Missing TDN from JP Car - alternative compliance evidence
Discussion
Hello all,
We moved to the UK early this year from Japan and decided to import a car “Nissan X-trail 2017 Hybrid”. It arrived in the Uk in early December/2022. The car was purchased in an auction and it confirmed it doesn't qualify for a personal class under basic IVA.
I found in due process that the Japanese export certificate does not include TDN. Enquiring in Japan, found out the car was specially equipped, therefore, TDN was removed. Also, I used a third-party individual and he didn’t check details on TDN as he sent mostly cars more than 10 years old that don’t require IVA.
After a few backs and forths, DVSA as suggested -
If Nissan Japan is able to issue a VIN-specific statement confirming the TDN numbers of the “base vehicle” and also detail the reasons why they have been excluded, we can then assess if the modifications or alterations are likely to affect any of the areas that Directive Compliance (or comparable standards) are required for IVA purposes.
The initial enquiry via Nissan Japan customer service is negative and trying to find other contacts within Nissan.
My questions are -
Thank you
SG
We moved to the UK early this year from Japan and decided to import a car “Nissan X-trail 2017 Hybrid”. It arrived in the Uk in early December/2022. The car was purchased in an auction and it confirmed it doesn't qualify for a personal class under basic IVA.
I found in due process that the Japanese export certificate does not include TDN. Enquiring in Japan, found out the car was specially equipped, therefore, TDN was removed. Also, I used a third-party individual and he didn’t check details on TDN as he sent mostly cars more than 10 years old that don’t require IVA.
After a few backs and forths, DVSA as suggested -
If Nissan Japan is able to issue a VIN-specific statement confirming the TDN numbers of the “base vehicle” and also detail the reasons why they have been excluded, we can then assess if the modifications or alterations are likely to affect any of the areas that Directive Compliance (or comparable standards) are required for IVA purposes.
The initial enquiry via Nissan Japan customer service is negative and trying to find other contacts within Nissan.
My questions are -
- I read through a few similar topics in the forum, “Jerry Can” was able to get vehicle TDN from Nissan. Are you able to share the contact if you see this post?
- The IVA specification book suggests “directive” tests. Are there any test centres in Uk where I can perform the tests?
- I also looked into the “model report” provided by DVSA which includes Nissan X-trail 2001 - 2005. Not sure it can be used?
- Any other suggestion is appreciated.
Thank you
SG
I was Jerry Can.
You might have a big problem on your hands, Nissan uniquely won't give out TDN's. However these are only a concern if the model is post production modified by for example a tuning agent ( NISMO in Nissan's case)
I believe however that if you have owned the car for more than 6 months before emigrating you don't then need a TDN - although you'd have to investigate further and provide evidence of ownership.
The model report you suggested would not be applicable as it is a different version of this car.
I'd also be having a word with the import agency, all of them absolutely know the requirements for these cars whether more or less than 10 years old, so if its the Irish one, he's done you up like a kipper.
I think you are going to find it very hard to get the data you need from Nissan. Also I never found out what was deemed acceptable documentation should you even get a TDN. Apparently an email won't suffice, but I'd struggle to see what else you could get - maybe some complete physical documentation but I doubt that will be posted.
You could of course get a VIN of a crash damaged petrol xtrail of the same year and do some very sketchy (illegal) stuff and re plate it.
If you use LinkedIn, try and search for Nissan Homologation engineer and approach them for the details you need.
I used to work for Nissan and was able to speak directly with the homologation engineer, and got the TDN I was looking for however each TDN is chassis specific and all I got was a number, which you can't retrospectively put on the COC.
good luck, but I fear this might be painful.
You might have a big problem on your hands, Nissan uniquely won't give out TDN's. However these are only a concern if the model is post production modified by for example a tuning agent ( NISMO in Nissan's case)
I believe however that if you have owned the car for more than 6 months before emigrating you don't then need a TDN - although you'd have to investigate further and provide evidence of ownership.
The model report you suggested would not be applicable as it is a different version of this car.
I'd also be having a word with the import agency, all of them absolutely know the requirements for these cars whether more or less than 10 years old, so if its the Irish one, he's done you up like a kipper.
I think you are going to find it very hard to get the data you need from Nissan. Also I never found out what was deemed acceptable documentation should you even get a TDN. Apparently an email won't suffice, but I'd struggle to see what else you could get - maybe some complete physical documentation but I doubt that will be posted.
You could of course get a VIN of a crash damaged petrol xtrail of the same year and do some very sketchy (illegal) stuff and re plate it.
If you use LinkedIn, try and search for Nissan Homologation engineer and approach them for the details you need.
I used to work for Nissan and was able to speak directly with the homologation engineer, and got the TDN I was looking for however each TDN is chassis specific and all I got was a number, which you can't retrospectively put on the COC.
good luck, but I fear this might be painful.
Thank you for your response.
We purchased the car 1 month before we arrived in the UK. Therefore, we won’t qualify for the personal class.
