Where vehicles are received, documented, and prepared for export.
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Between the auction floor and the vessel, every used vehicle passes through a yard. Ours is where the work that protects a clean export gets done. We receive the vehicle, log it in, document it, inspect it, and hold it until it sails.
On This Page
Inside The Yard
What happens at our yard
A vehicle arrives at the yard after we collect it from the auction. The driver hands over the keys and the auction release sheet; the vehicle is logged into our inventory system with its VIN, make, model, year, mileage, and condition grade, and assigned a fixed position so we can locate it the moment we need it.
From that point until the day it sails, the vehicle stays with us. The work we do during that window falls into a small set of repeating stages:
- Receive and logVehicle is checked in against the auction release sheet, condition is verified against what was declared, and any pre existing damage is recorded.
- StageVehicle is parked in its assigned position, batteries reconnected if disconnected for transit, and prepared for the next operational step.
- PhotographMulti angle photographs taken to a fixed standard. Same lighting setup, same angles, same background. The set is delivered to the customer and attached to the export file.
- InspectWhere the destination requires a pre export inspection, our team runs it at the yard against the destination's requirements. Findings are recorded against the vehicle file.
- Hand offWhen the booking is ready and the vessel cut off is set, the vehicle leaves the yard for loading. The file closes with a delivery photograph and signed handover.
Photo Documentation
A standard photo set for every vehicle
Photographs do real work in a used vehicle export. The destination buyer uses them to confirm or finalize the sale. The shipping insurer references them on a claim. We rely on them to document the condition handed over to the carrier. That is why every vehicle gets the same set, captured to the same standard, every time.
What the standard set covers
- Exterior, multi angle (front, rear, both sides, three quarters)
- Interior (cabin, dashboard, seating, cargo area)
- Engine bay (mechanical condition, fluid levels)
- Undercarriage (rust, structural condition, frame)
- Damage detail (any pre existing scratches, dents, repairs)
- Delivered with the export file
Pre Export Inspection
Inspection at the yard
Several destination markets require a pre export inspection before a used vehicle can be imported. The checks vary by destination but typically cover emissions, safety systems, mileage authentication, and overall mechanical condition.
We carry out the inspection ourselves at the yard. The vehicle is already on site with its condition documented, our team runs the inspection against the destination's requirements, findings are recorded, and the inspection record is attached to the export file. Because the work happens in house, we can flag and address straightforward issues the same day rather than scheduling a return visit.
Common destinations we routinely inspect for include Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and Ireland, among others. Tell us where the vehicle is going and we will confirm the inspection requirements for that lane.
What yard services do not cover
The yard is for staging, documentation, and inspection. It is not a workshop. Mechanical repairs, body work, paint, parts replacement, and restoration are outside the scope of yard services and are not performed by M3LOGI.
If a vehicle needs work before export, tell us at booking. We can refer trusted partners we work alongside in the same operational regions and time the work so it does not push the export schedule.
Locations
Where our yards are
Our yards sit close to the major auction clusters and export ports M3LOGI customers use most: the Tokyo and Yokohama auction belt in Kanto, the Nagoya group in Chubu, and the Osaka, Kobe, and Hakata regions further west. Each yard handles vehicles bound for the corresponding export ports, which keeps the auction to vessel timeline short and the handoffs clean.
For specific yard addresses, capacity confirmation, and which yard suits a given booking, contact our operations team.
When yard services fit
Common situations our customers come to us with
01
You bought at auction and need somewhere to stage before shipping
The vessel is two or three weeks out, the auction needs the vehicle collected. We pick it up, log it in, and hold it at the yard until the booked sailing window opens.
02
Your destination buyer needs photographs to confirm or finalize the sale
We capture the standard photo set as soon as the vehicle arrives at the yard and deliver it the same week. The buyer gets what they need to release payment or finalize the listing.
03
The destination requires a pre export inspection
The vehicle is already at the yard with its condition on file. Our team runs the inspection against the destination's requirements, records the findings, and attaches the result to the export file before the vessel cut off.
Common Questions
Frequently asked
How long can a vehicle stay at the yard?
Yard staging matches the booked sailing date. Vehicles typically arrive a few days to a few weeks before the vessel cut off. Longer storage can be arranged when needed and is quoted separately.
Can I send my own photographer or inspector to the yard?
Yes, by appointment. Visits need to be scheduled with the yard team in advance so they fit around the day's movements and inspections. Get in touch before the visit and we will confirm a slot and the access requirements.
Are vehicles insured while at the yard?
Vehicles at the yard are covered under our yard storage insurance from check in to handover. Coverage and limits are shared at booking. For high value vehicles, additional coverage can be arranged on request.
Do I need to use yard services if I am already booking ocean freight with M3LOGI?
No, the services are modular. You can book ocean freight without yard staging if your vehicle goes directly from auction to port within the vessel cut off window. Yard services are useful when the timing does not line up, when photographs are needed, or when a destination requires inspection.
Does the yard handle the customs paperwork?
Customs is handled separately by our licensed customs team. The yard prepares and verifies the documentation that the customs filing relies on, but the declaration itself is filed by the brokerage. See Customs Clearance for that side of the export.
Can the yard load the container or RoRo vessel directly?
Loading is part of the broader export chain rather than yard services strictly. The yard prepares and stages the vehicle for loading; the actual loading at the terminal or vessel is coordinated with the shipping line booking. See Ocean Transportation for the booking and loading side.