JDM means Japanese domestic market: cars built and sold in Japan, often in versions that never came to the UK. The worry with buying one is that you are a long way from the car and cannot kick its tyres. The fix is knowing what to look for on the model you want, and knowing how its age changes the import.
- Minimum age to import
- None
- Under 10 years old
- IVA test
- 10 years and older
- MOT
- Over 30 years old
- 5% VAT, no duty
Age changes everything
The UK has no minimum age for importing a car. You may have heard of a 25-year rule: that is an American rule, not a British one. What age does change here is the test the car takes and the tax it pays.
- Under 10 years old: vehicle approval, which means an IVA test, and a speedo in mph
- Over 10 years old: exempt from vehicle approval, so an MOT instead
- Over 30 years old: 5% import VAT and no duty, instead of 20% VAT and 10% duty
- Over 40 years old: no MOT needed
Most cars on the list below are from the 1990s, so many are now past the 30-year mark. A rear fog light is the most common change on any of them, if one was not fitted at the factory.
Nissan Skyline and GT-R
The R32, R33 and R34 Skyline GT-Rs, with their twin-turbo straight-six and four-wheel drive, are the cars most people mean when they say JDM. They are also cars that have very often been modified, tuned and driven hard.
- Modifications, and evidence of who did the work
- Rust under the car and around the arches
- That the chassis number matches the export certificate
- Non-GT-R Skylines described as GT-Rs
Toyota Supra Mk IV
The A80 Supra and its 2JZ engine need little introduction. We have a full Supra Mk IV buying guide covering engines, gearboxes, turbos, rust and the targa roof. The earliest Mk IVs are already over 30 years old, which changes the tax.
Nissan Silvia
The S13, S14 and S15 Silvias are light, rear-wheel drive and a favourite for drifting. That popularity is the thing to watch: plenty have lived hard lives.
- Signs of accident repair and uneven panel gaps
- Quality of any engine, suspension or cage work
- Rust in the sills and under the car
Mazda Eunos Roadster
The Eunos Roadster is the Japanese-market version of the first MX-5. Simple, light and easy to live with, they are a gentle way into JDM ownership.
- Rust in the sills and rear arches
- The condition of the soft top and its seals
- Rear fog light, which may need adding
Toyota Land Cruiser
Land Cruisers are bought for their toughness, and many have worked for a living. Look past the bodywork to what is underneath.
- Chassis and underbody rust
- Signs of heavy off-road use
- Leaks from the engine, gearbox and axles
Suzuki Jimny
We import Jimnys from Japan, including the five-door Jimny Nomade, which was never sold here as a passenger car. A recent Jimny will be under 10 years old, so it takes an IVA test and needs its speedo converted to mph. We do that conversion in-house: mph on the outer scale, km/h on the inner, with the centre display recoded to English. If it has no rear fog light, we fit one to an OEM finish.
Kei cars
Kei cars are built to Japan's small-car class, with tight limits on size and a 660cc engine. The sporty ones, such as the Honda Beat and Suzuki Cappuccino, have a big following here. Check them like any other car, with extra attention to rust and to tired rubber and seals on older cars. Under 10 years old, a kei car takes an IVA test like anything else.
Before you buy any of them
Tick these off before you commit. Several of them, such as lights, brakes and seat belts, are things the IVA test or MOT looks at, so a car that passes them is less likely to need work at this end.
Before you buy a JDM car
0 of 10 done
For the full process, see how to import a car from Japan, and for the numbers, the cost of importing from Japan.
Questions people ask
Is there a 25-year rule for JDM imports in the UK?
No. The UK has no minimum age for importing a car. Cars under 10 years old need an IVA test, and older cars take an MOT instead.
Do JDM cars need a speedo conversion?
Cars under 10 years old must have a speedometer that reads in mph. On older cars it is recommended rather than required.
Do JDM cars need headlight changes?
Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance. The most common change is a rear fog light, if one was not fitted at the factory.
Is a JDM car over 30 years old cheaper to import?
Yes. Cars over 30 years old pay 5% import VAT and no import duty, instead of 20% VAT and 10% duty.
Spotted one you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will tell you what it takes to get it here and on the road.
