The Nissan Figaro is a little retro convertible that was only ever sold in Japan, and it has had a devoted following here for years. Because it looks so unusual, people worry that it will be hard to make legal. It is one of the simpler cars to bring over: it is right-hand drive, it is well past the age for an IVA test, and it is old enough to be considered for the reduced classic tax rate.
- Built
- 1991
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- MOT, as every car is over 10 years old
What the Figaro is
The Figaro was one of Nissan's Pike cars, a small run of retro-styled models built on ordinary underpinnings. Underneath it is based on the Micra of the time, with a 1.0 litre turbocharged engine and a three-speed automatic gearbox.
The body is the part people fall for. It has a fixed frame over the doors and a fabric roof that rolls back, so it feels like a convertible without the flex of a full open car. Inside, the chrome-ringed dials and cream trim are part of the appeal.
It was built in 1991 for the Japanese market only. Every Figaro on UK roads arrived as an import at some point, which is why there is a well-established route for bringing them over.
Its age works in your favour
Working from 12 October 2026, a 1991 Figaro is 35 years old. That matters for three things: the test, the speedometer and the tax.
GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, so there is no IVA test. The car takes an MOT instead. The rule that the speedometer must read in mph applies to cars under 10 years old, so a Figaro can keep its original kilometre dial, though some owners choose to convert it.
The 40-year MOT exemption is a few years away yet. A Figaro will not reach 40 until 2031, so for now it needs an MOT like any other car of its age.
What to check before you buy
The Figaro is a simple car mechanically, and the engine and gearbox are shared with a common Nissan of the time. The things that cost money are the body and the roof. A car that looks lovely in photos can hide rust underneath, so the auction sheet and an independent inspection are worth more than the pictures.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet and the repair codes worth watching for. The Japanese import checklist covers the paperwork side.
Import tax and the 5% rate
A car from Japan normally 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 car over 30 years old can instead pay 5% VAT and no duty, and every Figaro is past that mark.
Age is the starting point, not the whole test. HMRC treats the reduced rate as being for collectors' pieces of historical interest, and GOV.UK's guidance expects the car to be in its original state. Repair and restoration are fine. A car that has been modernised or heavily modified can be refused. Our guide to the historic vehicle 5% VAT rules sets out HMRC's conditions in full.
Most Figaros are kept close to standard, which helps. If yours has a different engine, modern wheels or a reworked interior, tell us before you buy so we can look at it. The import tax calculator will give you a rough figure either way.
Keep the paperwork. The export certificate shows the year of manufacture, and any restoration invoices help show the car has been kept to original specification. We check the 5% rate when we clear a classic through customs.
Shipping a Figaro
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 nothing left in the boot. If you bought at auction, the auction agent usually arranges the trip to the port. If the car 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. The documents we need are the Japanese export certificate, the purchase invoice or auction paperwork, and your passport. Our guide to the Japanese export certificate explains what it shows.
From auction to number plates
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Buy and export
The car is bought, deregistered in Japan and the export certificate issued.
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Ship
The car goes by RoRo, or in a container if it does not run. About 5 to 8 weeks door to door.
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Customs
We clear it through UK customs and check whether the 5% rate applies.
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Changes and MOT
A rear fog light is fitted if missing, then the car takes its MOT.
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Register
We register it with the DVLA and fit UK number plates.
Getting it road legal
Being right-hand drive and built for Japan, the Figaro needs very little. The usual item is a rear fog light, fitted in the correct position if the car does not have one. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the list short.
We do the work and the MOT on our own site in Castle Donington, so the car does not travel between garages. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. For the full route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan.
Living with one
A 1.0 litre turbo and a three-speed automatic make the Figaro a relaxed car rather than a quick one. It is happiest on town and country roads, and it will cruise on a motorway without feeling like a sports car. Most owners buy one for the way it looks and feels, not for pace.
Parts for the mechanical side are generally easier to find than for the body and trim, because so much is shared with other Nissans. Insurers will want to know it is an import. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import explains what they ask for, and parts and servicing for imported cars covers keeping it running.
Questions people ask
Does an imported Nissan Figaro need an IVA test?
No. The Figaro was built in 1991, so every one is well over 10 years old and exempt from vehicle approval. It takes an MOT after a rear fog light is fitted if one is missing.
Does a Figaro qualify for 5% import VAT?
Every Figaro is over 30 years old, so it can be considered. HMRC also expects the car to be in its original state as a collectors' piece, so a heavily modified car may be refused. We check this when we clear the car.
Do I need to convert the Figaro speedometer to mph?
Not to register it. The mph rule applies to cars under 10 years old. Some owners convert it anyway for everyday driving.
Is a Figaro exempt from the MOT?
Not yet. GOV.UK's MOT exemption is for vehicles over 40 years old that have not been substantially changed, and a Figaro will not reach 40 until 2031.
How long does it take to import a Figaro from Japan?
Shipping is usually about 5 to 8 weeks door to door. After that comes customs, the rear fog light if needed, the MOT and DVLA registration.
Found a Figaro you like? Send us the auction lot or the seller's details on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
