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FAQs

Frequently Asked Quentions

General Questions

For export rules and procedures for your country, including pre-export inspections lists, please visit your country’s appropriate government authorities. References to these authorities can be found in our FAQ section “Basic Export Rules/Regulations per Country.”

It is also strongly suggested that prior to importing a vehicle, you research what is expected of you as a vehicle importer in your country and understand all risks and responsibilities.

We are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (Japan time). Please note that lunch break is held
12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

We are closed on the following days:

・ Saturday and Sunday
・ New Year’s Holiday (several days around New Year’s Day)
・ Golden Week (several days between April and May)
・ Summer Holiday (several days in mid-August)
・ Seminar Sessions (a few days throughout the year)

Please note that long holidays such as New Year’s, Golden Week, and Summer Holiday will differ in length each year. Specific dates will be announced as the season approaches.
Primarily English, however, it is possible to discuss business in other languages:

No, these fees are not included in our FOB pricing. The term “FOB Price,” as seen on Znk Motor’s website, refers to the vehicle’s price only. Freight charge should be added to the FOB price when you purchase the vehicle from us. After receiving the vehicle, you will be responsible for paying port clearing costs, import duties, taxes and any additional fees required by your country or the port of discharge. Please contact local authorities or a reputable clearing agent for further details.

Please know that our trained agents are available to assist you as clearing agents. For more information about this additional service, please click on the appropriate port below.

Dar Es Salaam
Durban
Mombasa

We provide up to 30 detailed pictures of the vehicle to help with your buying decision.
No, we are not allowed to put anything inside the vehicle unless it is shipped by container.
To help make the vehicle buying process as secure as possible, we only accept one e-mail address.

You may enter your discount code in the discount code field located at the bottom of the vehicle page’s “Free Quote” section.

Please note that by using the discount code, you agree to all applicable terms and conditions as provided by ZNK Motors.

Vehicles & Inventory

Yes, when the information is available. However, we cannot guarantee this information, because it is provided by a third party. ZNK Motors shall not be responsible for any losses, damages and/or troubles cause by this information.

No: because we sell Japanese vehicles previously owned and operated in Japan, any provided manual will be in Japanese.

It depends. If you do not find spare keys in the vehicle’s glove compartment, then they are not provided. You will be responsible for making copies when you receive the vehicle.

We maintain a constant inventory of over 10,000 vehicles with new purchases every day.

No, changing the vehicle’s odometer reading is illegal. BE FORWARD does not participate in illegal actions, regardless of the reason.
Definitely! Please do not hesitate to let us know what you are looking for. Our staff will do our best to find the vehicle that best suits your request.
We provide up to 30 detailed pictures of the vehicle to help with your buying decision.
Yes, we can. Please tell us what you want us to install before asking for the Proforma Invoice.
No, we are not allowed to put anything inside the vehicle unless it is shipped by container.

A vehicle is “Under Offer” when a customer has made a formal offer to purchase the vehicle, but we have not yet confirmed the customer’s payment. If the offer is accepted and we confirm the customer’s payment, it becomes SOLD and is no longer available to other customers. If the offer is rejected or expires, the vehicle remains in inventory and becomes available for other customers to make an offer.

Unfortunately, this is not possible as we do not allow anyone into our storage yard for security reasons. However, you can visit our office. To do so, please schedule an appointment in advance.

Buying & Paying

It is the “final estimate” in the form of an invoice based on the chosen vehicle and shipping conditions. In order to receive the Proforma Invoice, please follow the steps below.

1. Visit our website and click on the vehicle you like to access our Total Price Calculator.
2. Fill in all required information in the calculator and personal information in the Free Quote section and click on “FREE QUOTE” to send us an inquiry.
3. Once our staff responds to your inquiry, we can begin the negotiation process.
4. If both you and ZNK MOTORS reach an agreement on pricing and conditions, you will be notified as such.
5. You will receive the Proforma Invoice.
A service provided by ZNK MOTORS for transferring the vehicle from the port of discharge to a designated city/border for delivery to the consignee.
Please visit our website and click on the vehicle you like to see our Total Price Calculator. Then, follow the steps below.

