Please read it in full. The key points: you approve every bid in writing; the deposit is refundable until a car is won; our fee is fixed and itemised; third-party costs are passed on at cost.
A. This agreement
A.1 This Sourcing & Import Agreement (the "Agreement") is made between Japan to Ireland Automotive Limited, company number 825951, Lily's Court, Ongar Green, Dublin ("we", "us") and the customer named in the Order Schedule ("you").
A.2 You appoint us as your agent to find, bid on, buy, export, ship and, where selected, clear and register in Ireland the vehicle described in the Order Schedule, on the terms below.
A.3 The Agreement is made up of: (a) the Order Schedule you complete on this page; (b) the Terms and Conditions set out below; and (c) any written Quotation and Bid Approval we agree with you. If they conflict, the Bid Approval takes priority, then the Quotation, then the Order Schedule, then the Terms.
A.4 Signing this Agreement does not commit you to buy a particular vehicle. We will never bid until you give written Bid Approval for a specific vehicle and Maximum Bid (clause 5 of the Terms).
1. About us and these terms
1.1 These terms and conditions (the "Terms") govern the vehicle sourcing and import services provided by Japan to Ireland Automotive Limited, a company registered in Ireland under company number 825951, with its registered office at Lily's Court, Ongar Green, Dublin ("we", "us", "our").
1.2 You can contact us by phone or WhatsApp on +353 85 276 8556, or by email at [email protected].
1.3 These Terms apply to every enquiry, quotation and order. Your specific order is made up of these Terms, your written Quotation and your written Bid Approval. If there is a conflict, the Bid Approval takes priority, then the Quotation, then these Terms.
1.4 If you are a consumer, nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights under Irish law, including the Consumer Rights Act 2022 and the European Communities (Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts) Regulations.
2. Definitions
2.1 "Auction" means a vehicle auction or dealer sale in Japan through which we source a Vehicle.
2.2 "Auction Sheet" means the independent inspection report issued by the auction house for a Vehicle.
2.3 "Bid Approval" means your written confirmation of a specific Vehicle and your Maximum Bid.
2.4 "Maximum Bid" means the highest hammer price, in Japanese yen, that you authorise us to bid.
2.5 "Quotation" means our written, itemised estimate of the total cost of importing a Vehicle.
2.6 "Service Fee" means our concierge fee, as set out in clause 8.
2.7 "Third-Party Costs" means all costs charged by others, including the auction price, freight, marine insurance, customs duty, import VAT, Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT), NCT and NCTS fees, remedial work, storage and delivery.
2.8 "Vehicle" means the vehicle you instruct us to source and import.
3. Our services
3.1 We act as your sourcing and import agent. We search Japanese Auctions for vehicles that match your brief, advise you, bid on your behalf, and arrange export, shipping, customs clearance and, where selected, Irish registration. We do not hold stock and we are not the manufacturer of any Vehicle.
3.2 We offer two service levels:
- To Dublin Port — sourcing, bidding, export and shipping to Dublin Port. You are responsible for customs clearance, VRT, registration and collection, unless agreed otherwise.
- Complete Irish Registration — everything in "To Dublin Port", plus customs clearance, the NCTS VRT inspection, payment of VRT on your behalf, and Irish registration and plates.
3.3 Optional extras, such as handling the NCT, fitting tyres or other work, and delivery, are provided only where set out in your Quotation or later agreed in writing.
3.4 We will provide the services with reasonable care and skill, within a reasonable time and in line with any information we have given you.
4. Enquiries, quotations and estimates
4.1 Enquiries, sourcing and quotations are free and create no obligation for you to proceed.
4.2 Figures shown on our website, including the cost estimator, fee calculator, example figures and ship tracker, are indicative only. They are not a Quotation, an offer or a tax assessment.
4.3 Your Quotation will list each cost separately and state which items are fixed and which are estimates. Estimated items include the exchange rate, VRT, and any work needed for the NCT.
4.4 A Quotation is valid for 45 days unless it states otherwise. It is based on recent market prices for the model at auction. If prices move significantly before you give your Bid Approval, we will update the Quotation with you before bidding.
5. Your approval and our bidding authority
5.1 We will never bid on a Vehicle without your Bid Approval. Before you approve, we will give you the available photos, the Auction Sheet and our translation and honest assessment of it.
5.2 Your Bid Approval authorises us to bid up to, but never above, your Maximum Bid. We may win the Vehicle below your Maximum Bid; you pay the actual hammer price.
5.3 Once we place a bid in line with your Bid Approval and the Vehicle is won, the purchase is binding under the auction house's rules and cannot be reversed. Please make sure you are certain before approving.
5.4 If we do not win, we will suggest other suitable Vehicles. If you decide not to proceed with another Vehicle, all funds you have paid are refunded in full (clause 7).
