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Japan Car Parts: How to Check Genuine Parts Prices by Variant

Updated: 2026-10-06

Repair shops and parts dealers that work on used cars from Japan often need the price of a genuine part for a Japanese-market car. A model name alone is not enough to find the right part. This guide explains how to identify the exact variant, what information to prepare, and how to check Japan car parts prices with the variant numbers. It also explains what a price search can and cannot do.

Japan car parts: why the exact variant matters

One model name can cover many variants. They can differ in engine, drive system, equipment and other details. A part that fits one variant may not fit another. So the first step is not the part. The first step is to identify the car.

Japan has an official way to separate variants. When the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) designates a vehicle type, it gives a Specification No. (型式指定番号). Inside that type, each variant gets a Classification No. (類別区分番号). The Classification No. is a 4-digit number (3 digits are also allowed for the time being), and the same number is not used twice within one type. The pair of numbers points to one Japanese-market variant.

Japan-market cars and export-market cars

Cars built for the Japanese market and cars that makers export new from Japan follow different identification systems. According to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), domestic cars use a Japanese chassis number in “model-serial” form, while new cars exported from Japan use a VIN. A used car that was registered in Japan keeps its domestic chassis number.

This guide does not claim that a specific part is different between the two markets. That depends on the car and the part. But because the identification systems differ, a parts source that is organized by VIN may not find a domestic car easily. It is safer to identify a Japanese-market car with its own Japanese numbers, and then check the part.

Do not assume that a part for the export version of a model fits the Japanese-market version with the same name. Confirm the variant first, and confirm the part number with your supplier before you order.

What to prepare before a Japan car parts price check

Collect these items first. Most of them are on the Export Certificate.

ItemWhere to find itWhy you need it
Specification No. (型式指定番号)Export Certificate; record printout of the inspection certificateIdentifies the designated type
Classification No. (類別区分番号)Same as aboveIdentifies the variant inside the type
Chassis number (車台番号, Maker’s serial number)Stamped on the car; all documentsConfirms that the papers belong to this car
Model (型式) and Engine Model (原動機の型式)Export Certificate; inspection certificateCross-check of the variant
First Reg. Date (初度登録年月)Export Certificate; inspection certificateShows the age of the car
Name of the part and its positionYour inspection of the carNeeded to choose the right item

The electronic inspection certificate card (電子車検証) does not print the Specification No. or the Classification No. on its face. They are stored in the IC tag and printed on the record printout (自動車検査証記録事項). For an exported car, the Export Certificate has fields for both numbers. See our Japan Export Certificate guide for each field.

If a car is not type-designated, it has no Specification No. or Classification No. MLIT calls such cars “general vehicles” (一般車). For them, a search by these numbers is not possible. Use the maker, model name and model code, and confirm with your supplier.

Toyota genuine parts price and other makers

People often search for a “Toyota genuine parts price”. The same approach works for other Japanese makers. The Carise Japanese page lists Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Daihatsu, Mazda, Subaru and Mitsubishi as examples of the domestic makers it covers. Whatever the maker, start with the Specification No. and Classification No. of the car.

A simple workflow for a repair shop:

  1. Inspect the car and list the parts you need.
  2. Read the chassis number on the car and check it against the documents.
  3. Take the Specification No. and Classification No. from the Export Certificate or the record printout.
  4. Search genuine parts prices with those numbers.
  5. Add your labor time to make a quotation. See Japan standard labor time for how Japan measures standard work time.
  6. Confirm the part number and current price with your supplier before you order.
Prices are a reference for your quotation

A price in a search tool shows the genuine part price in Japan. Your final cost also depends on your supplier, shipping and local charges. Use the search result as a reference for your own quotation, and check it with the supplier.

Car spare parts from Japan: what a price search does not do

It is important to be clear about limits. A genuine parts price search is not the same as a full electronic parts catalog (EPC). It does not replace your supplier’s catalog, exploded diagrams or fitting advice. The search described below also has a fixed scope: it covers parts related to the statutory vehicle inspection (shaken, 車検) in Japan. It does not cover every part of every car.

TaskParts price searchWhat else you need
Find the price of an inspection-related genuine partYes, within its scopeVariant numbers
Find every part of the carNoSupplier catalog
Check fitting with diagramsNoSupplier or maker information
Search by chassis numberNoRead the variant numbers from the documents first. See Japanese chassis number check.
Confirm specifications of the variantNoSpecifications search. See Japanese car specs by model.

Japanese used car exports and parts demand

Demand for parts follows the cars. According to a JETRO report based on the Ministry of Finance’s trade statistics, Japan exported about 1.49 million used passenger cars in 2025. The UAE was the largest destination with about 220,000 cars, followed by Russia, Tanzania, Chile and Kenya. JETRO also notes that many cars for Africa go through the UAE.

For exporters in Japan, parts prices also matter before shipping. When you prepare a car for export, you may need to replace worn parts. A price check by variant helps you plan that work for your own business.

How Carise helps

Carise (https://www.j-carnet.net/) is a data search system for the automotive industry, operated by JAPANCARNET CO., LTD. (日本カーネット株式会社) in Tokyo. Its Genuine Parts Price Search works like this, according to the Carise English page:

ItemGenuine Parts Price Search
Search keySpecification No. + Classification No. (called “model designation and category classification number” on the Carise page). The Japanese page also mentions part numbers (品番).
ScopeParts related to the statutory vehicle inspection (shaken)
Price¥4,000 / month excl. tax
TrialUp to two months
Data useData can be retrieved in real time for use in Excel and similar tools (advanced feature; a specification document is available)

Carise also has a Specifications Search (by the same two numbers, or by maker or model name) and a Labor-Time Search (¥10,000 / year excl. tax). See Japanese car specs by model and Japan standard labor time.

Before you apply, please note:

  • The screens are in Japanese only. Use your browser’s translation feature.
  • Contracts are only for companies in auto-related businesses, such as repair shops, body and paint shops, car dealers and gas stations.
  • One account cannot be logged in on two devices at the same time, and access from multiple global IP addresses is not allowed.
  • Phone support is in Japanese only.
  • Payment is by credit card (Stripe).
  • Use the prices for your own repair and quotation work. The Terms of Use prohibit commercial use of the information obtained, so do not resell, publish or pass the data to others.

Apply here: Carise application form.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Carise Genuine Parts Price Search a full parts catalog?
No. It searches genuine parts prices, and it covers parts related to the statutory vehicle inspection (shaken). It is not an EPC with diagrams for every part.
Which numbers do I need to search?
The Specification No. (型式指定番号) and Classification No. (類別区分番号). They are on the Export Certificate and the record printout of the inspection certificate.
Can I search with the chassis number?
No. Read the two numbers from the documents first.
How much does it cost?
The Carise English page shows ¥4,000 / month excl. tax for Genuine Parts Price Search Data. You can try the service for up to two months.
The car has no Specification No. What can I do?
It may be a general vehicle (一般車) without type designation. Use the maker, model name and model code, and check with your supplier.

Sources

Checked on 6 October 2026. Figures and procedures may change; check the latest official information.

Look up Japanese-market data with Carise

Carise is a data search system for businesses that repair, sell or export Japanese vehicles. Search genuine parts prices and specifications by model designation and category number. The screens are in Japanese; you can try it for up to two months.

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