1. Fill in all required information in the calculator.
2. Verify that you have chosen a destination under the “City Delivery” classification in the “Nearest Port/City” drop-down menu.
3. Click on “CALCULATE” to receive your free price quote.

Please note that the calculated price is the amount due by the buyer and is to be paid as a one-time payment (no installments accepted).

No, as exporters, we do not sell vehicles for domestic use in Japan.

Please visit our website and click on the vehicle you like to see our Total Price Calculator. Then, follow the steps below.

1. Fill in all required information in the calculator.
2. Verify that you have chosen a destination under the “City Delivery” classification in the “Nearest Port/City” drop-down menu.
3. Click on “CALCULATE” to receive your free price quote.
4. If you would like further information, fill in the personal information in the Free Quote section and click on “FREE QUOTE” to send us an inquiry.

Please note that the calculated price is the amount due by the buyer and is to be paid as a one-time payment (no installments accepted).
 

Primarily, we accept payment in U.S. dollars. However, under certain circumstances, Japanese yen is also accepted. No other currencies are accepted.

Please note that all payments must be in the form of a bank remittance so that the buyer and seller have official written record of the payment transaction. Under no circumstances do we accept any form of cash.

Currently we accept payments via bank wire transfer. For detailed information, please refer here.

No, we do not provide receipts. The bank remittance provides an official written record of the payment transaction for both the buyer and seller.

Please allow a minimum of three (3) business days for your bank remittance to be reflected in our bank account. While this delay may cause some inconvenience, it is the average amount of time required for interbank transactions.
For some countries, a pre-export inspection is mandatory prior to exporting the vehicle. Please visit your country’s appropriate government authorities to obtain all required pre-export inspections lists. References to these authorities can be found in our FAQ section “Basic Export Rules/Regulations per Country.” It has been reported that while many countries in the past have not enforced this regulation, they are beginning to impose large fines for violations. Please make sure that the condition of your purchase is inspection inclusive if such is mandatory by your country’s government.
Once you submit your payment for transfer at your bank, you will receive a Telegraphic Transfer Copy (TT Copy) as a proof of your remittance. The deposit slip may replace the TT Copy only if the TT Copy is not issued immediately by your bank.
The buyer is responsible for all bank fees. Please confirm the cost of this fee with your bank before closing the purchase agreement with our staff.
There is no IBAN Code for Japanese banks. Please instruct your bank to use the Swift Code.

Booking & Shipping

Car-Arrival-Progress, or CAP, is your personal web page for viewing the progress of your shipment. Once our staff acknowledges your payment (usually within a week), a link to your CAP is sent to you. For more information about CAP’s features, please visit our CAP page.

We do our best to ship your vehicle so that you receive it in a timely manner. The durations given below are from the designated Japanese port to your port of discharge. Please note that they are estimates based on our past experience and are not guaranteed. Africa: approximately 3–5 weeks to travel from Japanese port to your port Georgia: approximately 6 weeks to travel from Japanese port to your port Caribbean: approximately 3–5 weeks to travel from Japanese port to your port Pacific Region: approximately 1 week to travel from Japanese port to your port South America: approximately 4 weeks to travel from Japanese port to your port
Please visit your CAP to view the progress of your shipment.
Unfortunately, we are not able to provide this information.
Please visit your CAP to view the progress of your shipment.

Please visit your CAP to view the progress of your shipment.

No, this is called transshipment. If you see two shipping vessels listed on your CAP, your cargo will be loaded onto one vessel when departing from Japan and will be reloaded onto another prior to reaching its destination. This decision is made by the contracted shipping companies, and we, as exporters, do not have authority to intervene with their decisions.

