Importing a car from Japan
Discussion
Ok fine, sounds like you're aware of the other issues.
Does the car have a current MoT? If so I think you're fine.
I wouldn't expect the IVA to show up online, but I would imagine the seller could show you it if you ask them. It won't have 'Type Approval' since that's only for officially EU-homologated vehicles, IVA is an alternative to Type Approval for one-off imports.
Does the car have a current MoT? If so I think you're fine.
I wouldn't expect the IVA to show up online, but I would imagine the seller could show you it if you ask them. It won't have 'Type Approval' since that's only for officially EU-homologated vehicles, IVA is an alternative to Type Approval for one-off imports.
Badly worded, it does have FSH. I checked out the stamps in the book and e-mailed the Audi dealer who has confirmed it.
The auction certificate from Japan aligns with the VIN & mileage too so I think I've done all the checks I can. I'm just jittery having no experience with imported vehicles before so thanks for all your help & advice
The auction certificate from Japan aligns with the VIN & mileage too so I think I've done all the checks I can. I'm just jittery having no experience with imported vehicles before so thanks for all your help & advice
Be sure there are no vehicle compliance issues between Japan and UK. That can make the process a lot more difficult, even to the point of having to put in money to get it street legal. I don't have any experience importing from Japan so I'm not sure what the guidelines are there, but there are a lot of details you need to take into account, aside from the condition and cost of shipping. Sounds like you've done a decent amount of research regarding the official channels so that's good. If you're still looking for a shipper, I've used a1autotransport to import from other parts of Europe so I can vouch for them being a good option. Always a good idea to check prices with a few options before deciding though - it won't be cheap!
As an update, the Mark II above was sadly since sold. I obviously dithered for too long and then was back in the UK for ages to begin a new search. Would have been a golden opportunity and logistically easier to take delivery of the import and sort registration, MOT etc all out without needing to rely on others. I'm assuming the papers on this one will have been tampered with and the age of the car increased from 1995 to 1992 in order to whack classic plates on it. I can't imagine it will have been exported and was unsold for over a year.
Gutted about that.
There was a very clean 1998 special edition 'Trente' (30th anniversary) model that is still unsold but it only has a 1988cc 1G-FE engine. Still very clean and looks the part but doesn't have the sports saloon looks of the previous model and tuning that particular engine is, from what I have researched, simply not worth it or do-able. Asking price was about 10k AED IIRC.
Having viewed a few more JDM cars yesterday I feel minded to continue that way rather than buy off a Japanese auction website. Occasionally they are re-auctioned again in the UAE before being shipped off to wherever.
I may be back with ye olde Crown Royal Saloons / Athletes again for now!
I was particularly gutted I lost out to a guy at a live RHD auction today in Dubai Auto Zone. Plan has as mentioned been to export a JDM car to the UK for a bit of unique shedding, with a view to *potentially* selling much later on as something a bit more collectible.
The car was a July 2000 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon G, 3 litre AWD with only 11,500km on the clock. Plenty of toys. Clean and immaculate condition inside and out and as close as you could get to showroom condition for a car from 22 years ago. Mileage not verified but I thought who cares and the engine sounded flawless. Even the headlights were still crystal clear. Some wheeler dealer had obviously gotten his mitts on it.
My budget was about 12,000 AED given how bad the sterling exchange rate is nowadays, but it was sold for 15,000 AED in the end.
At today's exchange rate that would be just shy of £3,400. Then things like any fees, fitting a rear fog light, shipping costs to the UK etc.
I am assuming that would probably have taken me to the £5,000 mark.
Didn't seem worth it but it certainly was the shed that got away that I feel I'll be kicking myself over for ages. Maybe I'm still programmed to second hand car prices still being what they used to be back in the day. Also what JDM car could you get and be genuinely happy with in the UK for 5k?
Interesting observation at the auction though was that the older Corollas and basic types of Toyota from the early 2000s were going for the high teens and early twenties AED, one smashing the 25k AED mark in the midst of a bidding war. That's well in excess of £5,000 at today's rates.
Other cars like Hybrid Toyota Aquas and Blades were less popular and went for less than 10k AED.
There were also fair few Uber type Toyota Priuses going for below £2,000. Funnily enough I've seen one such JDM import on UK roads being used as a minicab, evidenced by the Japanese 'Toyopet' dealership sticker and aftermarket rear fog light on the rear bumper. If you can live with everything in KM/KPH and Japanese language then that's certainly a way around exorbitant used car prices in the UK. Or someone is making an easy buck.
I guess it goes to show what countries' preferences are if that's where the demand is and older cars are just repaired ad infinitum. True shedding I suppose.
As an aside note, there's a car dealer I've gotten to know who always has an eclectic choice of LHD and RHD sheds in his forecourt, with the odd collectible JDM RHD car. He had a Toyota Century with all the bells and whistles (TV screens with remote control, that sort of thing) for which he said he wanted about 33k AED. Seems a bit much, no?
Then for 17k AED 'fresh in' he had a couple of early 2000s Crown Royal Saloons that were mild hybrids. With the way fuel prices are going, it may prove to be a desirable form of collectible car in future, but that's still over £3,000!
Gutted about that.
There was a very clean 1998 special edition 'Trente' (30th anniversary) model that is still unsold but it only has a 1988cc 1G-FE engine. Still very clean and looks the part but doesn't have the sports saloon looks of the previous model and tuning that particular engine is, from what I have researched, simply not worth it or do-able. Asking price was about 10k AED IIRC.
