The Impreza WRX STI is the car a generation grew up watching on rally stages, and the Japanese versions were always the ones to have. The worry with any STI is how it has been treated, because these cars invite hard driving and tuning. Check the right things and the import is straightforward, with one date to watch on the newest cars.
- Built
- 1994 onwards (STI versions)
- Engine
- Turbocharged flat-four, EJ20 or EJ25
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which generation
| Feature | GC8 | GD | GR / GV | VA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1992 to 2000 (STI from 1994) | 2000 to 2007 | 2007 to 2014 | 2014 to 2021 |
| In brief | The original, light and raw | Known by its headlights: bugeye, blobeye, hawkeye | Hatchback first, then a saloon | Sold as the WRX STI, without the Impreza name |
| Testing | MOT | MOT | MOT | MOT or IVA, check the build date |
| Tax today | Reduced rate if built before October 1996 | Standard rate | Standard rate | Standard rate |
STI is Subaru Tecnica International, Subaru's motorsport arm, and the badge marks the hottest versions. The first-generation GC8 is the one most closely tied to the rally years, and it came as a saloon and a two-door coupe. The 22B, a widebody coupe built in small numbers in 1998, is the most famous of all.
The GD generation is easy to date by its face: round "bugeye" lights first, then the "blobeye" and finally the sharper "hawkeye". The GR hatchback followed in 2007, joined later by the GV saloon. From 2014 the car became the WRX STI in its own right.
Japanese or export cars
Japanese-market STIs mostly use the 2.0 litre EJ20 engine. Many cars built for other markets, including the US, used the bigger 2.5 litre EJ25 from the GD generation onwards. Both are turbocharged flat-fours with the famous offbeat burble.
Japanese cars also came in more special editions, such as the lighter, stripped-out Type RA and Spec C models. They are great cars, but they are also the ones most likely to have been used on track. The auction sheet and model code tell you what you are looking at.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
The engine is where an STI can go badly wrong, so it is worth paying for a proper inspection on any car you cannot see yourself. Our guides to buying a car abroad safely and the Japanese import checklist cover the general checks.
Modified cars
Remaps, bigger turbos and exhaust work are common. A well-built car with a known tuner and a pile of receipts can be a good buy. A heavily tuned car with no history is a gamble. Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how modified cars are graded.
Where to find one
- Japanese auctions, with an independent inspection and a translated auction sheet
- Specialist exporters in Japan
- Australia and New Zealand, where STIs were sold in right-hand drive
- UK specialist dealers, if you would rather see it first
Shipping and tax
An STI from Japan usually travels by RoRo, or in a container if you would rather it was sealed away for the voyage. Door to door, it is usually about 5 to 8 weeks. As a guide, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, and from Australia or New Zealand from £3,200, shipping only.
A car under 30 years old pays 20% VAT and 10% duty on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026, that covers GC8 STIs built before October 1996. Later GC8s will cross the line over the next few years, and every other generation pays the standard rate.
Our worked tax examples show the sums, and the import tax calculator will run your own.
Paperwork
From Japan, the key document is the export certificate, alongside the purchase invoice or auction paperwork and your passport. Sending us the export certificate before the car ships lets us check its technical details early, including that the model code matches what you think you have bought.
Bought at auction? The auction agent usually handles getting the car to the port. Our guide to documents to ship a car to the UK lists the rest.
Getting it road legal
Every GC8, GD, GR and GV is over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT rather than an IVA test. It usually needs a correctly positioned rear fog light, and on a car this age the speedometer does not have to be converted to mph. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance.
Buying a VA WRX STI? As of October 2026, a car built after October 2016 is under 10 years old. From outside Europe that means an IVA test and a speedometer that reads in mph. Check the build date with us before you buy.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so a younger car is tested on our own lane without waiting for a government slot. Older cars take their MOT on the same site in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register the car within 10 working days. See the IVA test explained and our guide to importing a car from Japan.
Insurance and security
STIs are popular with thieves as well as enthusiasts. Insurers will ask where the car is kept, about security and about every modification. Get a quote before you buy. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import explains what they ask for.
Questions people ask
Does an imported Impreza STI need an IVA test?
Not if it is over 10 years old, which covers every GC8, GD, GR and GV. Those take an MOT. A VA WRX STI built after October 2016 is under 10 and needs an IVA test if it comes from outside Europe.
Which STIs qualify for the reduced import tax?
Cars over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026 that means GC8 STIs built before October 1996. Later cars pay 20% VAT and 10% duty.
Is a Japanese STI different from a UK one?
Often, yes. Japanese cars mostly use the 2.0 litre EJ20 engine and came in more special editions. Many export cars used the 2.5 litre EJ25 from the GD generation onwards.
Can I import an STI from Australia?
Yes. Australian cars are right-hand drive, so they need few changes. Shipping starts from £3,200 as a guide, shipping only, and takes about 6 to 10 weeks.
What should I check first?
The engine. Ask for a compression or leak-down test and listen for knocking. Then check for rust, accident damage and whether the modifications were done well.
Found an STI you like? Send it to us on the quote form and we will price the shipping, customs, testing and registration.
