Importing Japanese and European Vehicles to UK

When we think of imported cars, the usual marques come to mind such as; Mazda RX-7 turbo, Mitsubishi Pajero/shogun 2.8 Tdi swb manual, Mitsubishi Shogun 3.5 GLS, Mitsubishi Pajero 2.8 Tdi, Exceed, Subaru Impreza 2.0 WRX, Subaru Impreza Type R, Toyota Land Cruiser 4.2TD VX, Toyota Hilux double cab pickup, Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon 4.2TD VX , Mercedes-benz SL 600, Volkswagen Beetle 2.0 RHD, BMW etc.

It isn't unusual for cars such as Bentley Turbo R 6.8 Lwb, LHD, Jaguar, Daimler, Land Rover Discovery 2.5TD Tdi ES County, Range Rover 4.0 V8 SE etc to be on the stock list of a European or Japanese car importer.

An importer will organise everything for you, and may even deliver the car to your door. You can however save money by importing the car yourself, if you have the time and can speak the local language sufficiently to deal with several thousand pounds and a car salesman in a foriegn country!.... you'll also have to sort out the mountain of beaurocratic paperwork.

What is the criteria for importing a car to Britain?

All vehicles entering the UK from outside the EEC that are less than 10 years old, require British National Type Approval (SVA). To ensure that they meet all UK build and safety requirments. You cannot register a vehicle in the UK without an SVA certificate. Examples are;

Rear Fog lamps (vehicles drivers generally do not require foglamps in Japan)
Speedos are KMH and are converted to read in MPH (a certificate of conversion is issued)
Fuel neck restricters to stop leaded fuel nozzles entering fuel tank (In Japan there has not been any Leaded fuel since the 80,s)
Tyres, Speed ratings in Japan are Lower, speed limits are lower.
Your car importer should supply a Certificate of Conformity, you will need it to register your newly imported car in the UK. Registration costs £25 at the Vehicle Registration Office (VRO).

What are the problems of owning an imported car in the UK?

There are a lot of urban myths and mis-understood rules relating to European car imports. You will be pleased to know that it is illegal under European law for a dealer to refuse to carry out warranty work on your imported vehicle.

Insurance costs should be just the same as those of a UK purchased car, search around because but some insurance companies may give inflated quotes for imported cars

If you have an imported car, there is no reason why it should be worth any less when you resell it.

Choosing a European or Japanese car importer may not be too difficult. Two essential elements - although very basic and obvious are; a fixed line telehone and commercial premises. Not an accommodation address or secretarial service. Their website can provide much useful information.

What about importing a car from outside the EU?

It is a little more complex and certainly a lot easier to go through a car import agent or buy a car that is already in Britain. Basically there are different types of imports; non-EU: foreign-market versions of particular makes and models that are also sold officially by main dealers in the UK, and then there are true 'grey' import cars that are not originally destined for the UK market. A good example is the Mitsubishi Pajero which is in a Mitibishi Shogun in Britain.

A "parallel import" refers to right-hand drive vehicles which are purchased abroad, but built to EU Type Approval and therefore are compatible with UK specification

Clearly different rules apply when importing from outside the European Union. In terms of taxes,you will have to pay the 17.5 per cent VAT, 10 per cent import duty, plus shipping costs. Tip - buy from a reputable car importer. You will not feel the pinch and all the paper work is done.

You'll also need a Single Vehicle Approval test (SVA) to register the car here. In real terms it is like a more extensive MoT to ensure that the imported car conforms to the European road standards. - Again a professional UK car importer will take care of this for you, so you will buy a fully certified and tested imported vehicle.

The SVA is not only worth the peace of mind, the usual modifications required to pass the test include; realigning the headlamps,upgrading the brakes, changing the odometer/speedometer from KPH to read in MPH, it also includes adding a rear foglight, cars in Japan don't need them and also restricting the fuel-filler for unleaded petrol pumps. As mentioned earlier you can source a car yourself, but it's a lot easier to go through an established agent or car importer. Often you can or buy a car that is already in the UK. Autoroute do keep a stock and will also source a car to import for you.

It is no secret that we pay more for cars in Britain than in Europe, so much that the OFT Office of Fair Trading has asked the former Monopolies and Mergers Commission - now called the Competition Commission to look at why we pay more for our cars in the UK. According to a European Commission survey Britain has the highest car prices in Europe due to the strength of the pound. The RAC said "Despite efforts made to limit price variations for identical models between EU countries, a saving could be made by purchasing a vehicle in mainland Europe and importing it into the UK - However, if you do decide to purchase your vehicle abroad be aware of the potential obstacles prior to the purchase, particularly, in obtaining the correct paperwork before you even plan your trip. "