| So what makes Japan's Domestic Market (JDM) such | | | | advantages and disadvantages. You can buy from a |
| a hot market for automobiles? People can get a larger | | | | local Japanese dealer or at a Japanese car auction. |
| selection and inexpensive deals on cars when they | | | | When you go through a local dealer you are actually |
| look at Japan's local market for cars instead of | | | | buying a vehicle from an inventory of new cars for |
| purchasing imports at Japanese dealers in their own | | | | sale in the JDM. This way is good if you have found |
| country. You are able to see a lot more options and | | | | the vehicle of your dreams and want it fast. It also |
| can find precisely the make and model you want. | | | | gives you knowledge of the total cost involved; |
| Used JDM cars can be a quite an attractive option for | | | | including the dealer's fee and all the additional |
| the car buyer looking to get quality at the right price. | | | | expenses you come across when importing a car |
| For many reasons, an 8 year old JDM used car is not | | | | from Japan. This approach also allows you to get a |
| the same used car you would come across in your | | | | very detailed report on the vehicle's history and |
| own country. Japanese roads are not very difficult to | | | | condition if it's a used car you are purchasing. Besides, |
| drive at all. Good maintenance means the usual wear | | | | ordering directly from the car dealer is a comparatively |
| and tear of poor road conditions does not have the | | | | easy thing as opposed to going through the auction's |
| same impact on Japanese cars. | | | | ups and downs. |
| Most Japanese people make their homes in cities | | | | Nevertheless, a car auction is still a viable option. But, |
| which are densely populated. Everything needed to live | | | | you can't bid on a car directly so you have to find an |
| comfortably is within a short distance. Therefore the | | | | agent who will do the bidding for you. In this case, the |
| average annual mileage of domestic drivers is less | | | | agent would be responsible for inspecting the vehicle |
| than half the mileage compared to the drivers in other | | | | and assessing its condition, as well as closely following |
| countries. The Japanese Motor Vehicle Inspection | | | | your instructions. This method gives you more chances |
| Registration Association calculates the annual mileage | | | | to save than when you buy a stock vehicle. |
| for domestic drivers to be about 9,000km. On the | | | | Buying a new or used car from Japan is a great way |
| other hand, US drivers average about 19,000km | | | | to get your dream car and save money at the same |
| annually. | | | | time. Although it may not be the quickest and |
| With those things in mind, buying your car through the | | | | convenient way to buy a car, most people will put in |
| JDM is something that needs to be considered. But | | | | the extra effort to save a considerable amount of |
| what's it actually going to take? There are two options | | | | money. |
| to consider in making your purchase. Each has their | | | | |