Import / first registration of a used car - local identifier
Discussion
Afternoon, All.
A couple of queries for those who have imported or regularly import vehicles.
For ease of reference: http://www.cvpg.co.uk/REG.pdf
I have purchased a JDM car (Toyota Mark II), and I believe it's a 1992 year model.
That would mean it would end up being either a J or a K reg depending on which side of August 1992 it came into existence.
Post-1983 but pre-September 2001, the local identifier would therefore be based on the last two letters of the VRN.
I don't know whether DVLA centres closing have made a difference, but does anyone know the local identifier basis on which a VRN is allocated to an imported vehicle?
I.e. when a VRN is allocated to the import, are local identifiers (both pre- and post-September 2001) utilised correctly / at all, or could they be random (or possibly anything Welsh, as it will be registered in Wales)?
I intend to import the car into the UK at some point, but local DVLA registration centres closed about a decade or so ago, which (as I understand) means everything has to go to Swansea and could therefore mean a Welsh local identifier, as that is where the car will be 'first' registered. Yet local identifiers are still allocated to new vehicles.
First world problem, but I was hoping for it to have a VRN with a local identifier that is local to me. So in anyone's expeience, is it possible that the DVLA link it / allocated a local identifier (by default or by request) to the address of the person importing it?
Tips and experience from PHers welcome before contacting the DVLA: there's nothing on this on the DVLA's webpages.
Many thanks in advance.
A couple of queries for those who have imported or regularly import vehicles.
For ease of reference: http://www.cvpg.co.uk/REG.pdf
I have purchased a JDM car (Toyota Mark II), and I believe it's a 1992 year model.
That would mean it would end up being either a J or a K reg depending on which side of August 1992 it came into existence.
Post-1983 but pre-September 2001, the local identifier would therefore be based on the last two letters of the VRN.
I don't know whether DVLA centres closing have made a difference, but does anyone know the local identifier basis on which a VRN is allocated to an imported vehicle?
I.e. when a VRN is allocated to the import, are local identifiers (both pre- and post-September 2001) utilised correctly / at all, or could they be random (or possibly anything Welsh, as it will be registered in Wales)?
I intend to import the car into the UK at some point, but local DVLA registration centres closed about a decade or so ago, which (as I understand) means everything has to go to Swansea and could therefore mean a Welsh local identifier, as that is where the car will be 'first' registered. Yet local identifiers are still allocated to new vehicles.
First world problem, but I was hoping for it to have a VRN with a local identifier that is local to me. So in anyone's expeience, is it possible that the DVLA link it / allocated a local identifier (by default or by request) to the address of the person importing it?
Tips and experience from PHers welcome before contacting the DVLA: there's nothing on this on the DVLA's webpages.
Many thanks in advance.
Edited by captain.scarlet on Monday 31st July 12:23
I can confirm that when I imported a car from Japan in 2007 it got a local area mark YP which was correct for London, where I then lived. Another imported car I owned later, also imported in 07, also got a local mark KE which I'm fairly sure was local to the person who first registered the car in the UK.
As you say, DVLA closed down their local offices in 2013, but new number plates still bear local marks regardless. So I don't think that makes any difference.
Bottom line is, I'd expect you will get a local identifier without doing anything.
Fantastic. Cheers for the insight, Samoht.
Appreciate it's a very niche area and maybe something to which not very many may actually pay attention.
This will also be a JDM but will be coming via the UAE first where there's a staggering abundance of them going for pennies, either for re-export or for classic car registration if 30 years or older (or, if less than 30 years old, the papers have been fiddled with).
It has the digital instrument cluster, which I assumed was a feature on later GX81s (which mine is) and similar. I mention that as this afternoon the customs paperwork showed 1990, which could mean either a future G reg or H reg. I'm just waiting for the Japanese export certificate and contemplating how to get rear foglights built into the rear light clusters to be UK-compliant in the meantime.
Anyway, musings over. Cheers again.
Appreciate it's a very niche area and maybe something to which not very many may actually pay attention.
This will also be a JDM but will be coming via the UAE first where there's a staggering abundance of them going for pennies, either for re-export or for classic car registration if 30 years or older (or, if less than 30 years old, the papers have been fiddled with).
It has the digital instrument cluster, which I assumed was a feature on later GX81s (which mine is) and similar. I mention that as this afternoon the customs paperwork showed 1990, which could mean either a future G reg or H reg. I'm just waiting for the Japanese export certificate and contemplating how to get rear foglights built into the rear light clusters to be UK-compliant in the meantime.
Anyway, musings over. Cheers again.
Just picking up on this again, the Japanese export certificate has been located.
It doesn't state the exact day the car was first registered, but does say May 1990.
That makes it a future G reg.
I anticipate I may never be able to get a correct / exact date.
Anyone with any prior experience: can the absence of a precise date of first registration be an issue for the purposes of importing into the UK and registering? Or is this a common occurrence with imports (especially Japanese), and would simply saying '1 May 1990' be perfectly okay/acceptable as a 'default' date of first registration?
Thanks in advance.
It doesn't state the exact day the car was first registered, but does say May 1990.
That makes it a future G reg.
I anticipate I may never be able to get a correct / exact date.
Anyone with any prior experience: can the absence of a precise date of first registration be an issue for the purposes of importing into the UK and registering? Or is this a common occurrence with imports (especially Japanese), and would simply saying '1 May 1990' be perfectly okay/acceptable as a 'default' date of first registration?
Thanks in advance.
captain.scarlet said:
Just picking up on this again, the Japanese export certificate has been located.
It doesn't state the exact day the car was first registered, but does say May 1990.
That makes it a future G reg.
I anticipate I may never be able to get a correct / exact date.
Anyone with any prior experience: can the absence of a precise date of first registration be an issue for the purposes of importing into the UK and registering? Or is this a common occurrence with imports (especially Japanese), and would simply saying '1 May 1990' be perfectly okay/acceptable as a 'default' date of first registration?
Thanks in advance.
I don't think it's an issue. As long as you have the correct Japanese export/de-registration certificate I think you're fine, they'll go by that. Yes I think it's common that cars are listed as the 1st of the month in this case, I think one or both of my imports were registered on the 1st of a month.It doesn't state the exact day the car was first registered, but does say May 1990.
That makes it a future G reg.
I anticipate I may never be able to get a correct / exact date.
Anyone with any prior experience: can the absence of a precise date of first registration be an issue for the purposes of importing into the UK and registering? Or is this a common occurrence with imports (especially Japanese), and would simply saying '1 May 1990' be perfectly okay/acceptable as a 'default' date of first registration?
Thanks in advance.
samoht said:
I don't think it's an issue. As long as you have the correct Japanese export/de-registration certificate I think you're fine, they'll go by that. Yes I think it's common that cars are listed as the 1st of the month in this case, I think one or both of my imports were registered on the 1st of a month.
That's great to know. Thanks, Samoht.Will probably be picking it up later this week to register abroad. It needed some welding underneath which I was a bit gutted and surprised about given how clean the interior is.
Looking forward to it nevertheless. I feel like this JDM find has been worth the wait.
Next JDM will likely be a late 1990s / early 2000s Crown Royal/Super Saloon. An Athlete if I'm feeling adventurous.
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