You have narrowed it down to one model, and there are two kinds for sale: the UK-supplied car and the Japanese import. Sometimes the import is better equipped, sometimes it is a version that was never sold here, and sometimes the worry is simply that it is an import at all.
The good news is that a Japanese car is one of the easier imports to live with. The differences are real but specific, and once you know them you can judge each car on its merits.
- Steering
- Right-hand drive, like UK cars
- Usual UK changes
- Rear fog light, mph speedo if under 10
- Shipping guide price
- From £3,575
- Time at sea
- About 5 to 8 weeks
Same name, not always the same car
Many of the cars people import from Japan were never sold new in the UK. Others share a name with a UK model but have a different engine, trim or specification for the home market.
So the first job is to work out what you are actually comparing. If the Japanese car is a version the UK never had, it is not really an alternative to the UK car, it is a different car. If it is close to the UK model, the comparison comes down to condition, history and paperwork.
Side by side
| Feature | Japanese import | UK-market car |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | Right-hand drive | Right-hand drive |
| Speedometer | km/h from the factory, converted to mph on cars under 10 | mph |
| Rear fog light | Fitted if it was not there from the factory | Fitted |
| Chassis number | Often shorter than 17 characters | 17-character VIN |
| UK MOT history | Starts at its first UK test | From its first MOT |
| History before the UK | Auction sheet and export certificate | Service book and UK records |
| Parts | Market-specific parts may come from Japan | Usually easy to find here |
| Insurance | Some insurers ask more questions | Straightforward |
Changes for UK roads
Because Japanese cars are right-hand drive, the list of changes is short. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down further.
- A rear fog light, if one was not fitted at the factory
- A speedometer that reads in mph, on cars under 10 years old
On older cars the speedo conversion is recommended rather than required. We do both in-house. Compared with a left-hand drive car from Europe or an American car, that is a light touch, and speedometer and headlight conversions has the detail.
Testing and registration
A UK-market car is already registered, so none of this applies to it. A Japanese car being imported has to pass a test first, and its age decides which.
If you are buying one that is already registered here, this is done. Ask how it was approved and keep the paperwork, because the next owner and their insurer will ask the same.
History and mileage
A UK car's history lives in its service book and its MOT records. A car that spent its life in Japan has no UK MOT history until it takes its first test here, and the GOV.UK service only shows UK tests.
Its earlier story comes from the Japanese paperwork instead. The auction sheet records the grade, the damage map and the mileage in kilometres, which Japanese auction grades explains. Checking the mileage on an imported car shows how to line the readings up.
Insurance
To an insurer, a Japanese-market car is not quite the same risk as the UK version, even when it looks identical. Some have less data on home-market models and refer the quote to a person rather than pricing it straight away.
It is usually manageable. Tell the insurer it is an import and list every change, from the fog light to anything a previous owner did. Get a quote before you buy, and see Japanese import car insurance for what insurers ask.
Parts, servicing and recalls
Service parts are often shared with UK models. Trim, body panels, lights and market-specific parts may have to come from Japan, which can mean a longer wait for a repair. Parts and servicing for imported cars explains how to plan for that.
Recalls apply to imports too, but a recall issued in Japan will not necessarily show up here if the model was never sold in the UK. Run the GOV.UK check and ask the manufacturer in Japan as well, as recalls on imported cars describes.
Road tax and resale
Road tax follows the same tables as any car, but it depends on the evidence. A car with no accepted CO2 figure may be taxed on engine size instead. Road tax for imported cars explains how it is set.
When you come to sell, some import models have a narrower market of buyers. Keep the export certificate, auction sheet and a list of changes together, and selling an imported car covers the rest.
Compare the cars, not the labels. A well documented Japanese import can be a better buy than a UK car with a patchy history, and the other way round. The paperwork tells you which.
Bringing one in yourself
If the car you want is still in Japan, it pays 20% import VAT and 10% duty, worked out on the price plus shipping. Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty. RoRo is the usual route, and an auction agent usually gets the car to the port.
Importing a car from Japan walks through the whole process, and JDM cars worth importing covers what to check on the popular models.
Before you choose
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Questions people ask
Is a Japanese import better than a UK car?
Not by default. It may be better equipped or a version never sold here, and it is right-hand drive, so it needs few changes. Judge it on its condition, history and paperwork, as you would a UK car.
What changes does a Japanese import need for UK roads?
Usually a rear fog light if one was not fitted, and a speedometer in mph on cars under 10 years old. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance.
Are Japanese imports more expensive to insure?
They can be. Some insurers have less data on Japanese-market models, and parts can take longer to source. Tell the insurer it is an import, list the changes and get a quote before you buy.
How can I check the history of a Japanese import?
It has no UK MOT history until its first test here, so the earlier story comes from the auction sheet and export certificate. Check the mileage against them, remembering it was recorded in kilometres.
Can I get parts for a Japanese import?
Service parts are often shared with UK models. Trim, panels, lights and market-specific parts may need to come from Japan, so find out before you buy.
Found the right one in Japan? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the whole import.
