When you want to buy a used car from Japan, one of the common denominators tends to be the low mileage. These Japanese cars are very affordable, and them coming with low mileage is the icing on the cake. Having fewer miles than expected, especially on an older vehicle, does help a lot more than expected.

Understanding the Shaken law

The Shaken law was introduced in Japan in the 1950s. The idea was to provide a mandatory inspection system. It’s required to check the car every 2 years, to ensure that the car is safe to drive on the road and there aren’t any type of illegal changes made to the car.

Due to the Shaken law, people just don’t want to have too many miles on the car, because they will be forced to do expensive repairs. So they are much better off buying a newer car and selling the old one. In fact, after 4-5 years, people tend to sell their cars due to the Shaken law.

That also means used cars in Japan tend to have a lower price. In fact, the Japanese car market is one of the most affordable ones in Asia. It’s not hard to find a used car from Japan that has been maintained very well, yet sells at a very affordable price.

Other reasons why Japanese cars have low mileage

·      Cities are compact and dense, and destinations tend to be close together. Most people use their cars for shopping and countryside visits, commutes are not very long, and there are alternative methods of transportation.

·      Aside from the Shaken law, there are other things that increase the costs of car ownership, especially as it gets older. Parking spots are expensive, so that adds up as well. For example, in Japan you can’t buy a car without showing a parking certificate in your name which proves that you have a parking space for the vehicle. Also, renting fees for the parking space can reach over $600 monthly in big cities like Tokyo, Osaka, or similar. The exception would be Kei cars which have smaller, 660cc engines.

·      Japan has a great public transportation system, so you don’t always need a car. Granted, it always depends on your lifestyle and other factors. But in general, Japan is known for having a great public transportation system.

·      There’s also the cultural attitude towards cars. People have an appreciation for vehicles; they want to keep them well-maintained, not to mention they always focus on selling once the costs arise.

·      Domestic buyers always prefer to go with the newer car models, mostly due to newer features and convenience. That’s why the Japan export market for vehicles is thriving and has been doing so for decades.

All in all, Japanese people have many reasons to sell their cars a few years after buying them. That’s why the Japan export market is thriving, especially when we talk about used cars. The Shaken law, high costs of car ownership, and the local lifestyle show that it makes a lot of sense for locals to just sell their car, which is a great opportunity for international car buyers to purchase a Japanese vehicle. So, in the end, it’s a win-win situation for everyone!