The worry with an import is usually not the shipping or the test. It is what happens two years later when something wears out and the local garage shrugs. For most imports, parts and servicing are far less of a problem than people expect. For a few, they take some planning. The trick is knowing which kind of car you have before you buy it.
- Biggest factor
- Was the model sold new in the UK?
- Order parts by
- VIN or chassis number
- Common risk
- Longer waits for market-only parts
- Keep a record of
- Every UK change made to the car
Two kinds of import
The first kind is a car whose model, or a close relative of it, was also sold new in the UK. Engines, brakes, filters and most service items are often shared, and a good garage will find what it needs without much fuss. Plenty of European imports, and many Japanese and American ones, fall into this group.
The second kind is a car that was only ever sold in its home market. Some routine parts may still be shared with other models, but trim, body panels, lights and market-specific parts may have to come from abroad. That does not make it a bad buy. It means you need a plan for parts before you need them.
| Feature | Model also sold new in the UK | Home-market-only model |
|---|---|---|
| Service parts | Usually easy to find here | Often shared, but check first |
| Body and trim parts | Often available here | May need to come from abroad |
| Wait for parts | Usually short | Can be longer |
| Garages familiar with it | Most | Specialists and enthusiasts |
| Insurance | Fewer questions | Repair times can affect the price |
Ordering the right part
A model name is not enough to order parts for an import. The same name can hide a different engine, gearbox or specification in another market. The chassis number is what tells a parts counter exactly which car it is dealing with.
Cars built for the UK, Europe and the USA usually carry a 17-character VIN. Many cars built for the Japanese market use a shorter chassis number, often a model code followed by a serial number. Either way, keep it written down and quote it every time. Our guide on whether a car is an import shows where to find it.
Where parts come from
For a model sold here, a franchised dealer or a good motor factor is the first call. For a home-market model, owners typically use a mix of specialist importers, owners' clubs and sellers in the car's home country. We are not going to name suppliers, because who is good changes over time and depends on the model. Owners' clubs are usually the best place to find out who is reliable today.
Buying from abroad means shipping time, and sometimes import charges on the parts themselves. For anything that wears regularly, such as filters, pads and wiper blades, it can pay to keep a spare or two on the shelf.
Find the parts before you find the car. If the model was never sold here, ask an owners' club or a specialist how easy service parts and common repairs are before you commit.
Servicing
Any competent garage can service most imports, as the basics are the same. Where it gets trickier is the detail: service schedules and handbooks may be in another language, fluid and oil specifications can differ between markets, and diagnostic equipment does not always speak to every market's version of a car.
For a common model, a good independent garage is usually fine. For a rarer or more complex import, a specialist in that make or that market is worth the extra distance. Ask whether they have worked on your exact version before, not just the model name.
If the handbook is in Japanese or another language, a translation of the service schedule is a small cost that saves guesswork for every garage that touches the car afterwards.
Do not undo the UK changes
Your car was changed to meet UK standards before it was registered. On a left-hand drive car that usually means the headlights; on newer imports, an mph speedometer; and on many, a rear fog light. American cars often have amber rear indicators and different side markers too.
It is surprisingly easy for a well-meaning garage to fit a replacement headlight or rear lamp from the car's home market, putting it back to how it was before. Keep a list of the changes, and give it to whoever works on the car. Headlamp aim is checked at the MOT, so getting it wrong can cost you a test. Our guides to speedometer and headlight conversions and converting an American car explain what is normally changed.
Tyres, warranties and recalls
Tyres are rarely a problem, as sizes are international, but less common sizes on some home-market models can take time to source. Check what the car is wearing and whether that size is easy to buy here.
If a newer import still has time left on a manufacturer warranty, do not assume it applies in the UK. Check with the manufacturer before you rely on it.
Recalls are worth a look too. GOV.UK has a free recall checker, and for a car built for another market it is worth checking with the manufacturer there as well. Our guide to recalls on imported cars covers how.
Before you buy
Parts and servicing questions
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Parts and repair times feed into what an import costs to insure, so it is worth reading insuring an imported car alongside this. If you are still deciding, should you buy an imported car weighs up the rest.
Questions people ask
Are parts hard to get for imported cars?
It depends on the car. If the model was also sold new in the UK, most service parts are easy to find. For a model only sold in its home market, some parts may need to come from abroad and can take longer.
Can any garage service an imported car?
Most garages can handle routine servicing on a common import. For rarer or more complex models, a specialist in that make or market is worth using, especially for diagnostics.
How do I order the right parts for an import?
Use the VIN or chassis number, not just the model name. The same name can cover different engines and specifications in different markets.
Does a manufacturer warranty cover an imported car in the UK?
Do not assume it does. Check with the manufacturer before relying on any warranty that came with the car.
Can a garage fit original home-market lights to my import?
Be careful. The car was changed to meet UK lighting rules before registration, and fitting a home-market lamp can undo that. Give your garage a list of the UK changes.
Weighing up a car from abroad? Tell us about it on the quote form and we will tell you what it needs to get here and onto UK plates.
