Your next car is in Japan. We’ll go and get it.
Tell us what you want and your budget. We search the auctions, translate the auction sheet, inspect and bid, then ship it straight into our UK process.
- Auction houses
- All major
- Sheet translation
- Included
- Sourcing fee
- Fixed, upfront
How sourcing works
From wish list to UK plates.
- 01
Tell us what you want
Model, spec, budget and must-haves. We’ll tell you honestly what’s realistic.
- 02
We search & shortlist
Auctions and trusted dealers checked every week. Auction sheets translated.
- 03
Inspect & bid
Extra photos and checks before we bid, up to your agreed maximum.
- 04
Ship & register
Straight into our UK process: shipping, customs, IVA or MOT, DVLA plates.
Auctions, explained
How to read a Japanese auction sheet.
Every auction car is checked by an independent inspector who records its grade, mileage and every mark. It’s written in Japanese shorthand. We translate it into plain English for you.
Auction sheet, translated
Illustrative example- A1Small scratch, front right wing. Polishes out.
- U1Small dent, rear left door. Paintless repair.
- A2Scratch, rear bumper.
- Mileage verified against service records.
- Inspector’s note: “Original paint, very clean underside.”
A score from the Japanese auction inspector. Grade 4 and above is a good, honest car; R means repaired.
- S / 6
- New or nearly new, very low mileage.
- 5
- Excellent. Near-new condition.
- 4.5
- Excellent, with only tiny marks.
- 4
- Good, honest car. Minor marks, normal for its age.
- 3.5
- Average. More marks, may need some paint or a detail.
- 3
- Below average. Needs work, or very high mileage.
- R / RA
- Repaired accident history. Can be fine, but we check carefully.
Damage codes
- A1–A3
- Scratches (1 = small)
- U1–U3
- Dents
- W1–W3
- Wavy or repaired paint
- S / C
- Rust / corrosion
- X / XX
- Needs replacing / replaced
- Interior A–E
- A is like new, E is poor
Costs explained
All-in pricing. One number.
Here’s a worked example: a £25,000 Skyline from 1999. Because it’s over 10 years old it needs an MOT and a rear fog light, but no IVA. The car’s price and our sourcing fee are on top.
- 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
£25,000 car, built 1999
- Shipping (RoRo)£1,450
- Marine insurance1.5% of declared value£375
- Port handling & documents£395
- Import duty (0%)UK–Japan trade agreement (CEPA)£0
- Customs clearance & NOVA£330
- Administration feeincl. 20% VAT£330
- Rear fog lightFitted where the vehicle doesn’t have one · incl. 20% VAT£130
- 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
Illustrative only. Rates change; your quote is calculated for your vehicle.
Calculate mineSourcing request
Tell us what you’re looking for.
Takes two minutes. We’ll reply within one working day with what’s realistic for your budget.
- No obligation until you approve a car
- Your maximum bid is never exceeded
- Your progress saves as you type
Request received
Thanks. A sourcing specialist will reply within one working day. Reference .
Gallery
The kind of cars we bring home.
FAQ
Sourcing: your questions.
How much does sourcing cost?
Our sourcing fee is fixed, on top of the car’s price and the usual import costs. You see the all-in figure before we bid.
Do I pay import duty on a car from Japan?
Not on Japanese-built cars. Under the UK–Japan trade agreement they pay 0% customs duty with a valid origin claim, which we prepare. Import VAT at 20% still applies, and it’s included in your all-in price.
Can I see the car before you buy it?
Not in person, but we arrange extra photos and an independent inspection where possible, and translate the auction sheet line by line.
What if we lose the auction?
You only pay the sourcing fee once, and we keep looking until we find the right car, within the agreed time frame.
Do I pay a deposit?
Yes. A refundable deposit lets us bid on your behalf. It goes towards the car if we win.
Which cars are popular to import from Japan?
Skyline GT-R, Supra, RX-7, Silvia, NSX, Civic and Integra Type R, Land Cruiser, plus people carriers like the Alphard and Delica.
Before you buy from Japan
All guides- JDM
How to import a car from Japan to the UK
The whole process in plain English, from finding the car to fitting UK plates, with typical timings and costs.
Read guide - Costs & tax
Import duty and VAT on cars, explained
How much tax you’ll pay to bring a vehicle into the UK, how it’s calculated, and when you might pay less or nothing at all.
Read guide - Registration
What is IVA, and does my imported car need it?
Individual Vehicle Approval in plain English. Which cars need it, what’s checked, and how to pass first time.
Read guide
Let’s find your car.
Send a sourcing request, or get an instant quote for a car you’ve already found.