To pay for a car from Japan by bank transfer (T/T), take the exporter’s invoice to your bank and send the full amount, in the currency on the invoice, to the exporter’s company account in Japan. Then send the exporter a copy of the transfer receipt. With Autocom Japan, the beneficiary is always “Autocom Japan Inc” and every account is listed on our official bank details page.
Key takeaways
- Check the beneficiary name and bank details against the exporter’s official website before every payment, not only the first one.
- Pay the exact amount in the currency on the invoice, and write the invoice number as the purpose of payment.
- Your bank’s transfer charges are paid by you, the sender. Ask your bank how charges are handled so the full amount arrives.
- Send a copy of the transfer receipt (the “T/T copy”) straight after you pay, and pay before the due date.
- Never pay cash to an agent or office, or send money to a person’s account.
What is a T/T payment?
T/T means telegraphic transfer: an international bank-to-bank transfer, usually sent through the SWIFT network. It is the standard way to pay a Japanese car exporter.
At Autocom Japan, T/T is the standard way to pay. L/C (letter of credit) and PayPal are available for select countries only, so ask our sales team which options apply in your country. The full price must be paid before we ship the car. We do not offer financing or instalment plans.
1. Before you pay: check the invoice
Read the invoice line by line before you go to the bank. Most payment problems start with an invoice nobody checked.
- Beneficiary name. It must be the exporter’s company name. For us it is always “Autocom Japan Inc”. If the invoice names a person or another company, do not pay.
- Bank and country. The account should be at a bank in Japan. Compare the bank name, branch, account number and SWIFT code with the official list on the exporter’s website. Ours is on our bank details page.
- Car details. Check the chassis number, model and year match the car you agreed.
- Amount, currency and terms. Check the total, the currency and whether the price is FOB, C&F or CIF. See what each price term includes.
- Due date. Note the date by which payment must be confirmed.
If anything looks different from last time, especially the bank details, stop and call us on a number from our official website. Our guide on how to verify a Japanese car exporter before you pay explains every check.
2. At the bank: fill in the transfer form
Print the invoice and take it to your bank. Copy the details from the invoice and the official bank page, not from a chat message.
- Beneficiary name: exactly as shown, “Autocom Japan Inc”.
- Beneficiary bank, branch, account number and SWIFT code: include the branch name as well as the bank name and SWIFT code. Leaving the branch out can slow the payment down.
- Amount and currency: the amount on the invoice, in the same currency as the invoice.
- Purpose of payment: for example “Payment for car” and the invoice number, so the money can be matched to your order.
Ask the bank to give you the transfer receipt before you leave. You will need it in step 4.
Not chosen a car yet? Browse our current stock and ask for an invoice when you are ready.
3. Bank charges: make sure the full amount arrives
Transfer fees are the sender’s responsibility. If charges are taken out of the amount you send, less than the invoice total may reach Japan.
International transfers can pass through more than one bank, and each may take a fee. Ask your bank how charges will be handled and whether the full invoice amount will arrive. If you are not sure, ask our sales team before you send the money. We don’t quote bank fees, because they depend on your bank.
4. After you pay: send the T/T copy
Send us a copy of the transfer receipt as soon as you have paid. A clear photo or scan is fine.
The T/T copy lets our team in Japan find and confirm your payment. When the money arrives, our staff confirm it and you can also see the payment status on MY PAGE. We arrange shipment only after payment is confirmed. For timing, ask our office for the current schedule for your port.
5. Pay before the due date
The due date is the last date by which your payment must be confirmed. If it cannot be confirmed by then, the order is cancelled automatically.
Pay as soon as you receive the invoice, and allow for weekends and public holidays. If you cannot pay by the due date, tell us before the date, not after. Extensions are not normally given. If you plan to send the amount in more than one transfer, or to pay for several cars with one transfer, tell our sales team before you pay so the money is allocated correctly. If an order is cancelled after a partial payment, Autocom Japan may keep part of it as a restocking fee, so agree the plan first.
Warning signs: stop before you pay
Do not send money if any of these happen. Call us on a number from our official website first.
- The beneficiary is a person, or a company other than the exporter.
- The bank is outside Japan, or the details differ from the official bank page.
- You get “new bank details” by email, WhatsApp or social media.
- Someone asks you to pay through a money-transfer service such as Western Union. We do not use payment services like this.
- Someone offers to make the transfer for you, or asks for cash at an office. Our offices in Mombasa, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Harare and our local agents do not accept cash or any payment, and staff may not make transfers on a client’s behalf.
- You are pushed to pay before you have checked the bank details, or to pay a different account.
Autocom Japan is not responsible for payments made to accounts other than those listed on our official website. See our official channels and how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan. If you have already paid a suspicious account, contact your bank straight away and ask whether the transfer can be stopped or recalled.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay at your office in Kenya, Tanzania or Zimbabwe?
No. Our local offices and agents do not accept cash or any payment. All payments go by bank transfer to Autocom Japan Inc’s accounts in Japan.
Can I pay by L/C or PayPal?
Only in select countries. T/T bank transfer is the standard method. Ask our sales team which options apply in your country before you pay.
Who pays the bank charges?
The sender. Ask your bank how charges are handled so that the full invoice amount reaches our account in Japan.
How do I know you have received my payment?
Send us the T/T copy. Our staff will tell you once the payment is confirmed in our account, and you can check the status on MY PAGE.
Can I pay in a different currency from the invoice?
No. Pay in the same currency as shown on the invoice. If you need to pay in another currency, ask our sales team about a new invoice before you pay.
Sources
- Autocom Japan: Help, Payment (checked 5 Oct 2026)
- Autocom Japan: Bank details (checked 5 Oct 2026)
- Autocom Japan: Security notice for payment (checked 5 Oct 2026)
- IPA: measures against business email compromise (Japanese) (checked 5 Oct 2026)
