Kei cars are Japan's smallest class of car, and they have a growing following here: tiny vans for tradespeople, little trucks for farms and estates, and tall city cars with more room inside than seems possible. The worry is usually whether something so small and so Japanese can be made legal for UK roads. It can, and the route is the same as for any other car from Japan.
- Engine
- Up to 660cc
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
What makes a car a kei car
Kei is short for kei-jidosha, Japan's light vehicle class. To qualify, a vehicle has to fit within tight limits: an engine of no more than 660cc, and a body no more than 3.4 metres long, 1.48 metres wide and 2 metres tall. In return, owners in Japan get lower taxes and other advantages.
The result is a whole family of small vehicles built to the same box. Some are cars, some are vans and some are pickups, and all of them are right-hand drive from the factory.
Cars, vans and trucks
| Feature | Kei cars | Kei vans | Kei trucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examples | Honda N-Box, Daihatsu Copen, Honda Beat, Suzuki Cappuccino | Suzuki Every, Daihatsu Hijet van, Honda N-Van | Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hijet truck, Honda Acty |
| Why people buy them | City driving, character, or a small sports car | A small, practical load space | A tiny pickup for farms, estates and sites |
| What to watch | Rust and tired rubber on older cars | Rust in the floor and load area, and hard work | Rust in the bed and chassis, and the four-wheel drive where fitted |
The sporty ones, such as the Honda Beat and Suzuki Cappuccino, have had a following here for years. The vans and trucks are newer arrivals, bought for being small, easy to park and simple to run. Our guide to JDM cars to import covers more of the cars UK buyers bring in from Japan.
What to check before you buy
A kei van or truck has usually had a working life, so check it the way you would any work vehicle. The auction sheet is the best place to start, and a full translation of the notes is worth asking for.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, and the Japanese import checklist covers the rest.
The test depends on age
This is the part that decides most of the work. Kei vehicles follow the same age rules as any other import, and GOV.UK's exemptions cover both cars and light goods vehicles up to 3,500kg.
| Age of the vehicle | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test, and a speedometer reading in mph |
| 10 to 40 years | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
| Over 40 years | No MOT needed, as long as it has not been substantially changed |
An older kei truck or van is often the simpler import, because it skips IVA and keeps its original speedometer. A nearly new one takes an IVA test like anything else, and the speedo has to read in mph. We do that conversion in-house.
Close to 10 years old? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of the line changes the test the vehicle takes and whether the speedo needs converting.
UK changes
Because kei vehicles are right-hand drive, the list is short. Any vehicle without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position, and a vehicle under 10 years old needs its speedometer in mph. Japanese vehicles are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so the test happens on our own lane, with our workshop next door if anything needs another look. See the IVA test explained for what the examiner checks.
Shipping a kei vehicle
From Japan, RoRo is the usual route and costs less than a container. The vehicle has to run and drive, and it should be empty, with no belongings or loose parts in the cab or the load bed. If it does not run, 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. If you bought at auction, the auction agent usually arranges the trip to the port.
Import tax
A car from Japan 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. A vehicle over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which takes in plenty of older kei cars and trucks.
Vans and trucks can fall under a different customs heading from cars, so the duty on them is not always the same. We confirm the right rate when we quote. The import tax calculator gives a rough figure for a car, and our cost of importing from Japan guide works through a full example.
Living with one
A 660cc engine is happiest around town and on country roads. Most kei vehicles will do a motorway, but they were designed for Japanese roads and Japanese speed limits, so think about how you will use it. Insurers will want to know it is an import, and our guide to insuring a Japanese import covers what they ask for.
Questions people ask
Can I import a kei car to the UK?
Yes. Kei cars, vans and trucks follow the same route as any other vehicle from Japan: customs, any UK changes, an IVA test or MOT depending on age, then DVLA registration.
Does a kei truck need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old. GOV.UK exempts light goods vehicles up to 3,500kg and cars from vehicle approval once they are over 10 years old, so older ones take an MOT instead.
What changes does a kei van need for the UK?
Usually a rear fog light if one is not fitted, and a speedometer reading in mph if it is under 10 years old. They are right-hand drive already, and Japanese vehicles are no longer checked for headlight compliance.
How much tax is there on a kei car from Japan?
A car usually pays 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping, and one over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. Vans and trucks can be classed differently, so we confirm the rate when we quote.
Can a kei car go on the motorway?
Most can, but they were designed for Japanese roads and speed limits, and a 660cc engine is happiest around town and on country roads. Think about how you will use it before you buy.
Found a kei car, van or truck? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the shipping, testing and registration.
