JCT: Japanese Used Cars Exporter

Total Cars in Stock: 327

: :
Japan

Terms & Conditions

Term & Condition

Effective Date: 1 May 2026 / Last Updated: 1 May 2026 / Governing Law: Japan

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully. By making an enquiry, placing an order, or making any payment, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

Article 1 About Us

Japan Circular Trading Co., Ltd. (“JCT”, “we”, “our”, “us”) is a licensed used vehicle dealer and exporter based in Nagoya, Japan. Second-Hand Dealer Licence No. 541212314700, issued by Aichi Prefectural Public Safety Commission. Address: 2-505-101 Daitoro, Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi 454-0943, Japan.

Article 2 Trading Model

JCT offers both direct sales from available stock and an order-based procurement service in which vehicles are individually sourced from Japanese auctions to match each buyer’s specific requirements. These Terms apply to both types of transactions.

Article 3 Transaction Flow and Documents

(1) Consultation & Information

All transactions begin with a consultation by email or telephone. Please provide your desired vehicle specifications, budget, and destination port. JCT will provide an estimated vehicle price, freight cost, total charges, deposit amount, and balance — by email or verbally. No formal document is issued at this stage.

(2) Proforma Invoice (PI)

Once you have confirmed your intention to purchase, JCT will issue a Proforma Invoice (PI) containing:

  • Vehicle details (make, model, year, grade, etc.)
  • CNF or FOB price
  • Total Amount
  • Deposit Amount
  • Balance Amount
  • Buyer information, destination port, and payment terms

Please review the PI carefully and pay the deposit to confirm your order.

(3) Final Invoice (Balance Invoice)

A Final Invoice will be issued at one of the following times, depending on the agreed payment terms:

  • Before vessel departure: issued prior to sailing, by agreement.
  • After vessel departure: issued after sailing, at the time of B/L Draft presentation.

The Final Invoice states the balance amount, payment due date (within 7 days of issue), and bank details.

Article 4 Deposit & Order Confirmation

  • Payment of the deposit stated in the PI confirms your order and authorises JCT to bid at auction on your behalf.
  • Please pay the deposit within 7 days of receiving the PI. After 7 days, the prices stated in the PI may be subject to change due to exchange rate fluctuations or market movements.
  • For refund conditions, please refer to Article 6 (Cancellation & Refunds).

Article 5 Title, Risk Transfer, and Security over Shipping Documents

⚠  IMPORTANT: Title (ownership) of the vehicle remains with JCT until full payment is received.

(1) Retention of Title

Title (ownership) of the vehicle passes to the buyer only upon JCT’s confirmation of receipt of full payment including the balance. Under CNF terms, risk transfers to the buyer at the time of loading on board the vessel, but title is retained by JCT until full payment is confirmed.

  • This Retention of Title (ROT) clause is valid under Article 176 of the Japanese Civil Code based on agreement between the parties. By accepting these Terms, the buyer acknowledges and agrees to this condition.

(2) CNF Terms and Risk Allocation

JCT’s standard trading terms are CNF (Cost and Freight — freight included, no insurance).

Terms Description
CNF (Standard) Vehicle price + ocean freight included. No insurance. Risk transfers to the buyer at the time of loading on board the vessel.
CIF (On Request) Vehicle price + freight + marine insurance included. Available on request — please enquire at the time of quotation.
FOB (Some transactions) Vehicle price only. Freight and insurance arranged by the buyer. Risk transfers to the buyer at the time of loading on board the vessel.
  • Under CNF and FOB terms, all risk of loss, damage, or theft during ocean transit is borne by the buyer from the moment of loading. JCT accepts no liability for any loss or damage occurring after the vessel has departed.

JCT strongly recommends that buyers arrange marine cargo insurance. Please advise at the time of ordering if you wish us to arrange cover (see Article 8).

(3) Payment Obligation in the Event of Total Loss

Even if the vehicle suffers damage or total loss during transit under CNF or FOB conditions, the buyer’s obligation to pay the balance is not extinguished, as risk has already transferred to the buyer. Buyers with marine insurance may claim from their insurer.

