How do you import a car from Japan to the UK, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
To import a car from Japan to the UK, a Japan-built car with origin proof pays 0% customs duty under the UK–Japan CEPA plus 20% import VAT, so tax adds about 20% of CIF; without origin proof 10% duty applies and tax rises to 32%. There is no age limit. HMRC must be notified through NOVA within 14 days, cars under 10 years old need IVA approval, and DVLA registers the car.
Worked example: a 2014 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid costs about 7,420 to 8,030 GBP (US$9,830 to US$10,600) delivered to Southampton, at exchange rates of 14 October 2026.
Car import duty calculator for the UK
The UK drives on the left, so right-hand-drive Japanese cars can be registered as they are. There is no age limit, and the UK has a long-standing grey-import market for Japanese people carriers, kei cars, hybrids and performance models. Tax is simple. Under the UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement the tariff on Japanese passenger cars is 0% when the importer can prove the car was made in Japan; otherwise the 10% third-country duty applies. Import VAT of 20% is due on the value including freight and any duty. Cars manufactured more than 30 years ago can qualify for the historic-vehicle route at 0% duty and 5% VAT. There is no registration tax; road tax (VED) is an annual cost. Age decides the approval route. Cars first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago do not need vehicle approval. Younger cars need Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), an inspection run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), before DVLA will register them. HMRC must be told about the car through NOVA within 14 days of arrival.
Can you import a used car from Japan to the UK?
- Steering
- Right-hand drive only
- Age limit
- No age cap. Notify HMRC via NOVA within 14 days; IVA/MSVA test for most non-type-approved imports (cars over 10 years old are exempt from IVA); DVLA registration.
- Inspection
- NOVA notification, IVA/MSVA where applicable, DVLA registration
- Permits
- UK-Japan CEPA Statement on Origin (or importer's knowledge) for 0% duty.
- Special rules
- Cars manufactured 30+ years ago qualify for the historic-vehicle 0% duty + 5% VAT route.
- Entry ports
- Southampton
How do you import a car from Japan to the UK, step by step?
Check the approval route and origin
If the car is less than 10 years old, plan for an IVA inspection and any modifications it needs. Check that the car was made in Japan and that the seller or exporter can support a claim of origin for 0% duty.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase the Japanese registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. DVLA needs the original foreign registration document to confirm the date of manufacture.
Ship to the UK
Cars from Japan arrive at Southampton, usually by RoRo vessel. The shipping company or customs agent makes the import declaration, either before arrival or at the border.
Pay import VAT and any duty
The customs agent pays HMRC at the border: 20% VAT on the value including freight, plus 10% duty only if the car does not qualify for the CEPA preference. VAT and duty must be paid before the car can be registered.
Tell HMRC through NOVA within 14 days
A Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA) must be made within 14 days. For a private importer, the shipping company, customs agent or HMRC's CARS team makes it using the import declaration (MRN) and invoice.
Get vehicle approval if needed
Cars and minibuses with up to 8 passenger seats that are more than 10 years old are exempt. Younger cars need IVA, an inspection by DVSA against UK safety and environmental standards.
Register and tax the car with DVLA
Apply to DVLA with proof of approval, the original foreign registration certificate and evidence of the collection date, and pay the £55 registration fee and vehicle tax. The V5C logbook can take up to 6 weeks.
Documents checklist
- Commercial invoice or bill of sale
- Original Japanese export certificate (cancelled registration) with English translation
- Proof of Japanese origin (statement on origin or importer's knowledge) for 0% duty
- Bill of lading
- Import declaration and Movement Reference Number (MRN) from the customs agent
- NOVA confirmation from HMRC
- IVA certificate from DVSA, unless the car is more than 10 years old
- DVLA registration application with the £55 fee
What import duties and taxes does the UK charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Import duty (UK-Japan CEPA) | 0% | CIF value |
| Import VAT (20%) | 20% | CIF + duty + earlier taxes |
Import duty (UK-Japan CEPA)
Rate: 0%. Charged on: CIF value.
Import VAT (20%)
Rate: 20%. Charged on: CIF + duty + earlier taxes.
