Thinking of buying a JDM car or bike from Japan? Have our Japanese speaking mechanic inspect it before you commit. Muteki Imports now offers in-person inspections, with a comprehensive report provided with each vehicle.
Muteki is based in Nagoya, Aichi but we can conduct inspections all over Japan.
Japan vehicle inspection
10 + Years of Mechanic Experience
✳︎
JDM Cars and Bikes
✳︎
Based in Nagoya
✳︎
10 + Years of Mechanic Experience ✳︎ JDM Cars and Bikes ✳︎ Based in Nagoya ✳︎
WHY USE THIS SERVICEBuying a JDM car or bike overseas without seeing it first is risky. An in-person inspection by a qualified mechanic changes the picture completely.
With over ten years of hands on mechanical experience across JDM vehicles of all makes and eras, our team knows exactly what to look for.
Including but not limited to:
Hidden rust
Repaired accident damage
Engines that have been cleaned up for sale
Dodgy modification work
This isn't a broker service. There's no incentive to push a sale through. You get an honest, independent assessment and if the car isn't worth buying, you'll hear it straight from us.
Don’t buy blind
OUR INSPECTOR:Chris is a qualified mechanic with more than 10 years of experience specialising in Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles across a wide range of makes and generations.
Having relocated from Melbourne to Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Chris now provides on-the-ground inspections at dealerships, auctions and private sellers all across the country, ensuring buyers are provided with an honest assessment before committing to a purchase.
Fluent in Japanese, Chris can seamlessly communicate with the buyer, inspector and seller. This allows for faster response, clearer communication, and access to information that overseas buyers simply can’t obtain.
More than just a JDM enthusiast, Chris has also personally owned, maintained and modified several iconic JDM cars. His inspections are backed by genuine hands-on experience, not just a checklist.
Here’s a few cars that Chris has owned and worked on personally:
Honda S2000
Mazda RX7 FC
Honda Integra DC5
Nissan R32 GTS-T
Nissan R35 GTR
Toyota JZX110 Mark II
FORMER MECHANIC AND FOUNDER OF MUTEKI IMPORTSCHRIS DE NARDIS
WHAT'S COVEREDEvery inspection follows the same rigorous process regardless of vehicle price. A full written report with photographs is delivered within 24 hours. Specific findings, concerns, and a clear recommendation is included.
every inspection includes
BODY & PAINT
Panel gap assessment, respray detection, rust check across all panels, under-body, sills, boot floor, and inner guards.
INTERIOR CONDITION
Dash, seats, electrics, A/C, instruments, warning lights, and check for any signs of water ingress.
ENGINE BAY
Oil and coolant condition, belts and hoses, obvious leaks, and general engine health assessment.
MODIFICATION CHECK
Verify claimed modifications are actually fitted and correctly installed. Assess compliance risk for Australian import and registration.
RUNNING ASSESSMENT
Cold start behaviour, idle quality, drive test where permitted, transmission feel, brakes, and suspension inspection.
REPORT & PHOTOS
Comprehensive photo set of all findings. Written report within 48 hours. Clear go / flag / walk-away recommendation.
TRANSPARENT PRICINGAll quotes are confirmed before travel. Pricing is made up of a base fee, travel time, and a complexity loading for vehicles that need a closer look. No surprises.
STRAIGHT-UP QUOTES
BIKE INSPECTION
BIKE
FROM A$150.00 - BASIC INSPECTION
FROM A$200.00 - DETAILED INSPECTION
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Full body condition inspection
Engine and driveline health check
Written report & high quality photo set
Professional recommendation
CAR INSPECTION
STANDARD
FROM A$220.00 - BASIC INSPECTION
FROM A$270.00 - DETAILED INSPECTION
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Full body condition inspection
Engine and driveline health check
Written report & high quality photo set
Professional recommendation
OPTIONAL VIDEO ADD ON
VIDEO
ADD A$50.00
OPTIONAL EXTRA
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
Full walkaround video
Cold start footage
Drive footage where permitted
Interior & undercarriage video
Delivered via Google Drive link
Basic Inspection
A thorough assessment of the vehicle's overall condition — body, engine bay, running gear, interior, and any visible modifications. You'll receive a written report and a set of up to 10 photos covering the key areas of the vehicle, with a clear go / flag / walk-away recommendation. Ideal for lower-value purchases or when you need a fast, reliable read before placing a bid.
