Q. Can I get instant access to the auction web site?
A. Yes. As soon as you sign up and pay your deposit or subscription fee, you’ll have full access to all the Japanese auctions.
Q. Who owns Savage Sushi, and how did it start?
A. Josh Locker is Savage Sushi’s Founder and Director. He has over 20 years’ experience in the automotive industry.
Josh has spent more than 5 years & over 60 plane rides (and more than 300 days each year) working on the ground in Japanese auction playgrounds, shipping more than 5,000 premium vehicles to Australian dealers.
Starting out as a tradesman before moving into the management of Green Plate (low volume) workshops, he more recently created one of Sydney’s finest import vehicle dealerships before selling out in 2005.
In 2006, Josh stepped back from importing game to spend more time on his second love – property design & development. But as you can imagine, he couldn’t stay away long, and Savage Sushi was the perfect way to get further involved in the automotive import industry. Josh’s passion for Japanese sports cars and auctions saw him create Savage Sushi in 2008, and since beginning the business, his enthusiasm has only grown.
Q. Where is Savage Sushi?
A. Savage Sushi’s office is located on the east coast of Australia, in Sydney’s CBD.
Q. Who actually buys the vehicle at auction? Is there someone actually there to look at it?
A. Savage Sushi has extensive contacts all over Japan. All our vehicles are purchased by trusted and established Japanese Export companies with workers at the auction grounds to report the condition of each vehicle directly to Savage Sushi.
Q. Who arranges the shipping of my vehicle to Australia?
A. The Japanese Export Company will arrange this, and their handling charge is included in the FOB charge of JPY-85,000. (A little higher JPY-95,000 if it cost more than JPY-1,400,000 at auction.) There may be slight variation in the FOB charge depending on the auction location.
There are several shipping companies that ship weekly to most Australian coastal cities, and in most cases your car will be shipped Ro-Ro – meaning it will be driven onto a car-carrying ship with all the new cars coming from Japan. It’s the easy and inexpensive way to get it here safely.
For a list of shipping terms .
You can buy insurance for the trip to Australia, for total loss only – if the ship sinks! (It doesn’t cover damage during shipping.) Shipping insurance isn’t expensive – “$150” per unit – so please ask us if you require it. However, a lot of vehicles are shipped to Australia without insurance.
Q. Why should I import a vehicle from Japan myself?
A. Buying Japanese vehicles can be a fun and exciting experience – as well as being hugely rewarding.
You can pick for yourself the exact vehicle you want, and for a much better price than you’d get in an Australian car yard. You’ll also have access to the auction report, telling you the mileage and condition of the car at time of sale – so you know you’re never buying a reconditioned lemon.
So not only is importing your car with Savage Sushi a whole lot cheaper than buying it from a dealer, it also means you know exactly what you’re buying.
Q. How does the auction grading system work?
A. Click here for a full explanation of the auction grading system.
Q. Can I import a modified or damaged vehicle into Australia?
A. Not under R.A.W.'s. All vehicles must be standard at the time of import, and not have been in a major accident. In some cases the compliance workshop will remove modified parts & fit O.M.E parts. There must also be no structural damage or the vehicle won’t be complied. Small dents & panel changes however, are considered normal wear and tear, so there’s no problem complying these vehicles.
Q. Is air-conditioning gas an issue?
A. It all depends on the age of the car, and which gas was fitted to the vehicle. The main types are:
R12: You’ll find this gas in pre-1992 vehicles. It will need to be removed, and a certificate supplied by the export company must be given to the customs broker for clearance on arrival in Australia.
R134A: Usually found in vehicles manufactured after 1992, it doesn’t need to be removed but the importer will need a license. In most cases the R.A.W will have a license, but in some cases we’ll arrange to use an industry organisation’s license which involves paying a small cost ($100) and filling out a form.
Q. What other issues do I have to be aware of?
A. You always need to be aware of federal and state government rules and regulations.
Remember, not all the vehicles you have access on Savagesushi.com are allowed into Australia. Please consult the Savage Sushi list of eligible vehicles list, and check these government websites:
For the motor registry in your state or territory, just click where you live.