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Where it actually came from

Same badge. Different car.

European cars sold new in Japan surface at Japanese auctions decades later. By the time one lands here it's a different proposition — and usually a dearer one.

The two routes, compared
What we do

Sourced from Europe

Europe → Halifax or Montreal
  • Left-hand drive. Built for the road it'll be driven on.
  • 0% duty under CETA — where it qualifies. Shipped direct from the EU with a valid origin declaration. We quote at the standard rate and treat the saving as upside.
  • Broader resale. Not just buyers who'll accept RHD.
  • Straightforward insurance. Rated like any other LHD car here.
  • Faster crossing. Two to three weeks at sea.
  • Documented history. Mandatory roadworthiness testing across Europe leaves a paper trail.
  • Freight can cost more depending where you are.
  • No central auction. Each car has to be found individually.
  • No standard grade sheet. Which is why our team in Europe inspects in person.
The alternative

Sourced from Japan

Japanese auction → Vancouver
  • Cheaper freight. Pacific sailings to the West Coast often beat Atlantic rates.
  • Auction infrastructure. Finding and pricing cars is fast.
  • Standardised grading. Auction sheets read condition consistently.
  • 6.1% duty applies. A European car that entered Japanese commerce loses CETA, and isn't Japan-origin for CPTPP. It pays the standard rate.
  • Right-hand drive. A daily-use compromise that doesn't go away.
  • Narrower resale. RHD shrinks your future buyer pool.
  • Insurance friction. Some insurers rate RHD differently, or decline it.
  • Longer crossing. Four to five weeks at sea.
Duty on a $60,000 vehicle
Shipped from the EU
$0 duty
CETA rate, where the seller can document origin
Shipped from Japan
~$3,660 duty
6.1% standard rate
Illustrative, on a $60,000 customs value. CETA's 0% rate isn't automatic — see the FAQ for what it depends on and how we quote it.
Want a Skyline or a Delica? Japan is the right answer, and we'd tell you so. But if the car you want is European, the shortest path starts in Europe.
Get in touch

Tell us what
you're after.

Send the car, the budget and the timeline. We’ll tell you honestly whether it can be found.

Email
info@sourcemyeuro.ca
Based in
Calgary — serving all of Canada

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