He is a Pakistani individual we met in Japan. Just yesterday, he mentioned he is trying to work out something with a Nissan contact and asked me to send the export certificate back to him. I am not sure if JP Export Certificate could be amended with Nissan’s support. (My wife found it online, the export certificate can’t be amended once issued). I am waiting for the details before I send the certificate back to him.
I also used a third-party CoC certifying agency in Japan to investigate and they’ve confirmed the car was specially equipped but there is TDN available for the “base vehicle”. Unfortunately, DVSA doesn’t accept third-party certification even if the certification is attested by the Japanese department of transportation.
I will try if can find a Nissan Homologation engineer as the last option.
DVSA agent mentioned we might need to do a “directive” test if we can’t gather this information. Do you think there are places in the UK we could do it?
I am already preparing for the worst-case scenario now. I want to avoid illegal options but maybe
We purchased the car 1 month before we arrived in the UK. Therefore, we won’t qualify for the personal class.
He is a Pakistani individual we met in Japan. Just yesterday, he mentioned he is trying to work out something with a Nissan contact and asked me to send the export certificate back to him. I am not sure if JP Export Certificate could be amended with Nissan’s support. (My wife found it online, the export certificate can’t be amended once issued). I am waiting for the details before I send the certificate back to him.
I also used a third-party CoC certifying agency in Japan to investigate and they’ve confirmed the car was specially equipped but there is TDN available for the “base vehicle”. Unfortunately, DVSA doesn’t accept third-party certification even if the certification is attested by the Japanese department of transportation.
I will try if can find a Nissan Homologation engineer as the last option.
DVSA agent mentioned we might need to do a “directive” test if we can’t gather this information. Do you think there are places in the UK we could do it?
I am already preparing for the worst-case scenario now. I want to avoid illegal options but maybe
- Find 2nd hand car parts dealer and ask for a discounted offer
- Store the car somewhere for 5y until I don’t need to IVA
Dynion has covered it above, I'd be very wary of sending the export certificate back as their only option would be to print some numbers onto it which is obviously a big no-no.
Getting compliance here is very likely to cost many thousands if at all, take a look at the IVA manual under comparable standards and you'll see all the areas your car fails due to the lack of TDN is pretty extensive.
So in short you have surmised correctly, either wait until it's over ten years of age or sell as it is unregistered. A third option would be to export to a country that would accept it.
What is the chassis type, the code before the numbers?
Best of luck
Getting compliance here is very likely to cost many thousands if at all, take a look at the IVA manual under comparable standards and you'll see all the areas your car fails due to the lack of TDN is pretty extensive.
So in short you have surmised correctly, either wait until it's over ten years of age or sell as it is unregistered. A third option would be to export to a country that would accept it.
What is the chassis type, the code before the numbers?
Best of luck
Hello All,
Update: We got our car IVA passed and registered in the UK.
A lot of conversation back and forth with Nissan in Japan didn't work out, they do not provide any support for the car that is already exported.
We then found out the dealership where the car was originally purchased. We reached out to the dealer, just to try our luck. After a couple of calls/emails back and forth with a person, he was able to get the original documents that were initially required to be submitted to the Japanese equivalent of DVSA during registration. The document included the original base model specification/classification number and technical details on modification and test results.
The car is an upgrade “option” from Nissan, the factory modification was done by Nissan’s subsidiary company Autech Japan Co., Ltd.
The 24pg technical document was translated into English by my wife.
DVSA technical didn't agree at first but with a push from the clearing agent - My Car Import, they approved it. The car just arrived.
Update: We got our car IVA passed and registered in the UK.
A lot of conversation back and forth with Nissan in Japan didn't work out, they do not provide any support for the car that is already exported.
We then found out the dealership where the car was originally purchased. We reached out to the dealer, just to try our luck. After a couple of calls/emails back and forth with a person, he was able to get the original documents that were initially required to be submitted to the Japanese equivalent of DVSA during registration. The document included the original base model specification/classification number and technical details on modification and test results.
The car is an upgrade “option” from Nissan, the factory modification was done by Nissan’s subsidiary company Autech Japan Co., Ltd.
The 24pg technical document was translated into English by my wife.
DVSA technical didn't agree at first but with a push from the clearing agent - My Car Import, they approved it. The car just arrived.
well done then. You've cracked the problem, although I think you were spectacularly lucky with the Japanese dealer. I can't imagine a UK one being that helpful.
Your point about Nissan not being supportive to an already exported car is interesting. Are you saying that had you enquired after the correct documentation before the car was exported you'd have got the relevant info from them.
Your point about Nissan not being supportive to an already exported car is interesting. Are you saying that had you enquired after the correct documentation before the car was exported you'd have got the relevant info from them.
Edited by Dynion Araf Uchaf on Friday 1st September 08:40
Well done for getting it sorted, great news, have you got any pictures? Not at the same level as yours but my Crown has some dealer options fitted from new which are very cool.