6. Vehicle information and condition
6.1 Auction Sheets and grades are prepared by independent inspectors employed by the auction house, not by us. We translate and explain them accurately and in good faith, but we cannot guarantee information supplied by auction houses or sellers.
6.2 An auction grade is a summary of condition at the time of inspection. It is not a warranty of mechanical condition, future reliability or mileage. Recorded mileage is as stated by the auction house and exporter.
6.3 Vehicles are used vehicles and may show wear consistent with their age, grade and mileage. Photos and model images on our website are illustrations and may not show the specific Vehicle, its colour or its equipment.
6.4 We inspect each Vehicle on arrival in Ireland and tell you honestly what we find. If a Vehicle arrives with significant undisclosed damage that was not shown on the Auction Sheet, we will help you pursue any available claim against the auction house or exporter, and your statutory rights are unaffected.
6.5 You are responsible for confirming, before approving a Vehicle, that your insurer will cover it and that it suits your needs.
7. Deposits and payments
7.1 Payments are made in stages, set out in your Quotation, typically:
- Deposit — on Bid Approval, before we bid;
- Vehicle balance — the hammer price, within 10 working days of a winning bid;
- Shipping, duty, VAT and VRT — as they fall due;
- Balance of Service Fee and remaining charges — before handover.
7.2 The deposit depends on the Vehicle's auction purchase price:
- Under €10,000 — a deposit of €1,500 plus VAT.
- €10,000 or more — a deposit of 30% of your Maximum Bid.
The deposit is your guarantee of commitment to pay for a Vehicle won under your Bid Approval.7.3 If no Vehicle is won and you decide not to proceed, all funds you have paid are refunded in full, within 14 days. You may instead carry the deposit forward to your next Bid Approval.
7.4 Once a Vehicle has been won under your Bid Approval, the deposit is non-refundable. If you do not pay the Vehicle balance when due, the deposit is forfeited and used to cover the auction house's re-listing fee and related costs of returning the Vehicle to auction.
7.5 Auction purchases are paid in Japanese yen. Euro figures in your Quotation use an estimated exchange rate; you pay the actual cost at the rate on the day of payment. We will tell you the rate used.
7.6 Late payment of the Vehicle balance can lead to penalties from the auction house. Where this is caused by your delay, those penalties and any resale loss are payable by you.
7.7 Fraud warning: We will never change our bank details by email or message alone. Always confirm payment details by phone on +353 85 276 8556 before transferring money. We are not responsible for payments sent to an account we did not confirm to you directly.
8. Our Service Fee
8.1 Our Service Fee includes Japanese auction and export fees (auction house fee, inland transport to port, de-registration and export documents). It is a base fee of €1,000 (To Dublin Port) or, for Complete Irish Registration, €1,250 where the Vehicle purchase price is under €6,000 and €1,500 where it is €6,000 or more, plus €250 for each full €10,000 of the Vehicle purchase price up to €40,000, and €1,000 for each full €10,000 above €40,000.
8.2 The Service Fee is quoted excluding VAT. Irish VAT at the standard rate (currently 23%) is added.
8.3 Third-Party Costs are passed through to you at cost and itemised separately. We do not add a hidden margin to Third-Party Costs.
9. Ownership and risk
9.1 Ownership of the Vehicle passes to you once the Vehicle balance has been paid in full. Until then, the Vehicle is held for your account subject to payment.
9.2 While the Vehicle is at sea, it is covered by marine insurance as set out in your Quotation. While it is in our care in Ireland, it is covered by our motor trade insurance.
9.3 Risk passes to you at handover, whether on collection, delivery, or release at port for the "To Dublin Port" service.
10. Shipping, timing and tracking
10.1 Typical timings are 6 to 8 weeks at sea and 80 to 120 days from winning bid to Irish registration. These are estimates, not guarantees.
10.2 Shipping schedules are set by shipping lines and can change due to port calls, transshipment, weather, congestion, route changes or customs checks. We are not liable for delays outside our reasonable control, but we will keep you informed.
10.3 The ship tracker on our website shows an estimated position based on the schedule and typical route. It is not live satellite data.
11. Customs, VAT and VRT
11.1 Customs duty (generally 10%) and import VAT (currently 23%) are charged on the customs value of the Vehicle. A reduced duty rate under the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement applies only where valid proof of origin is available.
11.2 VRT is assessed and charged by the Revenue Commissioners on the Vehicle's Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) in Ireland, its CO₂ emissions and its NOₓ emissions. Revenue's assessment is final, may differ from our estimate, and is payable by you.
11.3 All taxes are payable at the rates in force on the date they fall due. Changes to tax law after your Quotation will be passed on at cost.
11.4 For registration you must provide documents verifying the new registered owner's name and address. Only the following are accepted: an original P60; a bank or financial institution statement; a credit card statement; or a utility bill (electricity, gas, TV service provider such as Sky or Virgin Media, landline, or bill-pay mobile phone). If an original hard copy cannot be provided, two online statements are accepted — one from a utility provider and one online bank statement. All documents must be originals and no older than 6 months.
