In Japan, Nissan's Z cars have always been called the Fairlady Z. Here we know them as the 300ZX, the 350Z and the 370Z. Japan has a deep supply of all three, often in specifications we never got. The worry is usually the age line: one Z can sail through on an MOT and 5% VAT, and another needs an IVA test and full tax. Once you know which is which, the rest is straightforward.
- Models
- Z32, Z33 and Z34
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which generation?
| Feature | Z32 (300ZX) | Z33 (350Z) | Z34 (370Z) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1989 to 2000 | 2002 to 2008 | 2008 to the early 2020s |
| Engine | 3.0 V6, with or without twin turbos | 3.5 V6 | 3.7 V6 |
| UK test today | MOT | MOT | MOT or IVA, check the date |
| Tax today | 5% VAT on early cars, check the date | 10% duty + 20% VAT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
Z32
The Z32 is the wide, low 1990s Z, sold here as the 300ZX. In Japan it came as a two-seater and a 2+2, with or without the twin-turbo engine, and many have a removable T-bar roof. The twin turbo is the one most people want, and the one that needs the most care.
Age is on its side. A Z32 built before October 1996 is over 30 years old, so it pays 5% VAT and no duty. Later cars, built up to 2000, still pay the standard rate for now.
Z33
The Z33 brought the Z back after a break, as a two-seat coupe and a roadster with a 3.5 litre V6. It was sold new here as the 350Z, so parts and specialists are easy to find. Every Z33 is over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT rather than an IVA test.
Z34
The Z34, our 370Z, is the one to watch. It ran for a long time, so early cars take an MOT and later ones built after October 2016 take an IVA test. Two cars that look identical can need different paperwork.
The current Fairlady Z, the RZ34, followed in Japan in 2022. Any of those is under 10 years old, so it takes an IVA test with an mph speedometer. Send us the export certificate and we will check the details.
Looking at a late Z34? Check the build date with us before you buy. It decides whether the car takes an MOT or an IVA test and whether the speedometer has to be converted.
What to check before you buy
Z cars are often driven hard and modified, and Japan has plenty of both. A clean, standard car with a clear history is usually the better buy, whichever generation you choose.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 9 done
The auction sheet is the best place to start, and our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read it. The Japanese import checklist covers the paperwork side, including the export certificate.
Shipping and import tax
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. A non-runner can go in a container instead. As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
A Z car under 30 years old pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price of the car plus the shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which today means a Z32 built before October 1996. Our worked tax examples show the difference, and the import tax calculator runs your own numbers.
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.
Getting it road legal
The age of the car decides the test. GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, so every Z32, every Z33 and the earlier Z34s take an MOT. A Z34 or RZ34 under 10 years old takes an IVA test, and its speedometer must read in mph first. We convert it in-house.
Because Japanese Z cars are right-hand drive, the rest of the list is short: a rear fog light in the right position if one is missing. 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 newer Z is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. See the IVA test explained and our guide to importing a car from Japan for the wider route.
Insurance
Insurers know the 350Z and 370Z well, but a Japanese-market car is still an import and they will want the details, including any modifications. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import covers what they ask for. If you are weighing up other Japanese sports cars of the same era, our Supra Mk IV and RX-7 FD guides follow the same pattern.
Questions people ask
What is the Fairlady Z in the UK?
It is the Japanese name for Nissan's Z cars. The Z32 was sold here as the 300ZX, the Z33 as the 350Z and the Z34 as the 370Z.
Does an imported Fairlady Z need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which means a Z34 built after October 2016 or a current RZ34. Every Z32 and Z33 takes an MOT instead.
Does a Z32 300ZX qualify for 5% import VAT?
Only if it was built before October 1996, as the car has to be over 30 years old. Later Z32s pay 10% duty and 20% VAT for now.
How much tax will I pay on a Z33 or Z34?
Usually 10% import duty and 20% import VAT on the price plus shipping. Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving to the UK and qualify.
How long does it take to import a Fairlady Z from Japan?
Usually about 5 to 8 weeks for the journey, plus time for customs, any changes, the MOT or IVA test and registration.
Found a Fairlady Z you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
