Japanese Car Import
Advice & checklists for
Buying a car outside the UK.
Due to the variations in trading conditions across the world and indeed Europe the retail prices of vehicles sold in different markets can vary significantly. This had lead to United Kingdom consumers considering purchasing vehicles from other countries to save money.
However, if you do decide to purchase your vehicle abroad there are a number of potential obstacles that could, if not fully understood or prepared for, lead to difficulties being encountered, one example is obtaining the correct paperwork before you even plan your trip.
Definitions
Not all vehicles purchased from abroad are built to the same specification as in the UK, therefore, it is important to be clear on definitions.
- A "grey import" is a vehicle which has been built to a non European specification and is therefore, not EU Type Approved, for example, a car built for the Japanese home market.
- A "parallel import" refers to right-hand drive vehicles purchased from abroad, built to EU Type Approval and therefore compatible with UK specification.
Importing a new vehicle
- Decide on the exact specification of your chosen vehicle taking into account whether it has been built for driving on the left-hand side of the road. If not, has the vehicle been modified to meet UK legal requirements, for example, have lights and rear view mirrors been correctly adjusted or changed.
- It is worth using a check list of questions to ask your chosen dealer before you contemplate a purchase.
- It is also worth noting that the specifications for cars imported by manufacturers to the UK may be higher than other European countries. Check you are truly comparing like with like.
- Once you have decided on your chosen model you then have to locate your dealer.
European Price Surveys are worth monitoring to look at price differentials within the European Union.
- Different methods are today available for potential purchasers including scanning telephone directories, consumer publications or via the internet.
- Companies specialising in importing vehicles or ferry companies operating special schemes are another option.
- Remember, cost savings may be reduced if you are using a broker or spend several hours making international calls to respective dealers abroad.
- If your language skills are limited, it may be worth considering buying a car in a country where English is spoken well.
- Once you have located your vehicle you will then have to understand all the UK rules and regulations involved in importing your vehicle back into the UK, this will require care and attention to detail.
- For detailed information on which rules, regulations and documentation is required, the publications listed at the end of this leaflet provide detailed guidance.
Single vehicle approval scheme
From 1 July 1998 all new vehicles imported into the UK are subject to the Single Vehicle Approval Scheme. This applies to a vehicle if it is under three years old, personally imported and not Type Approved in Britain or the EU.
The Single Vehicle Approval scheme was introduced to ensure that vehicles that have not been Type Approved for British or European Standards have been designed and built to acceptable safety and environmental standards for the road.
A new vehicle will be subject to the Single Vehicle Approval Scheme if the vehicle has been purchased outside the UK for the personal use of the person importing the vehicle or one of their dependants.
The person importing the vehicle must intend to remain in the UK for not less than 12 months from the time the first licence of the vehicle was applied for under the 1994 Vehicle Excise and Registration Act.
Additional advice
- Importing a new vehicle which has not been Type Approved, for example, vehicles built for Japan or the USA (grey imports) is advised to check that warranty, servicing, availability of spare parts, product liability and recall arrangements satisfy their requirements.
- Licensing and registration must be carried out as soon as possible on arrival in the UK. Contact your nearest Vehicle Registration Office who will locate an index mark, enabling a set of registration plates to be purchased from motor parts shops.
- As an importer, you should also check your vehicle insurance is valid for these types of vehicles.
- It is important that insurance companies are informed that the vehicle has Single Vehicle Approval as failure to do so will almost certainly invalidate the policy.
- Proposed changes to the current Single Vehicle Approval Scheme have been considered by the UK Government, so we recommend that the Department for Transport (DfT) website or the vehicle import advice line should be monitored for more information on this issue.
For further information
For an outline of the procedures and requirements for registering your vehicle in the UK you can refer to the DfT booklet PI-5 “How to import a vehicle into Great Britain”.
Information on this, the Single Vehicle Approval Scheme and other more detailed information on this issue can be found on the DfT Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) website http://www.vca.gov.uk under FAQ (Frequently asked questions).
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