Having viewed a few more JDM cars yesterday I feel minded to continue that way rather than buy off a Japanese auction website. Occasionally they are re-auctioned again in the UAE before being shipped off to wherever.
I may be back with ye olde Crown Royal Saloons / Athletes again for now!
I was particularly gutted I lost out to a guy at a live RHD auction today in Dubai Auto Zone. Plan has as mentioned been to export a JDM car to the UK for a bit of unique shedding, with a view to *potentially* selling much later on as something a bit more collectible.
The car was a July 2000 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon G, 3 litre AWD with only 11,500km on the clock. Plenty of toys. Clean and immaculate condition inside and out and as close as you could get to showroom condition for a car from 22 years ago. Mileage not verified but I thought who cares and the engine sounded flawless. Even the headlights were still crystal clear. Some wheeler dealer had obviously gotten his mitts on it.
My budget was about 12,000 AED given how bad the sterling exchange rate is nowadays, but it was sold for 15,000 AED in the end.
At today's exchange rate that would be just shy of £3,400. Then things like any fees, fitting a rear fog light, shipping costs to the UK etc.
I am assuming that would probably have taken me to the £5,000 mark.
Didn't seem worth it but it certainly was the shed that got away that I feel I'll be kicking myself over for ages. Maybe I'm still programmed to second hand car prices still being what they used to be back in the day. Also what JDM car could you get and be genuinely happy with in the UK for 5k?
Interesting observation at the auction though was that the older Corollas and basic types of Toyota from the early 2000s were going for the high teens and early twenties AED, one smashing the 25k AED mark in the midst of a bidding war. That's well in excess of £5,000 at today's rates.
Other cars like Hybrid Toyota Aquas and Blades were less popular and went for less than 10k AED.
There were also fair few Uber type Toyota Priuses going for below £2,000. Funnily enough I've seen one such JDM import on UK roads being used as a minicab, evidenced by the Japanese 'Toyopet' dealership sticker and aftermarket rear fog light on the rear bumper. If you can live with everything in KM/KPH and Japanese language then that's certainly a way around exorbitant used car prices in the UK. Or someone is making an easy buck.
I guess it goes to show what countries' preferences are if that's where the demand is and older cars are just repaired ad infinitum. True shedding I suppose.
As an aside note, there's a car dealer I've gotten to know who always has an eclectic choice of LHD and RHD sheds in his forecourt, with the odd collectible JDM RHD car. He had a Toyota Century with all the bells and whistles (TV screens with remote control, that sort of thing) for which he said he wanted about 33k AED. Seems a bit much, no?
Then for 17k AED 'fresh in' he had a couple of early 2000s Crown Royal Saloons that were mild hybrids. With the way fuel prices are going, it may prove to be a desirable form of collectible car in future, but that's still over £3,000!
Century’s go for the big money and they are the pinnacle of Japanese auto building imo and current ones go for £100k+. Also remember if it’s already arrived in the UAE then you’ll have to pay whatever profit margin for it. For example: my Crown (12th gen) is about £3-£5k in Japan, but at least £6-£8k once here and ready to go.
There’s lots of model choice with Crowns and they should be cheap given how abundant they are. I’ve owned mine for over 5yrs now and can’t really think of any proper negatives unlike the previous European efforts I’ve owned/driven.
There’s lots of model choice with Crowns and they should be cheap given how abundant they are. I’ve owned mine for over 5yrs now and can’t really think of any proper negatives unlike the previous European efforts I’ve owned/driven.
Purchased this nearly pristine example (circa 1990/91) from Dubai Autozone a short while ago for the princely sum of about £2,000 inclusive of 5% tax. A few rust spots here and there but all surface and superficial. Best to sort here where labour etc is cheap before it goes to the UK.
Nothing fancy engine-wise, admittedly. It has the 2 litre, 24V twin cam V6 1G GE engine.
Being over 30 years old it qualifies for classic plates. Anything younger than that which is RHD has to be exported (or the paperwork fiddled with at obvious great risk).
Look forward to having a bit of fun with it and seeing how much extra power I can restore or realise. Other than that it'll be staying standard. No crazy alloys, bodykits, roll cages or seats.
There was a 2.5l Super Lucent with a 1JZ GE engine but the overall condition of the Mark II price was what sealed the deal. IIRC there's no import duty if a car has been in your name for at least a year.
Also in response to the post above, there were a couple of Centuries with plenty of bells and whistles. Asking price around £5,200 plus 5% tax.
Nothing fancy engine-wise, admittedly. It has the 2 litre, 24V twin cam V6 1G GE engine.
Being over 30 years old it qualifies for classic plates. Anything younger than that which is RHD has to be exported (or the paperwork fiddled with at obvious great risk).
Look forward to having a bit of fun with it and seeing how much extra power I can restore or realise. Other than that it'll be staying standard. No crazy alloys, bodykits, roll cages or seats.
There was a 2.5l Super Lucent with a 1JZ GE engine but the overall condition of the Mark II price was what sealed the deal. IIRC there's no import duty if a car has been in your name for at least a year.
Also in response to the post above, there were a couple of Centuries with plenty of bells and whistles. Asking price around £5,200 plus 5% tax.
Gassing Station | Japanese Chat | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff