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So You Wanna Import a JDM Car to Canada? Take this 10 min Course Before You Dive Headfirst into a Skyline or a $4,000 Prius.

  • the DREAM
  • Jun 10
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jul 13

Free beginner's course in JDM importing to Canada.


Take the TL:DR version of the basics of importing and owning an import from Japan and see if it is a surprisingly good economic choice!


It's a crappy time to have to buy a car. With tariffs and economic uncertainty, cool car dreams seem out of reach and even practical purchases on limited budgets leave you with a car and a loan you wish you didn't have

Whether it is something utilitarian or legendary, a JDM car could be a more reasonable purchase than something local in Canada right now.
Whether it is something utilitarian or legendary, a JDM car could be a more reasonable purchase than something local in Canada right now.

It's a crappy time to have to buy a car. With tariffs and economic uncertainty, cool car dreams seem out of reach and even practical purchases on limited budgets leave you with a car and a loan you wish you didn't have

There are two types of people reading this:

  • The Dreamers — You’ve had an R34 Skyline as your phone wallpaper since 2013. You use words like “boost” and “spool” in everyday conversation. You already know how much a 15-year-old Altezza costs at auction.


  • The Curious-but-Cautious — You're a spreadsheet person. You’ve been eyeing that rust-free Prius from Japan, wondering if it’s really better than the rusted 200,000 km tin can parked outside. You just want something reliable, under $15K, that won’t leave you on the side of the 401 with a baby and a bag of groceries.


This course? It’s for both of you.



We built a quick, interactive course (in Articulate Rise) that gives you just enough info to feel smart at the auction house—or at least not get scammed by your buddy’s “guy in Nagoya.”


This isn’t a sales pitch disguised as a tutorial. It’s an actual breakdown of the rules, the costs, and the paperwork—with all the annoying parts translated into plain English. The course is short, clickable, mobile-friendly, and straight to the point.


And yes, we even explain why left-hand turns in a Skyline can be sketchier than you'd think.

What You’ll Actually Learn (No Gatekeeping)


  1. The 15-Year Rule: Why you can’t just import a 2020 Supra (yet) and what makes a 2008 Toyota Crown completely legal.


  2. RHD Driving in Canada: Spoiler: It’s not illegal. But it’s not always fun either. We break down the real challenges—blind spots, awkward turn signals, and that one terrifying left turn scenario.


  3. Tax & Import Math Made Simple: GST, PST, Import Duty, A/C tax—it’s all there. With real-world examples. Like the Crown you could import for under $13K.


  4. Paperwork & Process: Form 1, RIV, inspections—don’t worry, we’ll tell you what to do before you end up in bureaucratic limbo.


  5. Comparisons That Make You Think: Would you rather have a 57,000 km Prius from Japan or a salt-eaten 300,000 km one in Ontario? You decide. We just show you the receipts.


Why This Course Exists


Because everyone either over-explains (cue 43-minute YouTube monologue) or under-explains (“just use an exporter and hope for the best”). We’re here to give you that middle ground—just the facts, the decisions, and the tradeoffs.


I keep things simple and focused. We can dive into details later.


Whether you’re looking for a clean Type R that’ll survive a track day or a hybrid that’ll get your kid to daycare without a check engine light, we’ve got the guidance you need.


Who Should Take This Course?


  • Honda bros. Toyota dads. Kei car freaks. Mild-mannered moms. Anyone who appreciates rust-free sheet metal and quirky dashboards.

  • Anyone who has typed “can I import a car from Japan to Canada” into Google more than once.

  • Budget-conscious buyers who want a deal—but not a disaster.



Subscribe and Free? Why?

So we're offering this sans-subscription to begin with and will eventually put this behind our free subscriber wall. Why?

First—the basics. I’m a teacher at heart and by profession. But not that kind of teacher. Not the one who assigns extra homework for fun. I’m the cool one—the one who turns the chair around and has a “real talk” moment. If you’re subscribing, it means you want to learn, and that’s awesome. It also lets me send you updates when new articles drop. More than anything, it tells me someone out there cares—and that's the start of building a community.

Second—it’s always free. Because I believe in Canadians helping Canadians. It’s what we do. I don’t resell your info, ever. If I make money, it’ll be from views, consults, and merch—not from sketchy mailing lists or affiliate traps.


So whether you’re here for the spreadsheets or the Skylines, welcome. This whole thing only works if real people get something real out of it. Subscribe if you haven’t. Share it if you liked it. And if you ever see a guy at a car meet awkwardly explaining Form 1 with a Tim Hortons cup in hand… yeah, that’s probably me.

Subscribe.

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