Help with Japanese import

[mk08]

Can someone help me with step by step guide on How to import a car from Japan:

[tinyboytim]

Sure. Buy some Japanese Yen. Have you found your agent in Japan yet?

[TurnedEmo]

Probably easier to find someone in the UK who can do it all for you. There are some import agents out there who will find you a car and do all the hard work for you.

[samoht]

Sure, I wrote up my experience end-to-end here https://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?342007-Gui...

That was 12 years ago, but apart from VAT being higher now I'm not sure too much has changed.

[mk08]

tinyboytim said:

Sure. Buy some Japanese Yen. Have you found your agent in Japan yet?

Yes, there is someone who will find and ship it to me. The problem is not finding and shipping from Japan. The main issue is how would I collect my Car from port. And what to do next here in UK.

[mk08]

TurnedEmo said:

Probably easier to find someone in the UK who can do it all for you. There are some import agents out there who will find you a car and do all the hard work for you.

I can find someone who can ship it. But how can I collect my Car and what are the next steps to take.

[tinyboytim]

mk08 said:

Yes, there is someone who will find and ship it to me. The problem is not finding and shipping from Japan. The main issue is how would I collect my Car from port. And what to do next here in UK.

Ok so you have your agent in Japan and have accessed the auctions, bid and processed the car, great. It is easy - your shipping representative here will handle all the paperwork once you get them from Japan, arrange payment to HMRC of VAT and import tax. Then you can rock up to say, Southampton in your flatbed, take the car to your garage and get the MOT done. Once you have that to hand, send all your paperwork off to the DVLA and they will send you your reg. Easy.

[21st Century Man]

mk08 said:

Can someone help me with step by step guide on How to import a car from Japan:

It looks like a lot to do, but I found it quite simple, I love following procedures and filling in forms.

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk

[21st Century Man]

You'll need an "Import Pack" from the DVLA too, I was going to post the link for you but it's down at the moment replaced with a Covid19 message saying they're not sending out/processing them right now.

[Lollypops]

As above, get the import pack from the DVLA. It will come with the V55/5 form you will need to fill in to register the vehicle.

Once the vehicle has arrived in the UK, you'll need to collect it from the docks. If Southampton, I recommend GDS Logistics. You'll also need a customs clearance agent. I recommend Penguin Shipping in Southampton. They will take care of sorting the tax payment and can also sort transport out with GDS.

What vehicle are you importing? It's a lot easier if the vehicle is over 10 years old.

[sjg]

You can print the forms you need at home if they're not sending out packs.

I wrote up my experience here:

http://stepwgn.uk/2019/06/07/my-import-process-par...
http://stepwgn.uk/2019/06/07/my-import-process-par...
http://stepwgn.uk/2019/06/07/my-import-process-par...

[Axeboy]

They aren't processing any at the moment but worth at least sending in.

There will be a backlog so just be aware it may take a few months before they can process it for you (based on feedback from some who submitted 6 weeks ago)

[mk08]

Can anyone give me names of auction sites. I don't know many. Please list as many as you can.

[TurnedEmo]

mk08 said:

Can anyone give me names of auction sites. I don't know many. Please list as many as you can.

Eh?

I thought you had an agent in Japan sourcing it for you?

Is this just a fantasy at the moment?

If you need auction sites, I suggest you really are better finding a UK import agent who'll find, ship and register for you. It costs a small premium over DIY, but is probably much safer.

What are you looking to buy anyway?

[samoht]

mk08 said:

Can anyone give me names of auction sites. I don't know many. Please list as many as you can.

Did you read the guide I linked you up-thread? I bought from https://japaneseusedcars.com/ , who charge a commission, inspect the cars, buy from auction and handle the Japanese side i.e. de-registration and putting the car on a ship.

I'm not aware of any way that someone not based in Japan can directly bid on cars going through auction in Japan, you need to find an agent to do so on your behalf AFAIK.

[Trevor555]

mk08 said:

Can anyone give me names of auction sites. I don't know many. Please list as many as you can.

I've used Cosmo imports in the past, I'm not sure if they're trade only though, might be worth a look.

[TommoAE86]

Why not get someone to do all the bits for you?

Torque GT are the guys I've used for both my imports and have been happy - here's the guide to what happens: https://www.torque-gt.co.uk/personal-import-servic...

[sjg]

samoht said:

I'm not aware of any way that someone not based in Japan can directly bid on cars going through auction in Japan, you need to find an agent to do so on your behalf AFAIK.

This. Once I was set up with the agent I got online access (ajes) to view what was coming up in the auctions and what stuff has sold for in the past.

As an absolute minimum you need someone in Japan to handle buying it for you, doing the export paperwork (deregistration / export cert) and getting it to the port. It probably makes sense for them to book the shipping too as they’ll be familiar with it.

[mk08]

samoht said:

Sure, I wrote up my experience end-to-end here https://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?342007-Gui...

That was 12 years ago, but apart from VAT being higher now I'm not sure too much has changed.

Very well written

[mk08]

21st Century Man said:

It looks like a lot to do, but I found it quite simple, I love following procedures and filling in forms.

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk

Thank you