IMPORT CARS FROM JAPAN TO THE UK
If you’re looking to import a Japanese car from Japan to the UK, look no further. Davey Japan are experts in imported vehicles. When you work with us, you work with our specialist team who know the Japanese market like the back of our hand. With more than 20 years’ experience exporting Japanese vehicles around the globe, our team can work with you to find the right car and get it shipped to the UK fast.
A lot of people imagine Japanese imports as the Gran Turismo hero cars from the 1990`s. Cars such as the Nissan Skyline, Honda NSX, Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Evo and more. However, these days, the majority of cars being imported to the UK are either European models, or MPVs.
Starting off with the European cars there are a number of benefits of sourcing a car from Japan rather than a UK equivalent, they include;
- Generally Japanese cars are in fantastic condition and less chance of rust
- Japan supplied European models are often petrol and automatic, both highly desirable in the current market
- For some models, they can be found with higher specification than the UK equivalent
Moving onto the MPVs, the big sellers are the Toyota Alphard & Vellfire and the Nissan Elgrand. These are popular as they were not supplied to the UK when new, and therefore fill a niche in the market. They can be had in a large variety of engines and specifications. One of the biggest selling points for family use is that most models can be had in 7 or 8 seat configurations.
Please contact us today to learn more about models available for import from Japan to the UK.
HERE ARE THE BEST CARS TO IMPORT FROM JAPAN TO THE UK
Audi A1
Audi A3
BMW 1 Series
BMW 3 Series
Mercedes-Benz A Class
Nissan Elgrand
Toyota Alphard/Vellfire
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Up!
Volkswagen Golf
FAQ ABOUT IMPORTING CARS FROM JAPAN TO THE UK
Yes, you definitely can. It does pay to work with an import expert to ensure you are aware and comply with all of the regulations required.
Japanese technical regulations are not the same as those that apply in the UK and Europe. This means that cars must undergo Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA). This is to ensure the vehicle meets the right safety and environmental standards before it is legal to use on UK roads. There are exceptions to this rule; you can check out the Gov.UK list here.
Exporting vehicles can be complicated. Davey Japan manages the entire process – from working with you to find the perfect vehicle, all the way through compliance and regulation requirements, shipping and vehicle arrival. We even have partners who can help ensure your vehicle is fit to hit the roads once it lands in the UK. If you are looking for a vehicle import and shipping company you can trust, get in touch with us today.
Are you a commercial buyer looking to import more than one vehicle? We work with businesses around the globe to bulk ship vehicles of all types, and for all uses. Speak to our expert team today to learn more about how we can source and import your next order.
Read to jump right in? Register as a buyer today to keep an eye on our latest Japanese Car Auctions online.
As a general rule imports to the UK can be split into 2 categories, cars which are over and under 10 years old.
- Vehicles under 10 years old are required to go through an IVA (individual vehicle assessment) test.
- Vehicles which are over 10 years old can be imported more simply. They usually do not require an IVA test, just the standard UK MOT test;
When importing a vehicle under 10 years old to the UK, an IVA (individual vehicle assessment) test must be carried out at a pre-booked DVSA test centre once the car arrives in the UK. It is worth checking the requirements for the specific vehicle from Japan before importing to understand the required work and costs involved. Common requirements include converting the speedometer from KPH to MPH and the addition of a rear fog light.
The test itself is quite stringent. The DVLA offers a full test handbook (Link to DLVA information from the UK government).
If you are unsure about anything, including the customs clearances required, please contact us for more information on importing Japanese cars to the UK.
There are many benefits to buying a car and importing it from Japan to the UK. Popular reasons why buyers choose Japanese car imports include:
- Buying a vehicle that isn’t available in the UK (or might be available but only via a long waiting list)
- Your vehicle of choice might actually be cheaper than the UK equivalent
- Access to cars that are built to a higher or custom spec compared to UK versions
- The ability to purchase unique or unusual models that can’t be found in the UK
