DIY JDM Imports
Discussion
Hi All. Anyone know of an up to date guide to importing a car from Japan to the UK?
From what I can gather, the Japanese end looks straightforwards with the advent of a number of exporters to find the cars and ship them (that said - any recommendations/preferences, and is the inspection worthwhile/any real guarantee?)
But my bigger concern/questions are around the UK end - how to pay the import duties and get the car registered.
I'm thinking of a 10+ year old car which I believe just needs an MOT rather than an SVA - but presumably that would need to be done at/near the port in order to drive home? I believe the car I want (Legacy GT) comes with rear fogs even in Japan, so I think it should pass an MOT without mods. Can you register the car before you have it, in order to put the plates on it at the port, ahead of the MOT? I'm guessing driving home on Japanese plates might raise a few eyebrows... I'd be looking to import through Immingham/Grimsby or Liverpool.
Yes I know there are lots of firms to do this all for you, but I quite fancy the experience of picking it up from the port.
From what I can gather, the Japanese end looks straightforwards with the advent of a number of exporters to find the cars and ship them (that said - any recommendations/preferences, and is the inspection worthwhile/any real guarantee?)
But my bigger concern/questions are around the UK end - how to pay the import duties and get the car registered.
I'm thinking of a 10+ year old car which I believe just needs an MOT rather than an SVA - but presumably that would need to be done at/near the port in order to drive home? I believe the car I want (Legacy GT) comes with rear fogs even in Japan, so I think it should pass an MOT without mods. Can you register the car before you have it, in order to put the plates on it at the port, ahead of the MOT? I'm guessing driving home on Japanese plates might raise a few eyebrows... I'd be looking to import through Immingham/Grimsby or Liverpool.
Yes I know there are lots of firms to do this all for you, but I quite fancy the experience of picking it up from the port.
If over 10+ years then it needs the rear fog light and the speedo/odo switched to mph/miles before it goes for MOT. You have to do these before you can register it therefore you'd need to collect it from port on a low loader, or if your garage can do all of the above and then MOT then maybe you could just drive it if it's a short distance and booked in for it's MOT.
When my cars have come into TorqueGT they've fitted the fog light, then converted the dash with a certificate to prove, then it's MOT'd and registered.
Personally I'd low loader it around getting the work done & MOT'ing, bring it back and get it registered. I'd check what Legacy's had over there regarding the foglight as an example my Crown occasionally came with a "cold weather pack" which included rear fog lights.
When my cars have come into TorqueGT they've fitted the fog light, then converted the dash with a certificate to prove, then it's MOT'd and registered.
Personally I'd low loader it around getting the work done & MOT'ing, bring it back and get it registered. I'd check what Legacy's had over there regarding the foglight as an example my Crown occasionally came with a "cold weather pack" which included rear fog lights.
Import duty payment and applications can be done by a Shipping Agent for a small fee, its not much.
Once you buy the car and pay for shipping in Japan you can give them the details and they arrange for it to have duty paid etc, there are other HMRC fees and they sort it to allow it to be released from port.
I always get it transported by them to me to avoid having to collect myself.
Once you have it, get it MOT'd then you apply for the reg. It doesnt need converting to mph, kph is perfectly fine and passes an MOT. I keep my more recent imports in kph just as Im so used to it now.
The Legacy GT should have fog lights (i just got one and it has them certainly)
It must have a MOT on the chassis number before you can register it and it can take 4 to 8 weeks for the DVLA to confirm the new reg number assuming you supplied all the documents. You wont have a Japanese reg number (its illegal), the cars are de-registered before export.
Once you buy the car and pay for shipping in Japan you can give them the details and they arrange for it to have duty paid etc, there are other HMRC fees and they sort it to allow it to be released from port.
I always get it transported by them to me to avoid having to collect myself.
Once you have it, get it MOT'd then you apply for the reg. It doesnt need converting to mph, kph is perfectly fine and passes an MOT. I keep my more recent imports in kph just as Im so used to it now.
