Importing a JDM to the UK: What You Need to Know

Japanese automobiles remain one of the most sought-after vehicles in the United Kingdom for multiple reasons. For one, Japanese vehicles have received universal praise for their impressive engineering achievements, producing numerous high-performance JDMs over the decades. This guide provides a detailed analysis of how you can import your dream used cars from Japan.

Importing and Registering JDMs

There are a few rules you need to be mindful of when importing vehicles from Japan. For a start, the JDM you’re importing must meet the criteria of the UK’s environmental and safety regulations.

Importantly, any non-European registered vehicle requires a DVLA application for Individual Vehicle Approval. However, there are exemptions for this rule, and the vehicles matching the criteria given below do not need vehicle approval:

• Heavy goods vehicles ( greater than 3,500kg maximum weight), 25 years or older
   
• Light goods vehicles (under or equal to 3,500kg maximum weight), 10 years or older
   
• Vehicles with 8 seats or less (cars) that are 10 years or older
   
• Coaches, buses  that have 8 or more passenger seats built by a single manufacturer before 29 July 2010
   
• Buses, coaches, and minibusses with more than 8 passenger seats with different body and chassis manufacturers made before 29 July 2011
   
• Tracked vehicles, for instance, a vehicle that runs on tracks rather than wheels
   
• Construction vehicles utilized in quarries, airports, and sites
   
• Vehicles designed for and utilized by the fire and rescue forces, armed services, or law enforcement

Ups and Downs of Importing a JDM

The most important thing you must do is weigh the pros and cons of buying a JDM from Japan, instead of purchasing a vehicle in the UK. Here’s a rundown of the benefits and the occasional hurdles you may need to consider:

On the Plus Side:

• Save Money: You might find a cheaper used car in Japan through the Japanese car auctions, even after shipping it to the UK.
   
• Unique Rides: Get your hands on rare or special models unavailable in the UK.
   
• Top-of-the-Line Features: Enjoy a car with higher specs or customizations compared to UK versions.
   
• Rare finds: You might find rare, classic cars in better condition and for cheaper in Japan.

Things to Watch Out For:

• Modifications Needed: Japanese cars built for their market might require adjustments and testing to meet UK and European standards, adding to the cost.
   
• Tax Time: Be prepared for taxes and customs duties which can be significant.
   
• Paperwork Maze: Importing a car from outside Europe involves a lot of paperwork and can be a hassle (This can be mitigated greatly by incorporating the services of ZervTek).
   
• Insurance Impact: Your insurance premiums might be higher for an imported car.
   
• Parts and Service Challenges: Finding parts and servicing, especially for rarer models, could be more difficult.

Importing a Car From Japan

Auction Process

Introduction

We mainly source and export vehicles through the Japanese Auto Auctions since it enables us to provide more options for our customers and acquire vehicles for much cheaper/wholesale prices. You can get started by registering and browsing upcoming vehicles on our Japanese auction site and contacting us on WhatsApp or via Email.

All vehicles in the auctions have an auction sheet describing their current condition along with any modifications, issues, and advantages. It’s always in Japanese but we are always there for you to translate them for you. WhatsApp makes life easier because it lets us receive auction sheets or links to listings and aids us in contacting customers through real-time messaging with auction sheet translations, additional photos, and videos of the vehicles, payment receipts, and just discussing vehicles in general.

We also have a guide that enables you to understand most of what is written in the Japanese auction sheets.

Process

To start the process with us, we go through vehicles together and search for vehicles that are to your preference. We require a fully refundable deposit of 100,000 yen which serves as a commitment. Once we find a vehicle you prefer, we share a translation of the auction sheet along with extra pictures. Then we proceed to bid and purchase the vehicle for you. It might require a few tries and a lot of browsing and translating, but we will be there to help you through all of it.

We have a detailed guide on the auction process, showing its transparency and how we streamline the process for you. 

Breakdown

Export fee breakdown

The export fees cover everything from auction fees, inland transport fees, documentation fees, ZervTek charges, and port forwarding/customs clearance in Japan. Please contact a ZervTek agent to get the latest quote on export fees.

Shipping

We can ship with containers or RoRo (Roll-On, Roll-Off). RoRo is the most popular, and accessible to individual customers. The shipping cost will vary from country to country and the shipping line sets the rates at the beginning of the month. A proper estimate cannot be given but for example, the shipping cost per m3 to be landed at Southampton is currently 155 USD/m3. The total is calculated by multiplying the cost per m3 by the size of the vehicle.

Please note that there can be unavoidable circumstances like when the Suez Canal got blocked, so ships had to travel all the way around. Fear not, we will always ship as soon as possible, or alternate ways to ship like sharing a single container amongst 3-4 customers' vehicles. 

The total up to the destination port will be:

Documents required

• Import declaration: The Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) documentation
   
• The invoice from ZervTek
   
• Proof of ownership: The Export Certificate will be sent to you by ZervTek
   
• Shipping Instructions will be sent before shipping to confirm your details and the Bill of Lading after.
   
• Proof of Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) from the DVLA

The Most Popular Imported Vehicles in the UK

The most popular JDM import in the UK is the ever-reliable Toyota Prius. The perfect family vehicle, the hybrid models of the Prius are environmentally friendly as well as economical in the long term. If a minivan is more convenient for you, JDMs such as the Toyota Estima and the Nissan Elgrand are ones to keep an eye out for in the Japanese auto auctions. For more performance-based options, the legendary Nissan Skyline R32, Skyline R33, or Mazda Rx-7 proves to be everlasting and beloved among JDM enthusiasts.
In addition to JDMs, Volkswagen vehicles enjoy a degree of fame in the UK too, most notably the VW Golf and VW Sharan. 

Shipping Fees

Use the following tax calculator to determine how much you may have to pay in customs duties: Import Duty Calculator | Free Customs Duty Calculator UK - Wise

Registering Vehicles with the DVLA

After taking custody of the vehicle from UK Customs, you have a fortnight (2 weeks) to notify the HMRC of the imported vehicle, following which they will inform you of any duties or VAT charges you may have to pay them. Then you register the vehicle with the DVLA (unless exempted, see under Importing and Registering JDMs), after which you will receive the V5C registration certificate in about 6 weeks.

Summary

This guide provided a detailed rundown of the process of buying and importing a JDM to the UK. For the most part, Japanese vehicles are an excellent investment and will serve you well. Pay extra attention to the documentation required for the purchase and registration, and maintain regular contact with ZervTek during the whole process to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the procedure. If you require assistance or have any inquiries, feel free to reach out to our dedicated sales team. We're here to help!

You can find all the necessary links below.

• sales@zervtek.com
• WhatsApp
• Auction site

Thank you for choosing ZervTek Co., Ltd. We appreciate your trust in our services and look forward to serving you with excellence and integrity.