How to Import a Car From Japan to the UK: A Guide

Summary

• Find & Buy: Use a dealer or auction agent to purchase your car and secure the vital Deregistration Certificate from Japan.
• Ship & Tax: Arrange RoRo or container shipping (8-10 weeks) and prepare to pay 10% Import Duty and 20% VAT upon UK arrival via the NOVA system.
• Compliance & Registration: Modify the car for UK roads (MPH speedo, fog light), pass an IVA test (if under 10 years old) or an MOT (if over 10), and register with the DVLA.

So, you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole. You’ve spent hours scrolling through auction sites, dreaming of Nissan Skylines, quirky Kei cars, or pristine Toyota Supras. The idea to import a car from Japan to the UK has taken hold, and now you’re wondering, "Is this actually doable for a normal person?"

Yes, it absolutely is.

It’s a process with a few hoops to jump through, for sure. There’s paperwork, there are taxes, and there's a bit of waiting involved. But is it worth it? For the right car, 100%.

This isn't just about buying a car; it's about getting a piece of automotive culture. Japanese cars are often incredibly well-maintained, have low mileage, and come in specs you just can't find in the UK.

Let’s walk through it, step-by-step. No jargon, no fluff. Just a clear guide to getting your dream car from the land of the rising sun to your driveway.

Step 1: Finding and Buying Your Japanese Dream Car

This is the fun part. You have two main routes for finding your car: browsing dealer stock or diving into the famous Japanese car auctions.

• Dealers & Exporters: Companies that buy cars and list them for sale. It's a straightforward way to buy, but you might pay a little more.
• Auctions: This is where the magic happens. You can find almost anything, often for a great price. You’ll almost certainly need a UK-based import agent or a Japanese exporter to bid for you. They’ll have access to the auction houses and can translate the all-important auction sheets.

A quick word on auction sheets: This is the vehicle’s report card. It’s a diagram of the car with notes on every little scratch and dent, plus an overall grade (usually from 1 to 5) and an interior grade (A to D). A grade of 4.5B, for example, is excellent. An 'R' grade means it's had some repairs. Your import agent is your best friend here – they’ll help you decipher these and avoid lemons.

Once you’ve won the bid or agreed on a price, you'll pay for the car. The most crucial document you need from Japan is the Deregistration Certificate (or Export Certificate). This is the car's official proof that it's no longer registered in Japan and is ready for export. Without it, you’re going nowhere.

Step 2: The Big Journey - Shipping Your Car to the UK

Getting your car across the globe isn't as scary as it sounds. Your exporter or agent will handle this. You just need to choose how.

There are two main shipping methods:

• Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo): Think of it as a giant ferry for cars. Your car is simply driven onto the ship and secured. It’s the most common and cheapest method.
• Container Shipping: Your car is loaded into its own 20ft or a shared 40ft container. It’s more secure and protects the car from the elements, making it a good choice for very valuable or classic cars. It is, however, more expensive.

The journey itself usually takes around 8 to 10 weeks. Once it’s on its way, you can usually track the vessel's progress online, which is a surprisingly exciting part of the process!

Step 3: UK Arrival and Dealing with the Tax Man

When your car lands in the UK, the clock starts ticking. You have 14 days to notify HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). This is done through a system called NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals).

Your shipping agent or importer will usually handle this for you, but it’s your responsibility to make sure it gets done.

Once HMRC is notified, they'll calculate the taxes you owe. This is the part that worries most people, but it’s just a numbers game.

Import Duty and VAT Breakdown

Here’s the simple version. There are two main charges:

1. Import Duty: This is a tax on the value of the car plus the shipping cost.
   • For cars, it’s 10%.
   • Side note: Thanks to a UK-Japan trade agreement, if you can prove the car was made in Japan, this rate can drop to 5%.
   • For commercial vehicles or pick-ups, it can be as high as 22%.
2. VAT (Value Added Tax): This is 20%. It’s charged on top of everything else – the car’s value, the shipping cost, and the import duty you just calculated. Yes, it's a tax on a tax.

Let's make that real with an example.

So, on a £10,000 car, you're looking at around £3,680 in taxes. It’s a big chunk, so make sure you budget for it!

Are there any exemptions?

Yes, a couple of important ones:

• Moving to the UK: If you're moving here and have owned and used the car for at least 6 months while living outside the UK for over a year, you can often import it tax-free.
• Classic Cars: If the car is over 40 years old and meets certain criteria for being "of historic interest," you might qualify for a reduced VAT rate (5%) and no import duty.

Step 4: Making Your Car UK-Legal (Compliance)

You've paid your dues, and the car is officially in the country. Great! But you can't drive it yet. It needs to prove it’s safe for UK roads.

Because Japan also drives on the left, you don't need to worry about changing the steering wheel. Phew. But there are a few tweaks needed to meet UK standards.

Common modifications include:

• Speedometer: Must be converted to read in Miles Per Hour (MPH). This can be done with a simple chip or a new dial face.
• Rear Fog Light: It’s a legal requirement in the UK. Most Japanese cars don't have one, so a UK-spec one will need to be fitted.
• Headlights: The beam pattern needs to be adjusted to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic.

The All-Important Test: IVA vs. MOT

This is where the car's age becomes really important.

• If your car is under 10 years old: It will need to pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test. This is a very thorough inspection to ensure it meets modern UK safety and environmental standards. It costs around £200-£300 for the test itself, but getting the car ready for it is where the real cost lies. Many importers offer an "IVA package" that includes all the necessary modifications.
• If your car is over 10 years old: You can breathe a sigh of relief. It’s exempt from the IVA test! It will, however, still need to pass a standard MOT test just like any other car over three years old in the UK.

Step 5: The Final Hurdle - DVLA Registration

You are so close! The car has been shipped, taxed, and tested. The final piece of the puzzle is registering it with the DVLA to get your V5C logbook and UK number plates.

You’ll need to fill out a V55/5 form and send it off with a bundle of documents. Think of it as your car's final exam.

Your DVLA Registration Checklist:

• Proof of identity (like your driving licence).
• The registration fee (currently £55).
• The Japanese Deregistration Certificate (and a certified translation).
• Proof it’s cleared customs (the NOVA confirmation).
• A valid UK insurance certificate for the vehicle.
• Your IVA certificate (if under 10 years old) or your MOT certificate (if over 10).
• Proof of ownership, like the bill of sale.

It can take the DVLA up to six weeks to process everything. Once they do, you'll receive your V5C registration document in the post. You can then get your number plates made up, pop them on the car, tax it online, and finally... go for that first drive.

The Bottom Line

To import a car from Japan to the UK is a journey. It requires patience and a clear budget. But the reward is a unique car that you’ll likely love far more than anything you could have bought locally.

Is it complicated? A little. But by taking it one step at a time and using a good import agent, it’s a well-trodden path. From the thrill of the auction to the excitement of seeing it roll off the transporter, it’s an experience you won’t forget.

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