CarDreams.lk
timeline Live import tracking

From auction floor to your driveway — every step tracked

The biggest worry for most Sri Lankan buyers importing a car from Japan is the wait — weeks of silence, no idea where the car is, no proof anything is happening. Car Dreams was built to solve that. From the moment you commit to a vehicle, you get a WhatsApp message and an email at every stage — with the auction sheet, container photos, Bill of Lading, vessel tracking link, customs entry, duty receipts and DMT registration as they happen. Nothing is hidden.

ඔබේ වාහනය ජපානයේ වෙන්දේසියේ සිට ඔබේ නිවසට පැමිණෙන තෙක් සෑම අදියරක්ම WhatsApp සහ Email මගින් සජීවී යාවත්කාලීන කිරීම් ලබා ගත හැක — auction sheet, shipping documents, customs receipts සහ ඡායාරූප ද සමඟ.

Track your import

Track your import, every step of the way

WhatsApp + email update at every stage — auction sheet, container photos, Bill of Lading, customs entry and DMT registration. Nothing happens behind closed doors.

chat WhatsApp updates mail Email with documents
  1. check
    Stage 1 gavel

    Auction bid placed

    We bid on your behalf at the live USS / TAA auction in Japan.

    forward_to_inbox You receive: Bid confirmation
  2. check
    Stage 2 verified

    Won at auction

    Original auction sheet, JAAI inspection and final JPY price — within hours of the hammer.

    forward_to_inbox You receive: Auction sheet + JPY invoice
  3. check
    Stage 3 inventory_2

    Loaded for shipping

    Pre-load condition photos, container or RoRo booking and Bill of Lading number.

    forward_to_inbox You receive: BL number + photos
  4. check
    Stage 4 directions_boat

    Sailing to Sri Lanka

    Live vessel tracking link — typically 12–18 days at sea to Colombo or Hambantota.

    forward_to_inbox You receive: Vessel name + live ETA
  5. check
    Stage 5 verified_user

    Customs cleared

    Duty, VAT, excise and luxury tax paid; DMT registration and plate issued.

    forward_to_inbox You receive: Duty receipts + plate number
  6. check
    Stage 6 home_pin

    Delivered to your driveway

    Door-to-door delivery anywhere in Sri Lanka, with handover photos and signed receipt.

    forward_to_inbox You receive: Handover photos + keys

Two channels, one story

How updates reach you

We deliberately use two channels so nothing gets lost — WhatsApp for the moment-to-moment updates, email for the documents you'll want to keep on file.

chat

WhatsApp — the live thread

A single WhatsApp thread per car runs from auction bid to delivery. You see photos, vessel updates and ETA changes in the order they happen. You can ask questions any time — usually answered within working hours (9am – 7pm Sri Lanka time).

  • check_circlePhoto of the car at the auction yard
  • check_circleContainer loading + Bill of Lading number
  • check_circleVessel tracking link + ETA changes
  • check_circleCustoms clearance progress + delivery date
mail

Email — the document trail

Every formal document lands in your inbox as a PDF — the auction sheet, JPY invoice, Bill of Lading, Customs declaration with the itemised duty math, port handling receipts and the DMT registration certificate. You'll have everything you need for resale, insurance and warranty claims.

  • descriptionOriginal Japanese auction sheet (PDF)
  • descriptionBill of Lading + commercial invoice
  • descriptionSri Lanka Customs declaration with duty / VAT / excise / luxury breakdown
  • descriptionDMT registration certificate + plate number

Tracking, delivery and timing

How will I know what stage my car is at?

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You'll get a WhatsApp message and an email at every stage — auction bid, win, container loading, vessel sailing, port arrival, customs clearance, DMT registration and delivery. Each update includes the documents or photos for that stage so you can verify it yourself.

What documents do I receive during the process?

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You receive every document we receive: original Japan auction sheet, JAAI inspection record, JPY auction invoice, Bill of Lading (BL), shipping line vessel-tracking link, Sri Lanka Customs declaration with the itemised duty/VAT/excise/luxury-tax breakdown, port handling receipts, and DMT registration certificate. All sent over email as PDFs and previewed on WhatsApp.

How long does the whole process take?

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Typical end-to-end timeline is 6–10 weeks: 1–2 weeks from auction win to container loading in Japan, 12–18 days at sea to Colombo or Hambantota, 1–2 weeks for customs clearance and DMT registration, and a few days for door-to-door delivery to your city. Brand-new units are 6–12 weeks from order, depending on the model.

Can I track the vessel myself?

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Yes. Once we have the Bill of Lading, we send you a live tracking link from the shipping line (NYK, MOL, K-Line or "Höegh" for RoRo). You can refresh it any time and see your vessel's current position, speed and ETA.

What if a stage is delayed?

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We tell you proactively — no waiting for you to ask. Common delays include port congestion at Colombo (we'll move to Hambantota when faster), customs queries on a specific HS code (we handle the response and keep you posted), or a delayed sailing schedule. The "expected by" date in your email gets updated when reality changes.

How do I get started?

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Pick a car from the live inventory, or tell us your target make / model / year / budget on WhatsApp. We'll come back with live auction options and a full landed-price quote. Once you approve and pay the secured-bid deposit, the tracking timeline starts.

Ready to start tracking your import?

Tell us your target make, model and budget. We'll quote the full landed price for your delivery city and start the tracking thread the moment you commit.

request_quote Request a Quote chat WhatsApp Us