Importing a Toyota Hiace to the UK

The Hiace has a reputation across the world for running forever, and the Japanese domestic versions are the best of them: low mileage, rust-free, and specced with things UK vans never had. They have become the default base for campervan conversions here, and demand keeps climbing.

UK vans of the same age have usually spent a decade on salted roads carrying tools. Japanese ones have not, and that difference shows up underneath.

Which Hiace to import

The H200 series, from 2004 onward, is what you will mostly see. Key choices:

• Standard or Super Long body. The longer wheelbase gives you the room for a proper camper layout with a fixed bed. For a day van the standard body is easier to park.
• Standard or Wide body. Wide body adds useful width but takes it past some UK parking and access limits. Measure your driveway before you commit.
• High roof. Worth having for a camper, because standing height changes the whole experience. It also increases the shipping cost, since RoRo freight is billed by cubic metre.
• Diesel or petrol. The 2.5 and 3.0 diesels are the durable choice and the one converters want. Petrol versions are cheaper to buy and smoother but thirstier.
• Two or four wheel drive. 4WD versions carry a premium in the UK and are genuinely useful for wild camping and festival fields.

What to check on the auction sheet

• Commercial wear. Most Hiaces worked for a living. Look at the interior grade and the inspector's notes rather than the photographs.
• Load floor and rear suspension. Vans that carried heavy loads show it. Rust marks around the rear chassis matter far more than a scuffed bumper.
• Previous repairs. W and XX marks on the sheet mean repainted or replaced panels. On a van that has been reversed into a loading bay a few times, that is common and not necessarily a problem, but you should know.
• Mileage. High mileage on a Hiace diesel is not the warning it would be on a car, but it should be priced in.

Our grade guide explains what each number means.

Registering a Hiace in the UK

A Hiace over ten years old needs only an MOT before it can be registered, which is why most imports are older vans. Newer ones need an IVA test.

If you are converting it to a campervan, you can apply to the DVLA to have the body type on the V5C changed to motor caravan once the conversion meets their criteria. Get the van registered as a van first, then convert, then apply for the change. Doing it in that order is far simpler.

Be aware that insurance and speed limits differ between a van and a motor caravan, and that a converted van may be treated differently again. Check with your insurer before you start cutting holes in anything.

Is it worth it?

For a base vehicle you intend to keep and convert, yes. You are buying a van that has not spent ten winters in road salt, and the underside condition is the single biggest factor in how long a conversion lasts.

For a work van you will thrash and replace in three years, probably not. Buy something local and cheap for that.

Common questions

Can you import a Toyota Hiace to the UK?

Yes. Japanese domestic Hiaces are imported to the UK regularly, and they are popular as campervan conversion bases because they are rust-free and well maintained compared with UK vans of the same age.

Which Hiace is best for a campervan conversion?

A high roof Super Long body with the 2.5 or 3.0 diesel is the usual choice, because the extra length and standing height allow a proper layout. Bear in mind that the bigger the van, the higher the shipping cost, since RoRo freight is charged by cubic metre.

Can I register an imported Hiace as a motor caravan?

You can apply to the DVLA to change the body type on the V5C to motor caravan once the conversion meets their criteria. The simplest route is to register the van normally first, complete the conversion, then apply for the change.

Do I need an IVA test for an imported Hiace?

Only if the van is under ten years old. Vans over ten years old are exempt from individual approval and need only a standard MOT, which is why most imported Hiaces are older vehicles.