my car without a carnet ?

The second thing that I'm concerning is, as the vehicle registration doucments and the number plate itself are all in chinese, (I'm not sure wether traffic police in Japan will stop me on the road and check my registration documents when seeing a car with chinese plate) am I require to have the vehicle registration documents to be translated into English or Japanese for just incase ?

Finally, the most headache part, anyone can tell me how to get an insurance in Japan, if I can buy them easily from gas station or convient stores, or I better get one before bringing my car to Japan.

Thanks,

Grant Lui

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02 FAW-VW BORA 1.8T (M/T)
KW-V2 Coilover
HKS SSQV Blow-off
Pipercross High-flow Air-filter
BOSCH OEM HID w/Meccatune Xenon
Neuspeed Cat-Back Polished DTM
18' OZ Superleggera + Yokohama AD07 225/40R18

Dreaming of Trans-Siberian Highway cross country touring........

http://www.vwexpedition.com
Hong Kong Volkswagen Cars Expedition Club

[This message has been edited by Grant (edited 17 March 2005).]

You really should look for other posts on the same subject before asking a question:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000635.html

Thanks Chris,

I've read 2 title about japan without carnet before asking this question. My situation is very different from them, therefore those post are not very useful for my case. It is because they choose not to get one while for me is I can't get one. also my car which is registered in China, as far as I know, does not affiliate with the 1949 Convention. Therefore their bike may go on the road legally even without a carnet while I may not.

This also bring the second and third questions. With a carnet, as far as I know, all the information of the registered vehicle are to be noted on the carnet documents, but for my case, If I don't have a carnet, what can I do ? and without a carnet, how can I get an insurance.

For bike, I think it's ok for not getting an insurance, becasue damage could be very limited and usually can be afforded.

Thanks,

Grant Lui

I cannot say for sure.
But if you car is
A. registered in Hong Kong and
B. you have a Hong Kong international drivers permit
you are probably OK.
Otherwise, I think you have no hope.
After all, China doesn't let us drive our cars and bikes there!

The 1949 convention still applies to Hong Kong, I think.
The paperwork and premissions are the same as for motorcycles.
You need a letter from your Embassy, too, as I said in the other post.
Insurance is mandatory, and you can get it from any car dealer.

Sorry, but that is all I know.

If VW is supporting you, maybe you should ask for their help.

Thank you Chris,

I can see how inconvient the one country two system is for HK after hangover back to China. I can't drive my car back to HK too, unfortunally. : (

I have both HK SAR and British passport, therefore I believe I have no problem in entering Japan without a visa, for HK international drivers permit, I've got one too, so I think I'm legal to drive in Japan with only a short period of 2 months time.

Now, I've got a plan is that, forget about the 1949 convention matters, I import the car to japan legally, without a carnet, I'll pay the tax or security to customs for clearance, get a translation notary for my car registration documents into english or japanese and start going on to the road. Still I think I'll perfer getting an insurance, do u know wether getting a short term insurance will be difficult ? I'm very much concern of not be able to get an insurance, that's the real no hope :'( I remember reading another post said there's a guy successfully got an insurance in tokyo, of course he had a carnet. Me and my car will be arriving at the Osaka ferry port from Shanghai. If you know some close car dealers can u give me their contact ?

For cars entering China, there are ways of doing it, last year, I went to "manzhouli" the China/Russia boarder, Russian cars are free to enter, no extra number plates are necessary. Of course if they wanna to get further in, they need to obtian a temporatory entrance number plate which I know open for application for 3 cars and up at the same time from the local traffic police department. Inspection of vehicle is necessary, but it's not stright at all.

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02 FAW-VW BORA 1.8T (M/T)
KW-V2 Coilover
HKS SSQV Blow-off
Pipercross High-flow Air-filter
BOSCH OEM HID w/Meccatune Xenon
Neuspeed Cat-Back Polished DTM
18' OZ Superleggera + Yokohama AD07 225/40R18

Dreaming of Trans-Siberian Highway cross country touring........

http://www.vwexpedition.com
Hong Kong Volkswagen Cars Expedition Club

My car at the "Manzhouli" China/Russia boarder

http://www.vwexpedition.com/photoalb...-page-040.html

Mongolian & Russian Vehicle in Manzhouli Town

http://www.vwexpedition.com/photoalb...-page-005.html

------------------
02 FAW-VW BORA 1.8T (M/T)
KW-V2 Coilover
HKS SSQV Blow-off
Pipercross High-flow Air-filter
BOSCH OEM HID w/Meccatune Xenon
Neuspeed Cat-Back Polished DTM
18' OZ Superleggera + Yokohama AD07 225/40R18

Dreaming of Trans-Siberian Highway cross country touring........

http://www.vwexpedition.com
Hong Kong Volkswagen Cars Expedition Club