12. NCT, remedial work and tyres
12.1 Imported vehicles may need work before passing the NCT, such as EU-approved tyres, a rear fog lamp, legal window tint or headlamp adjustment.
12.2 You can choose to book and take the NCT yourself (test centre fee, currently €60), or ask us to handle the NCT for a fixed fee of €300, including managing any re-test.
12.3 Tyres are only replaced where the existing tyres do not meet EU requirements. We confirm the exact cost for your wheel size before fitting. Any other remedial work is quoted separately and only carried out with your approval.
13. Handover, collection and storage
13.1 We will contact you when the Vehicle is ready. You can collect it or choose paid delivery, as set out in your Quotation.
13.2 Once a Vehicle is discharged at Dublin Port, it must be cleared and removed promptly. If clearance charges, duty, VAT or VRT are not paid on time and the Vehicle cannot be removed, Dublin Port quay rent applies and is passed on to you at cost. For second-hand cars in the designated car storage terminals (T6–T8), the current Dublin Port rates are:
- Days 1–3 after discharge — free (excluding the first Sunday of the storage period);
- Days 4–7 — €15 per car per day;
- Day 8 onwards — €30 per car per day, until the car is removed.
Cars held at Alexandra Quay East or West are charged €30 per car per day with no free period. All port charges are plus VAT and are set by Dublin Port, which may change them.13.3 Where a delay is caused by us, we will pay any resulting quay rent.
13.4 You must have valid motor insurance in place before driving the Vehicle away.
14. Cancellation and your rights
14.1 If you agree our services at a distance (for example, by phone, email or WhatsApp), you normally have the right to cancel within 14 days without giving a reason.
14.2 If you ask us to start bidding within the 14-day period, you agree that we can do so and you acknowledge that, once a Vehicle has been won in line with your Bid Approval, you will lose the right to cancel that purchase, because the auction contract is binding and the Vehicle is sourced to your personal specification.
14.3 Before a winning bid, you may cancel at any time and all funds you have paid are refunded in full.
14.4 After a winning bid, the purchase cannot be cancelled and the deposit is non-refundable, as set out in clause 7. If you do not complete payment, the deposit is forfeited to cover re-listing the Vehicle at auction.
14.5 We may cancel if you fail to make a payment after a written reminder, or provide false information. We will explain the costs and refund any balance owed to you.
15. Our liability
15.1 We are responsible for loss or damage you suffer that is a foreseeable result of our breach of these Terms or our failure to use reasonable care and skill.
15.2 We are not responsible for loss caused by:
- information in Auction Sheets or supplied by auction houses, exporters or shipping lines, provided we passed it on accurately;
- decisions of Revenue, customs, the NCTS or the NCT;
- events outside our reasonable control (clause 16);
- any business loss, where you buy for business purposes.
15.3 Where you buy as a business, our total liability is limited to the amount of the Service Fee paid for the Vehicle concerned.
15.4 Nothing in these Terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything that cannot be limited by law.
16. Events outside our control
16.1 We are not liable for delay or failure caused by events outside our reasonable control, including war, conflict, closure of shipping routes, natural disasters, pandemics, strikes, port closures, changes in law or government action.
16.2 If such an event happens, we will tell you as soon as possible and do what we reasonably can to limit the effect.
17. Complaints and disputes
17.1 If you are unhappy, please tell us first by email or phone. We will handle your complaint as soon as possible and keep you updated until it is resolved.
17.2 If we can't resolve it, you may contact the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) for guidance, or use the Small Claims procedure of the District Court for eligible claims.
18. Your personal data
18.1 We use your personal data only to provide our services, meet legal obligations (including customs, VRT and registration) and communicate with you, as explained in our privacy policy.
18.2 We share data only with parties needed to complete your import, such as auction houses, exporters, shipping and clearing agents, Revenue and the NCTS.
19. General
19.1 We may update these Terms from time to time. The Terms in force when you give your Bid Approval apply to that order.
19.2 If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid, the rest remains in force.
19.3 No delay by us in enforcing these Terms waives our rights.
19.4 These Terms are governed by the laws of Ireland, and the Irish courts have jurisdiction. If you are a consumer living elsewhere in the EU, you keep the protection of the mandatory laws of your country.
Z. Electronic signature and records
Z.1 You sign this Agreement electronically by ticking the confirmations and typing your full name. Under the Electronic Commerce Act 2000 this has the same effect as a handwritten signature.
Z.2 When you press "Confirm & sign", the completed Order Schedule, the version of this Agreement, a digital fingerprint of its full text and the date and time are sent to us, and a confirmation is sent to the email address you provide. We keep this record for as long as needed for your order and our legal obligations.
Z.3 You confirm that the details you give are true and complete, and that you are at least 18 years old.
