Discussions

Japan’s inspection system, referred to as Shaken (車検), is a significant factor contributing to the excellent condition of second-hand cars in the country. The system stipulates that a vehicle should be inspected at regular intervals to check if it complies with very tough safety, pollution, and performance requirements.

Due to the expensive and comprehensive nature of the inspections, the majority of Japanese car owners decide to sell or trade-in their vehicles when they are still in perfect condition often before the next inspection. Thus, the second hand vehicles coming from Japan are mostly well-taken care of, have low mileage and are in good condition mechanically.

To summarize, Japan’s tough inspection system makes sure that the cars coming to the export market from Japan are reliable, safe, and of premium quality thus becoming very popular in international markets.