Importing a new car to the UK

[dean_asla]

I know there is another title with importing to the UK, he is looking at an old car though and I am looking at a new one.

With the new Nissan Z being revealed today, its something I am very interested in. Luckily I am in Japan, so it will be available for me. If I was to buy one, the goal would be to take it back to the UK with me, whenever I return.

I understand the process for importing a car over 10 years but how difficult is it for a car newer than 10? I would think the biggest issue would be emissions but I'm sure there is a workaround here.

[TommoAE86]

You absolutely have to change the speedo/odo to miles, because the legislation has to accommodate the lowest common denominator which is a moron in this country now.

Emissions is always brought up, I think the sticking point is that you have to prove the emissions levels with a letter from the manufacturer and getting that either from Japan or from the UK arm is virtually impossible. If you can find something with the same engine sold in the UK it might become easier.

I'm interested in doing it to a Toyota and having compared the brochure with the UK Lexus that shares the same running gear the Japanese car is actually better at the tailpipe.

[Strudul]

TommoAE86 said:

If you can find something with the same engine sold in the UK it might become easier.

Infiniti Q50 / Q60 3.0t

[Stardus]

TommoAE86 said:

You absolutely have to change the speedo/odo to miles, because the legislation has to accommodate the lowest common denominator which is a moron in this country now.

My imported car is still in km/h and odd with km. I don't think it will be a big sticking point, the lights might be a problem. Especially if the rear turn signal is full on US style. Blinking red, etc.

[TommoAE86]

Stardus said:

My imported car is still in km/h and odd with km. I don't think it will be a big sticking point, the lights might be a problem. Especially if the rear turn signal is full on US style. Blinking red, etc.

But did it have to go through the stricter IVA? My JDM import is still in km/h for both but it was over 10yrs old so went through the less strict process than if it was under 10yrs old, if yours went through the stricter one and is still in km/h then that's really cool as I can do the conversion myself and don't need the dial changed

[D_G]

No problem with emissions, personal import IVA if you relocate here with the car. Otherwise you can still import one under the R category using the comparible standards if over six months registered in Japan and has TDN numbers present.

[samoht]

If you own the car in Japan for a minimum period of time (perhaps 6 months) you can import it as your personal possession to the UK without paying import duty or VAT, when you return.

For a car under 10 years old you'll need to go through the IVA process to prove it's compliant. I suspect by the time you come back, someone else will have IVA'd a 400Z and produced a Model Report, which will give you a relatively easier pathway to get yours in. (You pay to use the model report, and then your car is inspected against that report to check it's identical, and you get approved).

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-t...

There's a special section on imports from Japan in there.

Bottom line, there are plenty of <10 year old Honda S660s in the country and I'm sure people will bring 400Zs in. Especially if you benefit from the personal goods tax exemption, it would look like a very worthwhile option.

[D_G]

No model report required, it'll be category R as long as the TDN numbers are present.

[TommoAE86]

^ cool info above, why was I always told it was a hard/expensive/high-risk process when asking about it before I wonder? It seems what I've written is (happily) very wrong

Few Q's from my side:

1. What's a TDN?
2. What's category R?
3. How do model reports get generated? Reading the link above they just copy a document from Japan - is this hard to get?
4. Section 5.1 says cars over 12months old and have done more than 3000km can go through the basic - but then 3.1 says only if a personal import - does that include services like TorqueGT's personal import service?

Sorry for all the questions, if it's easier than I thought then it'd be exciting to do.

[dean_asla]

Thanks for all the replies, seems that the process is very doable and just requires time and money.

Will need to wait and see how much the car goes for in Japan and if it is similar to the U.S price, will go ahead and buy it.

[D_G]

TommoAE86 said:

^ cool info above, why was I always told it was a hard/expensive/high-risk process when asking about it before I wonder? It seems what I've written is (happily) very wrong

Few Q's from my side:

1. What's a TDN?
2. What's category R?
3. How do model reports get generated? Reading the link above they just copy a document from Japan - is this hard to get?
4. Section 5.1 says cars over 12months old and have done more than 3000km can go through the basic - but then 3.1 says only if a personal import - does that include services like TorqueGT's personal import service?

Sorry for all the questions, if it's easier than I thought then it'd be exciting to do.

No worries, the model report stuff was relevant years ago but the regulations changed.

TDN means type designation numbers, it's the 'specification' and 'classification' numbers on the export certificate. These numbers allow the car to be IVA'd under category R, which is under the basic IVA regulations. This applies only after the car has been registered for at least 6 months over there. If these numbers are missing the car can't be IVA tested. This doesn't apply to a genuine personal import.

I don't know what Torque GT offer, I would read 'Personal Import' service as the buyer imports the car themselves via TGT, with them sourcing and then paying the bills as required with the whole process managed, not necessarily a personal import in the same terms as relocating (which for IVA is different) but a managed service for a single import for an individual.

Hope that helps

Edited by D_G on Thursday 19th August 20:27

[TommoAE86]

Thanks for that, almost seems that it can be made much easier if there's someone over there to get all the export work done correctly which maybe why it's always looked on a difficult - especially if I used a service like goo-net which will only inspect and put it on a boat for you - you'd have no checks on the export paperwork...

You're correct on their version of a personal import service, I've done it twice and all I do is give them the car I'd like and budget and they do everything else, I just have to insure and tax it when it's ready

[D_G]

Sounds ideal for a single import. Having someine there to inspect is crucial, plus the process can be a minefield. The extra money it costs probably saves itself several times over if you gamble online and try to do it yourself...