The R35 GT-R dropped the Skyline name and became a supercar in its own right. A twin-turbo V6, a dual-clutch gearbox and four-wheel drive make it fast in any weather, and plenty of good ones are sold in Japan and the UAE. Bringing one home is straightforward, but the market it was built for and its build date both change what it needs before it can be registered here.
- Engine
- VR38DETT 3.8 twin-turbo V6
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Shipping from Dubai
- From £2,150, shipping only
- Test
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
Japan, Dubai or a UK car?
The same car was sold in different forms for different markets, and it is worth knowing which one you are looking at before you start comparing prices.
| Feature | Japanese market | Dubai (GCC) | UK market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | Right-hand drive | Left-hand drive | Right-hand drive |
| Speedometer | km/h | km/h | mph |
| Speed limiter | About 180 km/h, lifted on recognised circuits | Check the car | No circuit limiter |
| Sat-nav and radio | Japanese maps and menus | Gulf maps | UK maps |
| Main UK changes | mph speedo, rear fog light | mph speedo, headlights, rear fog light | None, already registered |
Japanese-market cars are the ones most people import. They are right-hand drive like ours, and the main differences are inside: a speed limiter that only lifts on circuits the sat-nav recognises, Japanese menus and maps, and a radio set up for Japan. Specialists can deal with all of that once the car is here, so ask about it when you budget for the car.
Gulf cars are left-hand drive and built to GCC specification, for driving on the right in a hot climate. The DVLA registers left-hand drive cars without asking for the steering to be moved, so that is not a barrier. Our guide to left-hand drive cars in the UK covers living with one.
What to check before you buy
The gearbox is the part that matters most. The dual-clutch transmission is strong, but it is expensive to put right, and it likes its fluid changed on time. A GT-R with a thick folder of servicing from a known specialist is worth more than one with a low mileage and no history.
Before you pay a deposit
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Our guide to history checks for imported cars explains what you can find out before you pay, and Japanese auction grades covers how to read the sheet. If you want to know who can look after it once it is here, see parts and servicing for imported cars.
The test depends on age
A car over 10 years old is exempt from vehicle approval and takes an MOT instead of an IVA test. For the R35, the line sits right in the middle of its production run.
| Built | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Before October 2016 | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
| After October 2016 | An IVA test, and a speedometer that reads in mph |
On an older car we still recommend an mph speedometer, but it is not required to register. On a later car it is a condition of registration, and we do that conversion in-house. Our guide to the IVA test explains what the inspection covers, and MOT for imported cars covers the older ones.
Looking at a 2016 car? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of the 10-year line decides whether it takes an IVA or an MOT.
Shipping from Japan
RoRo is the usual route from Japan, and it costs less than a container. The car has to run and drive, and it should be empty. If you would rather it travelled boxed, a container is the alternative. As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only, and the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks door to door.
You will need the Japanese export certificate, the purchase invoice or auction paperwork, and your passport. Sending the export certificate before the car ships lets us check its details early.
Shipping from Dubai
Cars leave from Jebel Ali in a shared container, and the sea journey takes around 4 to 6 weeks. As a guide, shipping from the UAE starts from around £2,150, shipping only. Our agents in Dubai handle the RTA deregistration, the export certificate and the export plates. From you we need the original registration card (Mulkiya) and a copy of your passport.
We are not able to ship or register salvage vehicles from Dubai, so check the car's history before you pay. Our guide to shipping a car from Dubai covers the route in full.
For a car of this value, we usually recommend enclosed transport for the UK leg as well. See shipping a high-value car for what that involves.
Import tax
Japan and the UAE are both outside the EU, so a GT-R from either pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT. Both are worked out on the price plus the shipping, with VAT charged on top of the duty. No R35 is old enough for the reduced classic rate, which needs a car over 30 years old.
As an example, a £40,000 car from Japan plus £3,575 shipping gives a taxable value of £43,575. That is £4,358 duty and £9,587 VAT, so £13,945 in tax before registration and other costs. The import tax calculator runs your own numbers, and our worked tax examples show more of the sums.
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 on the road
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so a later GT-R is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington, and an older one takes its MOT there too. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. Before you buy, it is worth reading about insuring a Japanese import, as insurers ask about the car's market and any changes. If you are after the older RB26 cars, see our Skyline GT-R buying guide.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Nissan GT-R R35 to the UK?
Yes. A GT-R from Japan or Dubai follows the usual route: shipping, customs, the UK changes it needs, an IVA test or MOT depending on age, then DVLA registration.
Does an R35 GT-R need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which means a car built after October 2016. Older cars take an MOT instead.
What about the Japanese speed limiter?
Japanese-market cars are limited to about 180 km/h, with the limit lifted on circuits the sat-nav recognises. Specialists can deal with it once the car is here, so factor it into your budget.
Is a Dubai GT-R harder to import than a Japanese one?
A little. Gulf cars are left-hand drive, so they usually need headlight changes as well as an mph speedometer, but shipping from Dubai is cheaper and quicker.
How much tax will I pay on a GT-R?
From Japan or the UAE, 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping, with VAT charged on top of the duty. Transfer of Residence can remove it if you are moving to the UK.
Found a GT-R you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