Please note that transshipped cargo usually takes longer to travel from Japan to its final destination.

A PDF of your vehicle’s inspection certificate will be uploaded to your CAP once it has been received from the inspection agency.

The information below is required to book a shipping vessel for your cargo. Please read the following carefully and provide us with all requested information. Most information is required by the contracted shipping companies; not ZNK MOTORS.

Port of Discharge: Your nearest port where the vessel will unload your cargo.

Vehicle Destination: Where the vehicle will actually be used. Please provide the name of the country where the vehicle will be registered for use.

Consignee: This is the vehicle’s “owner-to-be.” Please list the consignee’s full name as well as the “real” name shown on his/her passport or ID, full address (without any abbreviations), and phone number(s). To receive your B/L from the shipping company, it is mandatory that all of the consignee’s information above be provided.

Also, when providing us with your booking information, it is important to understand the following:

● Your booking will be delayed by the shipping company if the consignee’s full name and address are not provided. Complete information must be provided.

● The consignee’s name cannot have any spelling mistakes. Even the smallest error can be subject to a B/L amendment, which may cost you additional fees and time.

Notify Party: This is the person that the shipping agent contacts to notify the confirmed arrival date of your vessel to the port. If you have a private clearing agent, you may list them here, though it is not mandatory as you do not need to declare a clearing agent on the B/L. If you have not hired an agent, it is easiest to simply write in “Same as Consignee”.

DHL Delivery Address: This information is required so that we can mail your documents, including your B/L, by DHL courier. Please provide the full name of the recipient, full address (without any abbreviations), and phone number(s). Please be warned that incomplete information may delay the dispatch of your documents.

These changes are made by the contracted shipping companies and we, as exporters, do not have authority to intervene with their decisions.
While we understand your need to have an up-to-date ETA in order to arrange necessary travel plans, it is left blank on your CAP because the contracted shipping company has not yet decided it. We kindly ask that you please wait. Please note that CAP is designed to reflect the shipping company’s decisions directly and immediately. Your understanding and patience on this matter are highly appreciated.

Documentation

You, as an importer, are supposed to receive the following documents:

1. Bill of Lading (B/L)
2. Insurance Document (if your purchase is CIF)
3. Export Certificate (also called the “Deregistration Certificate” or “Cancellation of Registration” form)
4. Commercial Invoice

If your government requires, we will also send you the following:

5. Inspection Certificate
6. Export Permit (also called the “Bill of Entry”)
The consignee is the vehicle’s “owner-to-be.” Please list the consignee’s full name as well as the “real” name shown on his/her passport or ID, full address (without any abbreviations), and phone number(s).

It is important to understand the following when providing us with your booking information:

・ Your booking will be delayed by the shipping company if the consignee’s full name and address are not provided. Complete information must be provided.
・ The consignee’s name cannot have any spelling mistakes. Even the smallest error can be subject to a B/L amendment, which may cost you additional fees and time.

You need to verify that your client has an Import Permit from the ITAC and a Letter of Authority (LOA) from the NRCS before purchasing a vehicle on his/her behalf. The South African government has very strict regulations that allow only certified suppliers, who have obtained an Import Permit and LOA, to import foreign vehicles.

Shipping companies require that full information be provided. The B/L is an official document that determines/proves the owner of the cargo and, therefore, the consignee’s full name and address, as written on his/her passport or ID must be used.

・ Your booking will be delayed by the shipping company if the consignee’s full name and address are not provided. Complete information must be provided.
・ The consignee’s name cannot have any spelling mistakes. Even the smallest error can be subject to a B/L amendment, which may cost you additional fees and time.

This is the person that the shipping agent contacts to notify the confirmed arrival date of your vessel to the port. If you have a private clearing agent, you may list them here, though it is not mandatory as you do not need to declare a clearing agent on the B/L. If you have not hired an agent, it is easiest to simply write in “Same as Consignee.”

