The Mitsubishi Delica is the van that looks ready for a mountain pass, and in Japan it often was. Four-wheel drive, a tall body and room for a family and their kit have given it a loyal following here. The worry is usually rust and age, and whether a boxy Japanese people carrier can be made legal for UK roads. It can, and the route is the same as for any car from Japan.
- Body
- 4x4 people carrier, up to 8 seats
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
Three generations to choose from
Most Delicas that come to the UK fall into three families. All of them are right-hand drive from the factory, as Japan drives on the left like we do, and most of the ones people want have four-wheel drive.
| Feature | Star Wagon (L300) | Space Gear | D:5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1986 to 1999 | 1994 to 2007 | 2007 onwards |
| In brief | The original boxy 4x4 van, simple and tough | Engine moved forward, more modern and comfortable | A modern monocoque body, still with four-wheel drive |
| UK test | MOT | MOT | MOT or IVA, check the date |
| Tax today | 5% VAT, no duty | Reduced rate on the early ones, check the date | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The Star Wagon is the classic one, with its separate chassis and upright styling. The Space Gear is the one most people picture when they think of a Delica camper. The D:5 is a different animal: a modern car to drive, still with the four-wheel drive and the high stance.
What to check before you buy
Rust is the big one. Delicas were bought for snow, mud and mountain roads, and one that has been used that way can have a tired underside whatever its age. A clean auction sheet and photos of the chassis are worth more than a low mileage.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, and the Japanese export certificate guide covers the one document every car from Japan needs.
Diesels and clean air zones
Plenty of Delicas are diesel. If you live or drive in London, or in a charging Clean Air Zone, check the emissions position before you buy. These zones want Euro 6 on a diesel, and an older diesel that was never built to it cannot be made compliant with paperwork. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains how it works.
The test depends on age
The age of the vehicle decides most of the work. GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, so they take an MOT instead of an IVA test.
| Age of the Delica | 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 |
Every Star Wagon and Space Gear is well past 10, and so are the early D:5s. A D:5 built after October 2016 is still under 10 years old, so it takes an IVA test and its speedometer has to be converted to mph. We do that conversion in-house.
Looking at a later D:5? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of the 10-year line changes the test it takes and whether the speedo needs converting.
Campers and pop-tops
A good number of Delicas have been fitted out for camping, some with a pop-top roof. If yours has proper living space, it is worth registering it as a motorhome rather than a plain people carrier, as that can mean cheaper insurance. Our guide to importing a van explains what the DVSA expects of a motor caravan.
Shipping a Delica
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 inside. That includes camping gear, so pack it separately or leave it behind. If the Delica 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. A tall, long-bodied Delica takes more room than a small hatchback, so give us the exact model and any roof fittings when you ask for a quote. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
Import tax
A Delica 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 instead. That takes in every Star Wagon and the earliest Space Gears, those built before October 1996.
If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and have owned the Delica 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.
UK changes
Because the Delica is right-hand drive, the list is short. Any vehicle without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position, and one 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 a later D:5 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.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Mitsubishi Delica to the UK?
Yes. A Delica follows the same route as any vehicle from Japan: shipping, customs, a rear fog light if needed, an MOT or IVA test depending on age, then DVLA registration.
Does a Delica need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which means a D:5 built after October 2016. Star Wagons, Space Gears and older D:5s take an MOT instead.
How much tax will I pay on a Delica?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. A Delica over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which covers every Star Wagon and the earliest Space Gears.
Is a diesel Delica ULEZ compliant?
Usually not unless there is evidence it meets Euro 6, which older diesels do not. Check before you buy if you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone.
Can I register a Delica camper as a motorhome?
If it has proper living accommodation, yes, and it can mean cheaper insurance. Talk to us about the timing when you book the import.
Found a Delica you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
