Import guides
Everything we know about importing from Japan
No sales patter and no vague answers. These are the guides we send our own customers, covering what an import really costs, how to judge a car you cannot see, and what happens once it lands.
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Import costs
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan?
The hammer price at a Japanese auction is roughly two thirds of what you will actually pay. Here is every other cost.
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Import costs
The 30 year rule explained
A car that crosses its thirtieth birthday becomes dramatically cheaper to import. How the relief works and why timing matters.
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Buying at auction
Japanese auction grades explained
Every car at a Japanese auction gets a grade from an independent inspector. Understand the scale and you can buy confidently.
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Buying at auction
How to read a Japanese car auction sheet
The most useful document in Japanese car importing, and it is written almost entirely in Japanese. Here is how to read one.
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Buying safely
How to avoid JDM import scams
Most people in this trade are straight. The ones who are not rely on you not knowing what to ask.
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Model guide
Importing a kei truck to the UK
Tiny, tough and unlike anything sold here. One of the cheapest ways into a JDM vehicle.
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Model guide
Importing a Toyota Alphard to the UK
Japan's default luxury people carrier. Nothing sold here offers the same space for the money.
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Model guide
Importing a Toyota Hiace to the UK
The van that will not die, and the base for half the campervan builds in Britain.
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Process
How long does it take to import a car from Japan?
Eight to twelve weeks from winning the auction to driving the car. Here is where every week goes.
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After it lands
How to register an imported car with the DVLA
NOVA, MOT or IVA, the V55/5 and how long a UK registration number takes.