This is the required information you provide so that we can mail your documents, including your B/L, by DHL courier. Please provide the full name of the recipient, full address (without any abbreviations), and phone number(s). Please be warned that incomplete information may delay the dispatch of your documents.
This information is required so that we can mail your documents, including your B/L, by DHL courier. Please provide the full name of the recipient, full address (without any abbreviations), and phone number(s). Please be warned that incomplete information may delay the dispatch of your documents.
Yes, we will upload a PDF of your B/L and other documents to your CAP.
Absolutely not! Altering information on the B/L or on any other documents we provide you is illegal. BE FORWARD does not participate in illegal actions, regardless of the reason.
We do not provide a packing list, but our Commercial Invoice can replace it. All relevant information found on the packing list is included on the commercial invoice. If you have concerns about submitting the commercial invoice to your country’s customs office, please know that past customers have never had any problems with authorities as a result of using this document.
Yes. Your CAP lists the DHL tracking number once your documents are processed for dispatch. The tracking number on your CAP will change to a DHL tracking log if you click on the number.
We kindly ask that you wait 24 business hours before contacting us to report any problems with your DHL tracking log. The tracking log begins providing information once the package has been physically picked up and scanned into DHL’s system by the DHL representative. Because our staff is continually processing dispatches from opening to closing each business day, this may mean that your dispatch is processed after the last scheduled DHL pickup for the day, and will therefore be picked up on the next business day.

Receiving Your Cargo

There are two ways: The shipping agent will contact the

Notify Party provided on the B/L about the shipment’s arrival or you may contact the shipping agent on your end about one week prior to the shipping vessel’s ETA. To contact your shipping agent, please follow the instructions below.

1. Visit your CAP to find the carrier (shipping company) name of your vessel.

2. Click on the hot pink “Shipping Agent” in your CAP to show the list of all agents.

3. In the above list, go to the section that lists your port of discharge.

4. Search the list by looking for the cell that has the correct carrier from step 1.

5. The agent listed next to the correct carrier in step 4 is your shipping agent.

Please wait to contact them until about one week prior to your shipping vessel’s ETA as they will not have the requested information before then.

You can use one of our knowledgeable agents as your clearing agent. For more information about this additional service, please click on the appropriate port below.

Dar Es Salaam

Durban

Mombasa

Please note that there are also sources for this service available on the Internet.

Yes, ZNK MOTORS has knowledgeable forwarding agents on staff that can deliver the vehicle from the port of discharge. For more information on how to obtain this service, please click on the appropriate port below.

Dar Es Salaam

Durban

Mombasa

Please note that there are also sources for this service available on the Internet.

No, it is not. However, you can complete 60 percent of the entire customs clearing procedure using PDFs of the B/L. The rest requires the original B/L to be turned in.

Unfortunately, we cannot. Shipping companies issue only one set of the B/L per cargo, regardless of requests for additional copies.

Country Regulations

Please refer to EAA and each country’s respective Revenue Authority (Tanzania and Uganda).
Please refer to JEVIC, the Kenya Bureau of Standards, and the Kenya Revenue Authority.
Please refer to JEVIC and the Zambia Revenue Authority.
Please refer to Intertek and the Mozambique Revenue Authority.
Shipments to this area sometimes require that the consignee’s postal code be provided on the B/L. This information is required when the shipping vessel travels through areas in the Caribbean that are controlled by countries in the European Union, and violation of this requirement may result in a penalty charge to the consignee at the port of discharge. Please note that even if you have successfully imported a vehicle without providing your postal code in the past, it does not guarantee that it will not be needed with future shipments as each shipping vessel’s sailing route is different.
Please refer to the International Trade Administration Commission (ITAC) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). Also, please note that the government of South Africa restricts the import of foreign cars to only those have received an Import Permit from the ITAC and a Letter of Authority (LOA) from the NRCS.