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Regulations for Importing Japanese
Used Cars to United Kingdom

Considering importing a car from Japan to United Kingdom? Understand the essential rules, duties, and required documentation to ensure a smooth import process

Key Import Guidelines

Vehicle Age Restrictions

Vehicle Age Restrictions

There is no age limit.

Steering Position

Steering Position

Both right-hand drive and left-hand drive cars are accepted.

Vehicles Accepted

Vehicles Accepted

Passenger cars with up to 9 seats are accepted. Cars under 10 years old on arrival must be unmodified and registered for at least 6 months.

Shipping and Port Details

Shipping and Port Details

Primary Ports: Southampton and Bristol (Portbury) Seaport

Shipping Method

Shipping Method

RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)

Duties and Taxes

Duties and Taxes

Duties and taxes are worked out on the CIF value, which is the car's price plus sea freight. Customs duty is 10% of the CIF value, but collector's items and cars made in Japan pay none. Import VAT is 20% of the CIF value plus customs duty, or 5% for collector's items. A collector's item is a car 30 years old or more, unmodified and of a model no longer in production.

Registration and Local Charges

Registration and Local Charges

Cars under 10 years old need an IVA test (£199). Cars 3 years old or more need an MOT test (£54.85), unless built more than 40 years ago. DVLA registration costs £55. First-year tax depends on the car's CO2 emissions or engine size, but cars built more than 40 years ago pay none.

Required Documents for Customs Clearance

Registration Certificate (Country of Origin)

Registration Certificate (Country of Origin)

Confirms car registration status

Export Certificate

Export Certificate

Issued by Japanese authorities, required for customs

Original Invoice

Original Invoice

Provided by Carbarn.

Bill of Lading

Bill of Lading

Issued by the shipping company detailing shipment specifics

Condition Report

Condition Report

Detailed description of vehicle condition, including exterior, interior, and mechanical status

Buyers are responsible for paying all duties and taxes due to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The vehicle is then registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and the test it needs before registration is carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Import Rules and Regulations

Thinking about importing a car from Japan to the United Kingdom? This page covers which cars can be imported, the tests a car needs before it can be registered, how it is shipped, and the duty and VAT charged when it arrives.

Which Cars Can Be Imported

Vehicle Age

The United Kingdom sets no age limit on imported cars. A car's age decides which tests it needs before it can be registered, and whether it can be treated as a collector's item for duty and VAT.

Steering Position

Both right-hand drive and left-hand drive cars can be imported. Most Japanese cars are right-hand drive, the same as cars sold in the UK.

Vehicle Type

  • Passenger cars with up to 9 seats, including the driver's seat.
  • Cars under 10 years old must be unmodified and must have been registered in Japan for at least six months before they are exported. These are the conditions for the IVA test to accept the car's Japanese approval.

Tests Before Registration

No inspection is needed in Japan before the car ships. In the UK, a car may need one or both of these tests before it can be registered:

  • Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA): for cars under 10 years old, carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Fee: £199.
  • MOT: for cars 3 years old or more. Fee: £54.85. Cars built more than 40 years ago do not need one.

Shipping

  • Arrival ports: Southampton or Bristol (Portbury)
  • Shipping method: RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off)
  • Shipping line: Höegh Autoliners, sailing monthly
  • Time at sea: 30-50 days

Duties and Taxes

Duty and VAT are worked out on the CIF value: the price of the car plus the sea freight to the UK.

  • Customs duty: 0% for cars made in Japan, and 10% of the CIF value for cars made elsewhere. The 0% rate comes from the UK–Japan trade agreement, and Carbarn's invoice carries the statement of origin it requires.
  • Import VAT: 20% of the CIF value plus customs duty.
  • Collector's items: a car that is 30 years old or more, unmodified, and of a model no longer in production pays 0% customs duty and 5% import VAT.

Registration in the United Kingdom

  • Arrival notice (NOVA): the car's arrival is reported to HM Revenue & Customs within 14 days.
  • First registration with the DVLA: £55.
  • Vehicle tax for the first year: for cars under 10 years old, set by the car's CO2 emissions. For older cars, £230 for engines up to 1,549 cc and £375 above. Cars built more than 40 years ago pay none.

Duty and VAT are paid to HM Revenue & Customs when the car is cleared. The tests and the DVLA registration are booked by you or your clearing agent once the car has been unloaded.