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Japan → UK

Import a car from Japan.

Japan is the home of the JDM car and the UK’s favourite import route. Cars are well kept and drive on the left, and every auction car comes with an inspection sheet.

Quote from JapanAsk a question
Typical transit
6–8 weeks
Door to road
10–14 weeks
From
£2,500
Two Nissan Skylines on a Tokyo street at night
6–8 weekstypical transit

At a glance

Why import from Japan?

  • 0% import duty on Japanese-built cars
  • Right-hand drive, like the UK
  • Auction sheets graded by independent inspectors
  • Most cars need only light modifications

Ports: Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka → Southampton, Bristol, Tilbury

Shipping methods compared

Shipping methods for this route
MethodBest forTransit
RoRoStandard cars that run. Best value.6–8 weeks
ContainerClassics, high-value cars, non-runners.6–8 weeks
Air freightNot usually offered on this route—

Transit times are typical port-to-port and vary with sailing schedules.

Step by step

From Japan to UK plates, in 4 steps.

  1. 01

    Quote & purchase

    Get your itemised quote. Buy the car yourself, or let us source it in Japan.

  2. 02

    Shipping from Japan

    Collected, loaded and shipped: Yokohama, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka → Southampton, Bristol, Tilbury.

  3. 03

    Customs & compliance

    Duty and VAT paid, NOVA filed, then modifications and IVA or MOT in our workshop.

  4. 04

    Registered & delivered

    DVLA registration, UK plates fitted, delivered to your door.

Costs explained

What it costs, line by line.

A worked example for a £20,000 car shipped from Japan. Your instant quote does the same maths for your actual vehicle.

  • A tax on goods from outside the UK. Usually 10% for cars, based on the car’s value plus shipping. Cars built in Japan pay 0%. is 0% for vehicles built in Japan, under the UK–Japan trade agreement. We make the origin claim for you. Cars from most other countries pay 10%.
  • VAT charged at the border, normally 20% of the value plus shipping and duty. is 20% of the value, shipping, insurance and any duty combined.
  • Over 30 years old, in original condition and no longer in production. Often qualifies for 0% duty and 5% VAT. You may pay 0% duty and just 5% VAT.
  • Moving to the UK? Transfer of Residence relief: if you’re moving to the UK and have owned the car for 6+ months, you may pay no duty or VAT. can remove duty and VAT entirely.

Worked example

£20,000 car, built 2017

Demo figures
Shipping & logistics£2,145
  • Shipping (RoRo)£1,450
  • Marine insurance1.5% of declared value£300
  • Port handling & documents£395
Import duty£0
  • Import duty (0%)UK–Japan trade agreement (CEPA)£0
Customs, compliance & registration£1,905.25
  • Customs clearance & NOVA£330
  • Administration feeincl. 20% VAT£330
  • Speedometer conversion to mphNeeded to pass IVA (under 10 years old)£150
  • Rear fog lightFitted where the vehicle doesn’t have one · incl. 20% VAT£130
  • IVA preparationTransport from our site to the test centre, incl. VAT£120
  • IVA test fee (DVSA)£199
  • MOT testVehicles over 3 and under 40 years old£55
  • DVLA registration fee (V55)£55
  • 6-month road tax£206.25
  • Number plates, fittedincl. 20% VAT£35
  • UK delivery to your doorincl. 20% VAT£295
Total, excluding the vehicle and import VAT£4,050.25

Illustrative only. Rates change; your quote is calculated for your vehicle.

Calculate mine

Good to know

Japan: the details that matter.

0% import duty

Under the UK–Japan trade agreement (CEPA), vehicles built in Japan pay no customs duty, as long as a valid origin claim is made. We handle the claim. Import VAT at 20% still applies.

Export certificate

Every Japanese car is de-registered before export. The export certificate confirms first registration date and mileage, which DVLA uses.

Under 10 years old?

Most newer Japanese cars need IVA before they can be registered. Our IVA specialists prepare the car and take it to the test.

Auction or dealer

Buying at auction usually gives the best price and the most choice. We can bid for you through our sourcing service.

FAQ

Importing from Japan: FAQs.

Still have a question?

Talk to a real person who imports cars every day.

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How long does it take to import a car from Japan?

Shipping typically takes 6–8 weeks. From purchase to UK plates, allow around 10–14 weeks including customs, modifications, testing and registration.

Do I pay import duty on a car from Japan?

No, if the car was built in Japan. Under the UK–Japan trade agreement (CEPA), Japanese-built vehicles pay 0% customs duty with a valid origin claim, which we prepare for you. You still pay 20% import VAT. A car sold in Japan but built elsewhere pays the standard rate, usually 10%.

How much does it cost to import a car from Japan?

It depends on the car’s value, the shipping method and whether it needs IVA. There’s no import duty on Japanese-built cars. Our instant quote shows shipping, VAT, modifications, testing and registration line by line.

Can you buy the car in Japan for me?

Yes. Our Japanese car sourcing service finds, inspects and buys the car, then ships it straight into our UK process.

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