Guide
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to the UK?
Updated
For a £20,000 car with £1,500 shipping, budget about £6,935 in UK taxes and fees, a landed cost of roughly £28,435 before the IVA test, agent fees and UK transport.
The worked example
| Line | Cost |
|---|---|
| Car (auction price + Japan-side costs) | £20,000 |
| Shipping and marine insurance | £1,500 |
| Import duty (10% of £21,500) | £2,150 |
| Import VAT (20% of £23,650) | £4,730 |
| DVLA first registration fee | £55 |
| Total landed cost | £28,435 |
On top of that, allow for the customs agent's clearance fee, port handling, the IVA test where required, UK transport from the port, number plates and your first year of vehicle tax, typically several hundred pounds more, varying by port and vehicle.
The process, step by step
- Buy the car, usually at a Japanese auction through an exporter or agent, who handles Japan-side deregistration and paperwork.
- Ship it, roll-on/roll-off is the cheaper option, a shared container protects the car better. Budget roughly £800–£2,000 depending on method and port.
- Tell HMRC within 14 days of arrival using the NOVA service, usually your customs agent does this when clearing the car (gov.uk).
- Pay duty and VAT at import: 10% duty on car + shipping, then 20% VAT on car + shipping + duty.
- Pass the IVA test if the car has no GB type approval, true of most Japanese-market cars (gov.uk: vehicle approval).
- Register with DVLA on form V55/5 with the £55 fee, pay first vehicle tax, and fit UK plates.
The 30-year shortcut
Many 1990s Japanese icons are now over 30 years old. If the car is in original condition it can qualify as a vehicle of historical interest: no duty and 5% VAT instead of 10% + 20%. On a £25,000 car with £1,500 shipping that is a saving of £7,155, see our classic car import guide.
Insure the car on its VIN before it is registered, you will need insurance in place to drive it to a pre-booked MOT or IVA test appointment.