The 70 series is the Land Cruiser that never went away. First built in 1984 and still made for some markets today, it is the working truck of the Australian outback and the Gulf, and plenty of people here would love a troop carrier or a pickup of their own. Because a new one and a forty-year-old one look so alike, the real questions are about age, weight and emissions. Get those right and the import itself is straightforward.
- Bodies
- Wagon, troop carrier, single and double cab pickup
- Main sources
- Australia, the Middle East, Japan
- Shipping
- From £2,150 (Middle East), £3,200 (Australia), £3,575 (Japan), shipping only
- Key numbers
- Build date and 3,500kg gross weight
One model, four decades
The 70 series has been updated many times, but the basic recipe of a separate chassis, solid axles and a tough body has stayed. The one most people are after now is the 4.5 litre V8 diesel, which arrived in 2007. More recent trucks in some markets use a smaller four-cylinder diesel instead. For the older series and the wider Land Cruiser story, see our Toyota Land Cruiser import guide.
| Feature | Test today | Tax today |
|---|---|---|
| Built before October 1986 | No MOT if not substantially changed | 5% VAT, no duty |
| October 1986 to October 1996 | MOT | 5% VAT, no duty |
| October 1996 to October 2016 | MOT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| Built after October 2016 | IVA test | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
That means every V8 diesel 70 series pays the standard rate of tax, and any built after October 2016 takes an IVA test. The early trucks with older engines are the ones that qualify for the reduced classic rate.
Troop carrier, pickup or wagon
- The troop carrier is the long, tall wagon with a huge load space, and the favourite for overland builds and campers.
- The single cab pickup is the classic Australian tray-back, often with a flat steel or alloy tray fitted.
- The double cab pickup gives you rear seats and a shorter load bed.
- The shorter wagon is less common, but turns up from the Gulf and Japan.
Which body you choose affects how the truck is classed here, and that can change the yearly vehicle tax and company car tax. More on that below.
Australia, the Middle East or Japan
- Australia: right-hand drive, the biggest choice of troop carriers and pickups, and many with serious off-road use behind them.
- The Middle East: left-hand drive, usually dry and free of rust, and often with petrol engines as well as the V8 diesel.
- Japan: right-hand drive, with far fewer to choose from, mainly from the limited re-releases sold there in recent years.
A left-hand drive truck from the Gulf can be registered here without moving the steering. Our guide to left-hand drive cars in the UK covers living with one.
Weight and your licence
Like any pickup or utility vehicle, the 70 series turns on its gross vehicle weight, the most it may weigh fully loaded, shown on its plate. Up to 3,500kg it is a light vehicle, takes the light vehicle IVA if it needs one, and can be driven on a category B car licence. Over that line it is treated as a heavy goods vehicle, with its own approval route, annual test and licence.
Many Australian trucks have had a GVM upgrade to carry more weight, which raises the figure on the plate. Always check the plate and any upgrade paperwork before you buy. Our guide to importing a pickup truck explains the 3,500kg line, MOT classes and licences in full.
Not sure of the weight? Send us a photo of the plate or the VIN and we will tell you which side of the line it falls before you commit.
Diesels and ULEZ
This is the catch with most diesel 70 series. The ULEZ and charging Clean Air Zones want Euro 6 on a diesel, and trucks built for Australia or the Gulf were made to their own market rules, not a European standard. With no Euro 6 evidence, TfL treats the truck as non-compliant and the daily charge applies. If you live in London or drive there often, factor that in, or look at a petrol truck instead. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains the evidence TfL accepts.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
A well-used truck can still be a good buy, as long as the price reflects it. Our guide to buying a car abroad safely covers the general checks.
Buying a new one
A new or nearly new 70 series is under 10 years old, so it needs UK type approval through an IVA test. For a pickup classed as a light goods vehicle that is the N1 test, and GOV.UK lets personal imports use basic IVA, a mainly visual inspection. The truck still has to meet the rules on lighting, emissions and noise, and needs its speedometer reading in mph. Talk to us before you order, so we can check what that exact truck will need. There is more on the test in the IVA test explained.
Shipping and tax
These are guide prices built from a year of real jobs, shipping only.
- Australia: shared or dedicated container, about 6 to 10 weeks, from £3,200
- The Middle East: shared container from Jebel Ali, about 4 to 6 weeks at sea, from £2,150
- Japan: usually RoRo, about 5 to 8 weeks door to door, from £3,575
A troop carrier or long pickup with a tray, roof rack or canopy takes more space than a car, so give us the body, the length and any fittings when you ask for a quote. Our guides to shipping from Australia and shipping from Dubai cover those routes in detail.
A truck under 30 years old pays 10% duty and 20% VAT, worked out on the price plus shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. Over 30 years old it pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and owned the truck for at least 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no tax at all. The import tax calculator runs your own numbers.
Once it is registered, a pickup classed as a light goods vehicle pays the flat light goods rate of vehicle tax. For company car tax, HMRC treats most double cab pickups as cars from 6 April 2025. If a business will own the truck, speak to your accountant first.
Getting it road legal
A right-hand drive truck from Australia or Japan usually needs little more than a rear fog light in the right place, plus an mph speedometer if it is under 10 years old. A left-hand drive truck from the Gulf also needs its headlights changed for driving on the left. Our guide to speedometer and headlight conversions explains each job.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and do MOTs on the same site in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register the truck within 10 working days.
Questions people ask
Can I import a new Land Cruiser 70 series to the UK?
Yes. A truck under 10 years old from outside Europe needs an IVA test and an mph speedometer, and pays 10% duty and 20% VAT. Talk to us before you buy so we can check what it will need.
Is a V8 diesel 70 series ULEZ compliant?
Usually not. The ULEZ wants Euro 6 on a diesel, and trucks built for Australia or the Gulf rarely have evidence of it, so expect to pay the daily charge in London unless you can prove otherwise.
Can I drive a 70 series on a car licence?
Yes, if its gross vehicle weight is 3,500kg or less. Some Australian trucks have had GVM upgrades that take them over, so check the plate before you buy.
Which 70 series qualify for the reduced import tax?
Trucks over 30 years old, meaning those built before October 1996 as of October 2026, pay 5% VAT and no duty. Every V8 diesel pays the standard 10% duty and 20% VAT.
Is it cheaper to ship from Australia or the Middle East?
As a guide, the Middle East starts from £2,150 and Australia from £3,200, shipping only. A big troop carrier or tray-back can cost more, so give us the size when you ask.
Found a 70 series you like? Send us the listing on the quote form and we will check the weight and price the shipping, customs, testing and registration.