(4) Security Function of Shipping Documents

Shipping documents will be issued in one of the following forms depending on the destination, transaction, and buyer’s preference:

Document Type Features & Security Function
Original B/L (Bill of Lading) Presentation of the original B/L is required to collect cargo at the destination port. JCT retains the original until full payment is confirmed. Strongest security function.
Surrendered B/L After full payment is confirmed, JCT instructs the shipping line to surrender the B/L at the port of loading. The buyer may collect the cargo at the destination without presenting the original.
Sea Waybill A non-negotiable transport document. JCT confirms the consignee information only after full payment is received. Used for certain destinations or established buyer relationships.
  • Regardless of document type, JCT will not issue, surrender, or confirm any shipping document until full payment including the balance has been received.

(5) Title & Risk Transfer Summary (where balance is paid after departure)

The table below shows the position where payment is made after vessel departure and the balance remains unpaid.

Stage Risk Title (Ownership)
Order confirmed (deposit paid) JCT JCT
Loading / vessel departure Transfers to Buyer JCT (retained)
Full payment confirmed Buyer Transfers to Buyer (complete)
  • Where full payment is received before vessel departure, both risk and title transfer to the buyer at the time of loading.

Article 6 Cancellation & Refunds

Cancellation Timing Refund Deduction / Penalty
① Before bidding (deposit paid, no bid placed yet) Full refund Bank transfer charges of JPY 5,000 (flat fee) deducted
② Unsold at auction (bid placed but vehicle not won) and no alternative vehicle purchased Full refund Bank transfer charges of JPY 5,000 deducted. Processed promptly.
③ Cancellation after bidding (bid already submitted) No refund Deposit forfeited in full. If additional costs are incurred (e.g. auction fees, domestic resale at a loss, logistics), these will be invoiced separately.
④ Non-payment after Final Invoice (more than 7 days after Final Invoice issued) No refund Deposit forfeited in full. If resale price is below agreed amount, the shortfall and additional costs (storage, re-export, etc.) will be invoiced.
  • The JPY 5,000 bank transfer charge represents the actual cost incurred by JCT and the banking system for processing international wire transfers (T/T) in both directions.
  • Refunds are processed within 5-10 business days of confirmation.

Article 7 Balance Payment

Balance payment is made either before or after vessel departure, in accordance with the payment terms agreed and stated on the PI and Final Invoice.

(1) Payment Before Departure

By agreement, full balance payment may be made before vessel departure. In this case, both risk and title transfer to the buyer at the time of loading. The Final Invoice will be issued before departure.

(2) Payment After Departure

After the vessel departs, JCT will send a B/L Draft and issue the Final Invoice. Please pay the balance within the stated deadline. After full payment is confirmed, JCT will process the B/L Surrender or issue the original B/L.

(3) Payment Deadline

  • Full balance payment must be received within 7 calendar days of the date the Final Invoice is issued.

The due date is calculated in calendar days and will be stated on the Final Invoice.

(4) Consequences of Non-Payment

⚠  If full payment is not received within 7 days of the Final Invoice being issued:

  • JCT reserves the right, under Article 5 (Retention of Title), to resell the vehicle to another buyer.
  • The deposit will be forfeited and will not be refunded.
  • If the resale price is lower than the originally agreed amount, JCT may invoice the buyer for the shortfall and any additional costs incurred (storage, re-export, etc.).

Article 8 CNF Terms and Marine Insurance

(1) Risk Under CNF Terms

Under CNF terms, risk in the vehicle transfers to the buyer at the point of loading on board the vessel in Japan. JCT accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or theft occurring during ocean transit.

(2) Marine Insurance Recommendation

  • JCT strongly recommends that all buyers arrange marine cargo insurance.