I've found dealers very hit & miss in terms of help, it really depends who you get on the day. I try not to bother them (Toyota) as they're so expensive compared to getting the parts myself (even from Japan) and only use them now as a last resort.
Another good example when I had the Skyline was a Southampton dealership "oh no we don't deal with such old cars", but then I went to another and a salesman practically came running out to have a look at it such was their passion for the model and so managed to get some missing parts I needed along with a pair of brand new rear shocks.
I've found dealers very hit & miss in terms of help, it really depends who you get on the day. I try not to bother them (Toyota) as they're so expensive compared to getting the parts myself (even from Japan) and only use them now as a last resort.
Another good example when I had the Skyline was a Southampton dealership "oh no we don't deal with such old cars", but then I went to another and a salesman practically came running out to have a look at it such was their passion for the model and so managed to get some missing parts I needed along with a pair of brand new rear shocks.
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
well done then. You've cracked the problem, although I think you were spectacularly lucky with the Japanese dealer. I can't imagine a UK one being that helpful.
Your point about Nissan not being supportive to an already exported car is interesting. Are you saying that had you enquired after the correct documentation before the car was exported you'd have got the relevant info from them.
Yes, we got extremely lucky with the salesperson we talked to at the dealer. Your point about Nissan not being supportive to an already exported car is interesting. Are you saying that had you enquired after the correct documentation before the car was exported you'd have got the relevant info from them.
Edited by Dynion Araf Uchaf on Friday 1st September 08:40
Yes, with all the Nissan main offices we contacted, the default answer was it is exported so we can't further discuss it. I assume if the car was still registered in Japan, they might have helped it.
Less learned: Any car that is less than 10y needs to go through IVA and should be checked for the "Specification No." and "Classification No.".
Hi Sunaillg!
I’ve brought a car from Japan and I’m in the same situation now! I didn’t know about these before I bought it, I imported it through a family member who didn’t know about it too.
So basically it’s a 2015 model and it doesn’t have a specification and classification number.
Can you please help me with a copy of the technical document you got so I can ask my family to try to get a copy for my car from the dealer.
I will appreciate if you can help me please as I’m stuck with it not getting it through the IVA test.
Help me please!
Thank you very much
I’ve brought a car from Japan and I’m in the same situation now! I didn’t know about these before I bought it, I imported it through a family member who didn’t know about it too.
So basically it’s a 2015 model and it doesn’t have a specification and classification number.
Can you please help me with a copy of the technical document you got so I can ask my family to try to get a copy for my car from the dealer.
I will appreciate if you can help me please as I’m stuck with it not getting it through the IVA test.
Help me please!
Thank you very much
suneillg said:
Hello All,
Update: We got our car IVA passed and registered in the UK.
A lot of conversation back and forth with Nissan in Japan didn't work out, they do not provide any support for the car that is already exported.
We then found out the dealership where the car was originally purchased. We reached out to the dealer, just to try our luck. After a couple of calls/emails back and forth with a person, he was able to get the original documents that were initially required to be submitted to the Japanese equivalent of DVSA during registration. The document included the original base model specification/classification number and technical details on modification and test results.
The car is an upgrade “option” from Nissan, the factory modification was done by Nissan’s subsidiary company Autech Japan Co., Ltd.
The 24pg technical document was translated into English by my wife.
DVSA technical didn't agree at first but with a push from the clearing agent - My Car Import, they approved it. The car just arrived.
Update: We got our car IVA passed and registered in the UK.
A lot of conversation back and forth with Nissan in Japan didn't work out, they do not provide any support for the car that is already exported.
We then found out the dealership where the car was originally purchased. We reached out to the dealer, just to try our luck. After a couple of calls/emails back and forth with a person, he was able to get the original documents that were initially required to be submitted to the Japanese equivalent of DVSA during registration. The document included the original base model specification/classification number and technical details on modification and test results.
The car is an upgrade “option” from Nissan, the factory modification was done by Nissan’s subsidiary company Autech Japan Co., Ltd.
The 24pg technical document was translated into English by my wife.
DVSA technical didn't agree at first but with a push from the clearing agent - My Car Import, they approved it. The car just arrived.
suneillg said:
Dynion Araf Uchaf said:
well done then. You've cracked the problem, although I think you were spectacularly lucky with the Japanese dealer. I can't imagine a UK one being that helpful.
Your point about Nissan not being supportive to an already exported car is interesting. Are you saying that had you enquired after the correct documentation before the car was exported you'd have got the relevant info from them.
Yes, we got extremely lucky with the salesperson we talked to at the dealer. Your point about Nissan not being supportive to an already exported car is interesting. Are you saying that had you enquired after the correct documentation before the car was exported you'd have got the relevant info from them.
Edited by Dynion Araf Uchaf on Friday 1st September 08:40
Yes, with all the Nissan main offices we contacted, the default answer was it is exported so we can't further discuss it. I assume if the car was still registered in Japan, they might have helped it.
Less learned: Any car that is less than 10y needs to go through IVA and should be checked for the "Specification No." and "Classification No.".
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