For years, Japanese buyers could not walk into a Lexus showroom. The cars were sold at home with Toyota badges, and the Lexus name was kept for export. That changed in 2005, when Lexus opened in Japan. A Lexus bought there today is usually well kept, often well specified, and the same car underneath as one sold here, which makes parts and servicing straightforward.
- Lexus in Japan
- From 2005
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
Lexus or the Toyota twin?
Before 2005, the Japanese versions of most Lexus models wore Toyota names. If you want one of those older cars, you are really looking for the Toyota, and we have separate guides for each.
| Feature | Sold in the UK as | Japanese Toyota twin | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| LS | LS400 and LS430 | Celsior | Toyota Celsior |
| GS | GS300 and GS430 | Aristo | Toyota Aristo |
| IS | IS200 and IS300 | Altezza | Toyota Altezza |
| RX | RX300 and the next RX | Harrier | Toyota Harrier |
See our guides to the Toyota Celsior, the Toyota Aristo, the Toyota Altezza and the Toyota Harrier for those. The LS took over from the Celsior name in 2006, and the RX joined the Japanese Lexus range later, while the Harrier carried on as a separate Toyota. The rest of this guide is about cars sold in Japan with Lexus badges.
Japanese market or UK market?
A Japanese-market Lexus is right-hand drive, like ours, and built to the same standard. The differences are mostly in the details. Screens, sat nav and menus are usually set up in Japanese, and the radio is tuned for Japanese FM frequencies, so many owners fit a UK unit or use their phone. Some grades and options were only sold in Japan, and some UK options were never offered there.
The big plus is that Lexus is sold new in the UK. A UK-market LS, GS, IS, RX or LC shares most of its service parts, brakes and suspension with the Japanese one. Quote the chassis number when you order, as trim, lights and electrical parts can differ. Our guide to parts and servicing for imported cars has more. Do not assume any manufacturer warranty carries over from Japan.
Hybrid checks
A lot of Japanese Lexus stock is hybrid, the models with an "h" in the name. Toyota's hybrid system has a good record, but on any used one the health of the hybrid battery is the big question. Look for warning lights, ask about the battery history, and check the auction sheet notes for anything about the hybrid system.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 9 done
Our guides to Japanese auction grades, checking the mileage on an imported car and the Japanese export certificate cover the paperwork side in more detail.
The test depends on age
GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, so they take an MOT instead of an IVA test. Because Lexus only arrived in Japan in 2005, a Japanese Lexus can fall either side of that line.
| Age of the Lexus | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test, and a speedometer reading in mph |
| 10 years and over | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
In October 2026, a car built after October 2016 is still under 10 years old. That covers every LC and plenty of recent IS, RX, LS and LX models. They take an IVA test and need the speedometer converted to mph, which we do in-house. Our guide to the IVA test explains what happens on the day.
Looking at a 2016 car? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of October 2016 changes the test it takes and whether the speedo needs converting.
Shipping a Lexus
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 belongings or loose parts inside. If it does not run, a container is the answer. A hybrid carries a battery as well as a fuel tank, so tell us exactly what the car is and we will declare it correctly. Our guide to shipping an electric or hybrid car explains more.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. A big LS or LX takes more room than a small hatchback, so give us the exact model when you ask for a quote. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
Import tax
A Lexus 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. The reduced 5% rate is for cars over 30 years old, and no Lexus-badged Japanese car is that old yet.
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.
Road tax and clean air zones
Road tax depends on when the car was first registered, including in Japan. Cars first registered before April 2017 are usually taxed on CO2 if there is evidence of the figure. From 1 April 2017, the standard rate applies, and a car with a high list price may be caught by the £40,000 supplement, which is worth checking on an LS, LC or LX. Our guide to road tax for imported cars explains the rules. Every Japanese Lexus is petrol or petrol hybrid and dates from after 2005, so the ULEZ should not be a problem, but our guide to ULEZ and imported cars covers the evidence if you are asked for it.
UK changes and registration
Because a Japanese Lexus is right-hand drive, the list is short. Any car without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position, and one under 10 years old needs its speedometer in mph. Japanese cars 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 a recent Lexus is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. For the wider route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan, and for cover, our guide to insuring a Japanese import.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Lexus from Japan to the UK?
Yes. A Lexus follows the same route as any car from Japan: shipping, customs, a rear fog light if needed, an MOT or IVA test depending on age, then DVLA registration.
When did Lexus start selling cars in Japan?
In 2005. Before that, the Japanese versions were sold as Toyotas, such as the Celsior, Aristo, Altezza and Harrier, and we have separate guides for those.
Does a Japanese Lexus need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which in October 2026 means built after October 2016. Older cars take an MOT instead.
Is a Japanese Lexus different from a UK one?
Underneath it is much the same car, with most service parts shared. Screens and sat nav are usually in Japanese, the radio is set for Japanese frequencies, and some grades and options differ.
How much tax will I pay on a Lexus from Japan?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. No Lexus-badged Japanese car is over 30 years old yet, so none qualifies for the reduced 5% rate.
Found a Lexus you like? Send us the auction lot or listing on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