Detailed Inspection
Everything in the basic inspection with additional comprehensive review, including but not limited to:
Closer examination of rust-prone areas
Under-carpet floor pan checks
Thorough mechanical assessment
You'll receive a full set of up to 50 high-resolution photos covering every angle of the vehicle, close-ups of any defects or areas of concern, underbody shots, engine bay detail, interior, boot, chassis rails, and more. If you're seriously committing to a purchase — especially one being imported to Australia — this is the inspection you want.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BASIC INSPECTION AND DETAILED INSPECTION?
TRAVEL DURATION (PER HOUR), TOLL CHARGES AND OVERNIGHT STAY
OTHER CHARGES INVOLVEDTravel Duration
Travel time is charged at A$30 per hour for the full return trip. So if the vehicle is a 2 hours drive from Nagoya, that's 4 hours of travel billed on top of the base inspection fee. This covers the time and running costs involved in getting to and from the vehicle, whether that's across town or to another prefecture entirely. The travel time for your job is confirmed in the quote before anything is booked.
Overnight stay
If the vehicle is far enough away that a same-day return isn't practical, an overnight accommodation allowance of A$120 per night is added to the quote. If the total travel duration equals 8 hours, an overnight stay fee will be applied. This only applies where the distance or inspection timing genuinely requires it — it's not added as a default. Any overnight requirement will always be flagged upfront and agreed on before travel.
Tolls
Japan's expressway network is extensive and toll costs can add up quickly on longer trips. Any expressway tolls incurred during travel to and from the inspection are charged at actual cost and itemised separately on your quote and final invoice. Where possible, the estimated toll cost is included in the quote upfront based on the route. There are no markups on tolls, you pay exactly what the expressway charges.
COMPLEXITY LOADING
Not every inspection is the same amount of work. A well-presented car in good condition is straightforward. A rough car with accident history, significant rust, or a stack of unknown modifications takes considerably more time to assess properly.
It's also worth noting that sellers don't always disclose everything in their auction sheet or listing. Certain issues are often only uncovered once we're physically at the vehicle. The complexity loading is applied to the base inspection fee to reflect the actual work involved once we're on the ground:
Good condition — No loading. Standard rate applies.
Rough / complex — 50% loading. Applies to heavily modified vehicles, cars with accident history, significant rust, or anything that requires a more thorough investigation before a reliable assessment can be made.
VEHICLE SOURCING FEE
A sourcing fee of A$400 is required before any search begins. This keeps us working with serious buyers only. The fee is fully refunded if we are unable to find a suitable vehicle within two weeks. If a car is found, inspected, and you choose not to proceed, the fee is retained. This fee does not apply if you've already found a vehicle and only need an inspection.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A SPECIFIC QUOTE FOR YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE
HOW IT WORKSTHE PROCESS
Send us a link to the listing or tell us exactly what you're looking for. If you need help sourcing a vehicle, a A$400 sourcing fee will apply.
1. send the listing or tell us what you’re after
We'll review the listing, check travel distance, and send you a fixed quote covering the base inspection fee, travel time, tolls, and overnight accommodation if required.
2. Get a quote
A deposit is required to confirm the booking, which will be detailed in your quote. Once paid, we'll confirm the inspection date and get it locked in.
3. Confirm and deposit
4. Inspection day
Chris will travel to the vehicle and carry out the full inspection on site.
A full report with photos will be delivered within 48 hours. If a complexity loading applies based on the vehicle's condition on the day, this will be payable before the report is released. No complexity loading means no additional charge.
5. report delivered
Happy with the report? We can facilitate the purchase and importation of the vehicle on your behalf. Further details will be provided once confirmed.