Imported Car Registration

[Skippygreg]

Hi All,

Long time reader, new poster here.

Wonder if some wonderful person will give me a bit of advice on what I need to do to register an imported car. I have done some research and have found the below, please correct me if I am wrong about anything at all.

I have recently purchased a JDM Spec-C Impreza bare shell, which I'm rebuilding using the parts from my rotten UK Impreza. The shell came with an export certificate from Japan, and a copy of an email stating the NOVA reference, submission reference, VRN and Japanese "VIN". All import duty and fees have been paid so it's just a case of registering the vehicle.

I understand I need to insure and MOT the car (once it's built) against the VIN number, I assume the Japanese "VIN" can be used for this.
I then need to complete the V55 form for DVLA and send it to them along with payment and supporting evidence.

I have some questions regarding the V55 form, how do I find which tax bracket and tax amount is for the vehicle? Do I use the same from my current vehicle as the engine will be moving over, or do I find the emissions figure for the original engine of the shell?

The form says to include payment, how? Cheque (I've never sent a cheque in my life), or proof of transfer, assume I'm not to lob a load of cash in an envelope.

Lots of boxes indicate "Take this information from the Certificate of Conformity or IVA/GB Conversion certificate." But I don't know what these certificates are. Or is that something I get from MOT?

I'm sure more questions will pop up along the process, so any useful advice or recommendations anyone has would be greatly appreciated.

[832ark]

Sounds like a nightmare. You can’t use the identity of either vehicle as you won’t have sufficient points under the DVLA rules so it’ll need a Q plate. God knows what will happen with the added complexity of being an import.

Edit: perhaps it’s “just” a case of an IVA and Q plate.

Edited by 832ark on Friday 21st June 21:01

[Overall D]

Why would it be a Q-plate? It’s no different to replacing your fubar alternator for a used one off ebay repeated many times over. Even if there is an engine swap it won’t gather enough points to require Q-plates

[832ark]

Overall D said:

Why would it be a Q-plate? It’s no different to replacing your fubar alternator for a used one off ebay repeated many times over. Even if there is an engine swap it won’t gather enough points to require Q-plates

It’s nothing like replacing your alternator at all. There will be insufficient points to retain either of the identities under DVLA rules.

Edited by 832ark on Friday 21st June 21:31

[Panamax]

832ark said:

It’s nothing like replacing your alternator at all. There will be insufficient point to retain either of the identities under DVLA rules.

Agreed. Why not rebuild the car and pretend it's the original UK donor? I don't see mention of the Japanese connection as being anything other than a hindrance.

[832ark]

Panamax said:

Agreed. Why not rebuild the car and pretend it's the original UK donor? I don't see mention of the Japanese connection as being anything other than a hindrance.

Could do but then you’d have a ringer, albeit not from a stolen car. If the car is keeper forever then you’d probably get away with it.

[smokey mow]

Skippygreg said:

I have some questions regarding the V55 form, how do I find which tax bracket and tax amount is for the vehicle? Do I use the same from my current vehicle as the engine will be moving over, or do I find the emissions figure for the original engine of the shell?

The tax bracket will be the PLG rate for vehicles over 1549cc.

Skippygreg said:

The form says to include payment, how? Cheque (I've never sent a cheque in my life), or proof of transfer, assume I'm not to lob a load of cash in an envelope.

Yes send a Cheque! You can always ask your bank for one.

Skippygreg said:

Lots of boxes indicate "Take this information from the Certificate of Conformity or IVA/GB Conversion certificate." But I don't know what these certificates are. Or is that something I get from MOT?

You don’t need a CofC or IVA assuming it has been previously registered in another country and is at least 10years old.

Because you are using a second hand monocoque there is a potential risk of being allocated a Q-registration but this can be avoided depending on how you choose to answer the questions on the V671/1 built up vehicle report. Remember only the chassis and engine will have serial numbers so they’d be none the wiser if the axles and steering were to be declared as from the JDM car rather than your old car.

Edited by smokey mow on Friday 21st June 22:04

[Gericho]

Is the VIN on the shell anywhere? I thought VIN was stamped all over the place, even sometimes on door sills and dashboard area.

[Skippygreg]

smokey mow said:

Skippygreg said:

I have some questions regarding the V55 form, how do I find which tax bracket and tax amount is for the vehicle? Do I use the same from my current vehicle as the engine will be moving over, or do I find the emissions figure for the original engine of the shell?

The tax bracket will be the PLG rate for vehicles over 1549cc.

Skippygreg said:

The form says to include payment, how? Cheque (I've never sent a cheque in my life), or proof of transfer, assume I'm not to lob a load of cash in an envelope.

Yes send a Cheque! You can always ask your bank for one.

Skippygreg said:

Lots of boxes indicate "Take this information from the Certificate of Conformity or IVA/GB Conversion certificate." But I don't know what these certificates are. Or is that something I get from MOT?

You don’t need a CofC or IVA assuming it has been previously registered in another country and is at least 10years old.

Because you are using a second hand monocoque there is a potential risk of being allocated a Q-registration but this can be avoided depending on how you choose to answer the questions on the V671/1 built up vehicle report. Remember only the chassis and engine will have serial numbers so they’d be none the wiser if the axles and steering were to be declared as from the JDM car rather than your old car.

Edited by smokey mow on Friday 21st June 22:04

Amazing answer, thanks you so much. Understood on all points, thanks for clearing that up. I wasn't aware Q plates may be an issue. The engine and gearbox that are coming from my UK car are both actually JDM imports themselves, and the engine is the correct engine for the Spec-C it's going into. As I understand it the engine will therefore not have a VIN either. Meaning, theoretically, I could claim that the engine is the original for the shell as well as either the gearbox or axels or steering assembly, and not need Q plates.