Importing Japanese cars into the UK can be a fun and rewarding experience. You can buy high-quality, reliable and often unique cars that you won’t find anywhere else in the region. However, the legal process for importing Japanese cars into the UK can be tricky to understand. It’s important to be aware of the rules and regulations in the UK, such as safety standards, taxes and any changes that need to be made. Below is an overview of the steps you need to take to legally import a Japanese car into the UK.
Ensure the vehicle complies with UK regulations
Before you start the import process, you need to ensure that the vehicle meets UK safety standards. The specifications of Japanese cars are usually tailored to the Japanese market and may differ from those of the UK market. The first legal hurdle you need to overcome is checking that the car meets UK safety and environmental standards.
Vehicle Type Approval
All cars entering the UK must be certified before they can be driven on UK roads. This approval process is called ‘type approval’ and is designed to ensure that the vehicle meets UK or European safety and environmental standards. There are two main types of type approval:
If the vehicle meets EU standards, a European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) is required. If the vehicle has an ECWVTA, you only need to follow a simple procedure. If the vehicle does not yet have an ECWVTA, it will need to undergo an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA). This involves ensuring that the vehicle meets safety and environmental regulations. The IVA test looks at many aspects, such as emissions, lighting and braking systems.
Check your vehicle’s emissions regulations
Emissions standards are an important consideration when importing cars to the UK. The UK has strict environmental laws that require vehicles to meet either Euro 5 or Euro 6 emissions standards. Euro 6 is the latest standard and limits the amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter that cars can emit.
Many Japanese cars, especially older models, may not meet these standards. In this case, you may need to modify your vehicle’s exhaust system or engine to comply with UK road regulations. This can require expensive upgrades and in some cases, the modifications required may not even be possible.
UK Compliance Conversion
Japanese cars may need to be modified to comply with UK road regulations. Common modifications include replacing the headlights, modifying the speedometer to display miles per hour and, in some cases, converting a left-hand drive car to a right-hand drive car. Modifying the headlights will help them comply with UK road safety regulations, as Japanese cars are designed for left-hand drive. You may also need to modify your speedometer, as Japanese cars typically use kilometres per hour (km/h) instead of miles per hour (mph). Some Japanese cars are also designed for left-hand drive. You may need to convert them to right-hand drive to drive on UK roads.
Pay Import Duty and VAT
When you import a car from Japan, you will need to pay import duty and VAT to register the car. Import duty is usually 10% of the value of the car, including the purchase price, shipping and insurance. You will also need to pay VAT, which is 20% of the total value of the car (price + shipping and insurance). This tax applies to all cars, both new and used. It is important to note that VAT is based on the purchase price of the car, not its value on the UK market.
Vehicle Inspection and MOT
In the UK, all foreign cars must be tested to ensure they meet safety standards.
The purpose of an MOT is to check that the vehicle is safe to drive. It checks brakes, lights, tyres, emissions and other important components. Before you can register your vehicle for use on UK roads, you will need to have an MOT test.
If the vehicle is not ECWVTA approved, an IVA inspection is also required. The IVA test checks whether a vehicle complies with UK road traffic regulations, including dimensions, safety features and pollution levels. These tests are essential to ensure that vehicles meet the standards that apply to users.
There are insurance companies that specialise in insuring foreign cars.
Paying road tax
Before you can officially drive a car on British roads, you must pay road tax (Vehicle Excise Duty). The amount of road tax you pay for a car depends on its CO2 emissions, engine capacity and other factors. Vehicles that meet stricter emissions standards, such as Euro 6, generally pay less road tax.
I hope you enjoy importing Japanese cars
Once you have completed all the legal formalities, such as making modifications, getting it inspected, registered and taking out insurance, you can take your Japanese car onto the roads of the UK. Now you can enjoy the special features of a foreign car, whether it is an older model, a fast sports car or a famous Japanese sedan.
In summary
If you want to import a Japanese car to the UK, there are a lot of legal procedures to consider. These include type approval, emissions standards and any modifications that may need to be made to the car. If you follow the legal steps carefully and ensure that you adhere to the UK regulations, you can legally bring your Japanese car to the UK and enjoy it. Don’t forget to factor in costs such as import duties, VAT, inspection and registration fees. Also, talk to a professional to ensure that the process goes smoothly.
