The Honda Prelude was Honda's clever coupe: a 2.2 litre VTEC engine, a proper four-seat cabin and, on some cars, four-wheel steering. UK cars have mostly rusted away or been modified, so buyers now look to Japan, where the SiR and Type S were sold in numbers. The good news is that every one is old enough to skip the IVA test, and the earlier cars now pay a much smaller tax bill.
- Generations
- 4th (1991 to 1996) and 5th (1996 to 2001)
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- MOT, as every car is over 10 years old
Fourth or fifth generation
Most Preludes that come here from Japan are one of these two. Both are right-hand drive from the factory, and the sporty versions use Honda's 2.2 litre H22 VTEC engine.
| Feature | 4th generation | 5th generation |
|---|---|---|
| Built | 1991 to 1996 | 1996 to 2001 |
| Versions to look for | SiR with the H22 | SiR, and the Type S with more power |
| In brief | Low, wide and rounded, with a wraparound dash | Squarer and more upright, sharper to drive |
| Four-wheel steering | Offered on some cars | Offered on some cars, and the Type S has ATTS |
| UK test | MOT | MOT |
| Tax today | 5% VAT, no duty, if built before October 1996 | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The fourth generation is the one with the distinctive low nose and the dashboard that sweeps right across the car. The fifth generation went back to a crisper shape and is the one most people picture with the Type S badge. The Type S uses ATTS, a system that shifts drive between the front wheels to help the car turn in. It works well when it is healthy, so it is worth checking.
What to check before you buy
The H22 is a strong engine when it has been looked after, but it is now 25 to 35 years old. Plenty of Preludes have also had young owners and a few modifications along the way. A clean auction sheet, a car that has not been played with and some service history matter more than low miles.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 10 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, and the Japanese export certificate guide covers the one document every car from Japan needs. If you are weighing up other Hondas too, see our guides to the S2000 and the Civic and Integra Type R.
The test depends on age
GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, and production ended in 2001, so no Prelude needs an IVA test. Each one takes an MOT once its changes are done.
| Age of the car | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test and a speedometer in mph. No Prelude is this young |
| 10 to 40 years | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
| Over 40 years | No MOT needed if not substantially changed. No Prelude is this old yet |
Because every car is over 10 years old, the speedometer does not have to be converted to mph to be registered. Many owners still choose to, and we can do it in-house.
Import tax
A Prelude under 30 years old pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus the shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. That covers every fifth generation car. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty instead, which in October 2026 means one built before October 1996. That takes in almost every fourth generation car.
The 5% rate is for cars in their original state. HMRC can refuse it on a car that has been heavily modified, such as an engine swap or a reshaped body. Repairs and restoration are fine. Our guide to the historic vehicle 5% VAT rules explains where the line sits. If you are looking at one of the last fourth generation cars, check the build date with us first.
If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and have owned the car for at least 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT or duty. The import tax calculator runs your own numbers, and our cost of importing from Japan guide works through a full example.
Shipping a Prelude
From Japan, RoRo is the usual route and costs less than a container. The car has to run and drive, and it should be empty, with no spare parts or belongings inside. If you bought at auction, the auction agent usually arranges the trip to the port. If the car does not run, or you want to bring a box of spares, a container is the answer.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
UK changes
Being right-hand drive, a Prelude usually needs very little. A car without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down.
We do the work in our own workshop in Castle Donington, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days. Before you commit, get an insurance quote too. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import covers what insurers ask for, and our guide to importing a car from Japan covers the wider route.
Questions people ask
Does an imported Honda Prelude need an IVA test?
No. Production ended in 2001, so every Prelude is over 10 years old and exempt from vehicle approval. It takes an MOT after any changes it needs.
Does a fourth generation Prelude qualify for 5% VAT?
Almost always. In October 2026 a car built before October 1996 is over 30 years old and pays 5% VAT and no duty, as long as it is still in its original state.
How much tax will I pay on a fifth generation Prelude?
Usually 10% import duty and 20% import VAT on the price plus shipping. No fifth generation car is old enough for the 5% rate yet.
Is a four-wheel steering Prelude a problem to import?
No. It is registered like any other Prelude. Just check the system works and there is no warning light before you buy, as repairs can be awkward.
Does a Japanese Prelude need its speedometer converting?
Not to be registered. The mph conversion is required on cars under 10 years old, and every Prelude is older than that.
Found a Prelude you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
