The Mercedes G-Class has barely changed shape since 1979, and that is a big part of the appeal. People look abroad for one because the right car, in the right colour and spec, is often easier to find in Dubai, Japan, Germany or the USA than here. Each of those places gives you a slightly different car and a slightly different import, so it pays to know which one you are buying before you agree a price.
- Generations
- W460, W463 and W463A
- Main sources
- Dubai, Japan, Germany and the USA
- Shipping
- From £1,450 (USA), £2,150 (Dubai), £3,575 (Japan), shipping only
- Built in
- Graz, Austria
Which G-Class
| Feature | Built | Testing today | Tax today |
|---|---|---|---|
| W460 | From 1979 | MOT, or none once over 40 | 5% VAT, no duty |
| W463 | 1990 to 2018 | MOT, or IVA or CoC if built after October 2016 | 5% VAT if built before October 1996, otherwise standard rate |
| W463A | From 2018 | IVA from outside Europe, CoC from the EU | Standard rate, see the duty section |
The W460 is the original, simple and utilitarian. The W463 brought more comfort and luxury, and it ran for close to three decades, so the build date matters more than the badge. The W463A from 2018 looks much the same from a distance but is a new car underneath. AMG versions such as the G 55 and G 63 turn up from every source, and they are the ones people most often import.
Left or right-hand drive
Where the car comes from mostly decides which side the steering wheel is on.
- Dubai and the wider Gulf: left-hand drive, usually dry and rust-free, often high spec.
- The USA: left-hand drive, with North American lighting that needs changing.
- Germany: left-hand drive, and usually the easiest route for paperwork and tax.
- Japan: you will find both, so check the listing rather than assume.
A left-hand drive G-Class can be registered and driven here without moving the steering. It just needs a few changes first, which we cover below. Our guide to left-hand drive cars in the UK covers what living with one is like.
What to check before you buy
The checks depend on where the car has lived. Gulf cars rarely rust, but the sun and sand take their own toll. Older cars from wetter places can hide rust in the usual places on a body built on a separate chassis.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
History matters most on Gulf cars. We are not able to ship or register salvage vehicles from Dubai, because a UK registration really needs a clean title to go smoothly. Our guide to history checks for imported cars explains what to look for, and Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet on a car from Japan.
Import tax and duty
A G-Class under 30 years old usually pays 20% import VAT, plus 10% import duty if it comes from outside the EU. Tax is worked out on the price plus the shipping, with the VAT charged on top of any duty. Over 30 years old, which takes in every W460 and W463s built before October 1996, it pays 5% VAT and no duty.
Because every G-Class is built in Austria, people often ask whether the duty can be dropped wherever the car is bought. Under the UK-EU agreement, the zero rate needs proof that the car is of EU origin, and that is far easier to get on a car bought from a business in the EU. Our guide to rules of origin and duty on EU cars explains how origin is proved.
Buying from Dubai, Japan or the USA? Budget for the 10% duty unless we have told you otherwise. If there is a way to prove origin for your car, we will check it for you when we quote.
If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for 12 months and owned the car for 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT or duty. The import tax calculator will run your own numbers.
Shipping a G-Class
These are guide prices built from a year of real jobs, shipping only. They exclude registration, testing, import tax and any work the car needs.
- Dubai: shared container from Jebel Ali, about 4 to 6 weeks at sea, from £2,150. Our agents handle the RTA deregistration and export plates.
- The USA: shared container or RoRo, about 2 to 4 weeks at sea, from £1,450. We collect from anywhere in the country.
- Japan: usually RoRo, about 5 to 8 weeks, from £3,575.
- Germany: on our own enclosed transporter, about 3 to 7 days, priced per job.
Our guides to shipping from Dubai, the USA and Germany, and to importing from Japan, cover each route in detail.
Getting it road legal
A left-hand drive G-Class usually needs headlight changes for driving on the left, a rear fog light if it does not have one, and an mph speedometer on a car under 10 years old. One from the USA also usually needs amber rear indicators and side markers. A right-hand drive car from Japan usually needs only the rear fog light, plus the mph speedometer if it is under 10. Our guide to speedometer and headlight conversions explains each job.
Then it takes the test for its age. Under 10 years old from outside Europe means an IVA test. One from the EU usually registers on a Certificate of Conformity instead. Between 10 and 40 years it takes an MOT, and over 40 years no MOT is needed if it has not been substantially changed. Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, with MOT testing on the same site in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register the car within 10 working days.
Looking at other big 4x4s from the Gulf too? Our Nissan Patrol and Toyota Land Cruiser guides cover two of the most common.
Questions people ask
Can I import a G-Class from Dubai to the UK?
Yes. A Dubai car is left-hand drive, so it needs headlight changes, a rear fog light if not fitted and an mph speedometer if under 10 years old. Then it takes an IVA test or MOT depending on age, and we register it.
Does a G-Class from Dubai pay import duty?
Usually, yes. Plan on 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. The car is built in Austria, but the zero rate needs proof of EU origin, so ask us and we will check your car.
Does a newer G-Class need an IVA test?
From outside Europe, a G-Class under 10 years old needs an IVA test. That means any built after October 2016, including every W463A. From the EU, it usually registers on a Certificate of Conformity instead.
Which G-Class qualifies for the reduced import tax?
Vehicles over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026 that covers every W460 and W463s built before October 1996.
How much does it cost to ship a G-Class?
As a guide, shipping starts from £1,450 from the USA, £2,150 from Dubai and £3,575 from Japan, shipping only. Cars from Germany are priced per job.
Found a G-Class? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the shipping, customs, testing and registration.