The Legacy GT should have fog lights (i just got one and it has them certainly)
It must have a MOT on the chassis number before you can register it and it can take 4 to 8 weeks for the DVLA to confirm the new reg number assuming you supplied all the documents. You wont have a Japanese reg number (its illegal), the cars are de-registered before export.
Edited by Axeboy on Monday 26th October 18:54
Thanks both.
I also found a good guide write up here: https://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?342007-Gui...
Anyone know who the customs agent is for Immingham/Grimsby?
It seems to be Kleerfreight for Southampton or Liverpool and I've had a helpful email from them saying their fee for clearance is £105 so that's reasonable.
What would you expect to pay per mile for delivery in the UK? It sounds like I could go straight to an MOT near the port and expect to pass (given foglights already on JDM Legacies and a standalone HUD speedo in MPH), but I would still have to drive home unregistered and without any plates (but insured through the VIN). I'm 60mi from Immingham, 90 from Liverpool, 200 from Soton.
I also found a good guide write up here: https://www.sxoc.com/vbb/showthread.php?342007-Gui...
Anyone know who the customs agent is for Immingham/Grimsby?
It seems to be Kleerfreight for Southampton or Liverpool and I've had a helpful email from them saying their fee for clearance is £105 so that's reasonable.
What would you expect to pay per mile for delivery in the UK? It sounds like I could go straight to an MOT near the port and expect to pass (given foglights already on JDM Legacies and a standalone HUD speedo in MPH), but I would still have to drive home unregistered and without any plates (but insured through the VIN). I'm 60mi from Immingham, 90 from Liverpool, 200 from Soton.
Edited by Jamp on Tuesday 27th October 11:50
Customs agents vary and I dont think they are limited to a location
If it helps I use JC Shipping each time, they are based in Southampton but I always have them come in at Newcastle (Cheryle is most helpful)
Personally I would just get the car delivered to you to avoid any issues and risks (it may not pass, tyres, bushes etc). It shouldn't be much, maybe £1 a mile so minimal in the scheme of things
Assume it will need a full set of tyres and a new battery at the least
You dont need to show MPH for the MOT, it just has to show the correct speed, if its in kph, its fine. Its an open area of confusion but it will be fine for the MOT, cars that need the SVA (under 10 years) need to show both mph & kph
If it helps I use JC Shipping each time, they are based in Southampton but I always have them come in at Newcastle (Cheryle is most helpful)
Personally I would just get the car delivered to you to avoid any issues and risks (it may not pass, tyres, bushes etc). It shouldn't be much, maybe £1 a mile so minimal in the scheme of things
Assume it will need a full set of tyres and a new battery at the least
You dont need to show MPH for the MOT, it just has to show the correct speed, if its in kph, its fine. Its an open area of confusion but it will be fine for the MOT, cars that need the SVA (under 10 years) need to show both mph & kph
Edited by Axeboy on Tuesday 27th October 13:16
For 10+ years old don't need the speedometer/odometer converting to MPH for UK MOT,not a requirement and messes with the cars originality cracking open instrument binacles and fitting horrid stickers etc.You soon get use to the mental conversion in your head.IVA a different story though for younger Japanese imports.
As above leave speedo as is.
Ive imported one on my own and 5 using an agent whos a mate.
Use an import company in the docks to sort paperwork out.
You wont be able to register it until motd and then itll take about a month at least.
Id get it picked up by a bloke with a transporter who does it regularly and have it taken to either a local mot garage to you or your house.
If your in essex pm me i can give you some numbers
The
Ive imported one on my own and 5 using an agent whos a mate.
Use an import company in the docks to sort paperwork out.
You wont be able to register it until motd and then itll take about a month at least.
Id get it picked up by a bloke with a transporter who does it regularly and have it taken to either a local mot garage to you or your house.
If your in essex pm me i can give you some numbers
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