Two charges apply at the border. Customs duty is 0% for a passenger car of Japanese origin claimed under the UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which needs a statement on origin from the exporter or the importer's own knowledge of origin. The UK Trade Tariff lists the Japanese preference at 0% for used petrol cars from 2026 and the third-country duty at 10%, which applies when origin cannot be proved or the car was not built in Japan. Import VAT is 20% of the total cost of the vehicle including delivery charges and any customs duty, so with 0% duty it equals 20% of CIF. A car manufactured more than 30 years ago can use the historic-vehicle route at 0% duty and 5% VAT. The DVLA registration fee (£55), IVA test fee and annual vehicle tax are separate from these import charges.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to the UK?
| Car (year, engine) | FOB Japan | CIF Southampton | Duties & taxes | Door-to-door, low to high |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Toyota Aqua 1.5 L hybrid | US$5,650 | US$7,430 | US$1,49020% of CIF | GBP 7,420 – 8,030US$9,830 – US$10,600 |
| 2015 Toyota Alphard 2.5 L hybrid | US$15,100 | US$17,300 | US$3,45020% of CIF | GBP 16,300 – 17,000US$21,600 – US$22,500 |
| 2009 Nissan Skyline 3.7 L | US$8,020 | US$9,800 | US$1,96020% of CIF | GBP 9,560 – 10,200US$12,700 – US$13,500 |
Assumptions: typical auction price for the model and year plus ¥70,000 export costs (FOB), route freight from −12% to +15%, port and clearing charges from the dataset, inland delivery to Southampton. Customs assesses the final duty, sometimes on its own valuation.
This market taxes by engine size, age or fuel. Enter all three for a tighter figure.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | RoRo or container | 26–36 | US$1,750 |
Which Japanese cars are popular in the UK?
- Models and prices
Toyota Alphard
A large people carrier with a 2.5-litre hybrid or petrol engine, not sold new in the UK. Cars more than 10 years old avoid the IVA test.
- Models and prices
Toyota Aqua
A 1.5-litre hybrid hatchback with low running costs. Older examples are exempt from vehicle approval and sell cheaply at auction.
- Models and prices
Nissan Skyline
The V36 Skyline with a 2.5 or 3.7-litre V6 is a common enthusiast import. Over-10-year-old cars need no IVA, which keeps import costs down.
- Models and prices
Suzuki Jimny
The 660 cc kei Jimny is a different car from the UK-market Jimny. A car under 10 years old needs IVA before DVLA will register it.
- Models and prices
Mitsubishi Delica D:5
A 4WD people carrier with petrol and diesel engines. Cars more than 10 years old are exempt from vehicle approval.
How much is inland delivery to cities in the UK?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | Southampton | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| London | Southampton | US$200 | US$250 | 2 |
| Birmingham | Southampton | US$240 | US$300 | 2 |
| Manchester | Southampton | US$300 | US$380 | 2 |
| Glasgow | Southampton | US$460 | US$580 | 3 |
| Liverpool | Southampton | US$300 | US$380 | 2 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- How much is import duty on a car from Japan to the UK?
- 0% if the car was made in Japan and origin is proved under the UK–Japan CEPA. Without origin proof, or for a car built outside Japan, the 10% third-country duty applies.
- Do I pay VAT when importing a car from Japan to the UK?
- Yes. Import VAT is 20% of the car's total cost including delivery charges and any duty. A VAT-registered business can reclaim it on its VAT return.
- Does a car imported from Japan need an IVA test?
- Only if it is 10 years old or younger. Cars and minibuses with up to 8 passenger seats that were first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago are exempt from vehicle approval.
- What is NOVA and when do I need it?
- NOVA is HMRC's Notification of Vehicle Arrivals. It must be made within 14 days of the car arriving, and DVLA will not register the car until it is processed.
- Is there an age limit for importing a car into the UK?
- No. Any age of car can be imported. Age changes the paperwork: under 10 years needs IVA, and over 30 years can qualify for 5% VAT as a historic vehicle.
- How much does it cost to register an imported car with DVLA?
- £55 for first registration, plus vehicle tax. The V5C registration certificate can take up to 6 weeks to arrive.
- What proof of origin do I need for 0% duty on a Japanese car?
- A statement on origin from the exporter or manufacturer, or the importer's own knowledge of the car's origin. The customs agent claims the preference on the import declaration.
- Can I drive my imported car before it is registered?
- Only to a pre-booked MOT or vehicle approval test. Using the car on public roads before completing the import steps can lead to prosecution.
- Which UK port do cars from Japan arrive at?
- Southampton is the main port for cars shipped from Japan. Transit at sea is usually 4 to 5 weeks.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Importing vehicles into the UK: how to import a vehicle — checked 15 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Importing vehicles: telling HMRC (NOVA) — checked 15 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Vehicle approval: exemptions — checked 15 October 2026
- GOV.UK — Importing vehicles: registering an imported vehicle — checked 15 October 2026
- UK Trade Tariff — commodity 8703239000 (used petrol cars 1,500–3,000 cc) — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for the UK
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.