(3) Insurance Options

  • Arranged by JCT Please advise at the time of ordering. JCT will arrange cover and include the premium in the invoice (CIF terms will apply).
  • Arranged by Buyer Buyers may arrange their own cover through their preferred insurer or broker.
  • No Insurance If no insurance is arranged, the buyer accepts full responsibility for all risk of loss or damage during transit.
  • If you wish to trade on CIF terms, please request this at the time of quotation.

Article 9 Payment Method

  • All payments must be made by international bank wire transfer (T/T — Telegraphic Transfer) only. Credit cards, cash, cheques, PayPal, cryptocurrency, and all other payment methods are not accepted.
  • Payments must be made only to the bank accounts listed on the BANK DETAILS page of our website.
  • All bank transfer charges are the buyer’s responsibility. Please ensure the full invoiced amount is received net of all fees.
  • Payment is considered complete only upon confirmed receipt in JCT’s account.

Article 10 Vehicle Condition & Grading

Vehicles are described based on auction inspection reports prepared by independent, certified inspectors. JCT does not generally handle vehicles with major damage or accident history, except by specific buyer request.

Article 11 Export & Risk Transfer

  • JCT arranges all Japanese export documentation and deregistration on behalf of the buyer.
  • Risk in the vehicle transfers to the buyer at the time of loading at the Japanese export port (CNF / FOB basis). However, title remains with JCT until full payment is received, as stated in Article 5.
  • Estimated departure dates (ETD) and arrival dates (ETA) are indicative only.

Article 12 Release of Shipping Documents

Regardless of document type (Original B/L, Surrendered B/L, or Sea Waybill), JCT will not issue, release, or process any shipping document until full payment including the balance has been confirmed. See Article 5(4).

Article 13 Import Duties, Taxes & Customs

The buyer is solely responsible for all import duties, taxes, customs clearance fees, broker charges, and compliance with import regulations in the destination country. Please refer to Article 16 regarding vehicle age restrictions and import limitations.

Article 14 Limitation of Liability

JCT’s maximum liability is limited to the purchase price paid for the relevant vehicle. JCT is not liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive losses, including loss of profit or business interruption.

In the event of total loss after loading under CNF or FOB terms, JCT bears no liability as risk has already transferred to the buyer.

Article 15 Force Majeure

JCT is not liable for delays or non-performance caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including vessel schedule changes, port congestion, natural disasters, pandemics, strikes, government actions, or international sanctions.

Article 16 Import Restrictions & Vehicle Age Regulations

Some destination countries impose restrictions on the import of vehicles based on vehicle age, steering configuration (right-hand/left-hand drive), engine displacement, or emissions standards. Buyers are responsible for verifying all applicable import regulations before placing an order.

JCT will endeavour to provide relevant information where available, but final confirmation of import eligibility rests with the buyer and their local import agent or customs broker. JCT accepts no liability for refunding costs already incurred (auction fees, freight, export processing, etc.) in the event that import is refused at the destination.

  • JCT has encountered cases where vehicles have been refused import at the destination port due to vehicle age regulations. Import regulations are subject to change — please verify the latest requirements for your country before each order.

Article 17 Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any disputes arising from or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Nagoya District Court, Japan.

Article 18 Amendments

JCT reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. The version published on our website at the time of order placement applies to that transaction.

Quick Reference — Transaction Flow

Step Action Title / Risk
① Enquiry Discuss by email or phone (no formal document)
② PI & Deposit PI issued → deposit paid within 7 days → order confirmed → bidding begins Title: JCT   Risk: JCT
③ Final Invoice issued Before or after departure per agreed terms After departure: Risk → Buyer
Title: JCT (retained)
④ Balance paid (within 7 days) Balance received → documents released Title → Buyer (complete)
⑤ Delivery Customs clearance & collection at destination port Complete
Cancellation Refund Penalty
Before bidding Full refund Less JPY 5,000 bank charge
Unsold (no alternative purchase) Full refund Less JPY 5,000 bank charge
After bidding No refund Deposit forfeited. Additional costs may be invoiced if incurred forfeited
7+ days after Final Invoice No refund Deposit forfeited + resale shortfall