Buying private Japanese Import

[TVRBRZ]

Hi all,

I'd be grateful for advice on buying a 2nd hand, private Japanese Import. Ad on gumtree makes no reference to import but as photos show square number plates I'm assuming an import.

Before I message the seller, any gotchas? I've heard that insurance can be higher. It has been in the UK quite a few years and lots of MOT history, so I'm assuming MOTs are fine. V5C still the same...?

Thanks

[samoht]

If you go to https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk you can see both "Year of manufacture" and "Date of first registration" (ie UK registration), for a grey import the latter is typically some years after the former. Eg my old RX-7, manufactured 1996, first registered in the UK 2003.

Best thing with insurance is to get a quote before you buy, yes it may be a bit higher but hard to say as a general rule.
Infotainment can be an issue. In the old days it was just the FM radio frequency range was too low, now with navigation etc and more integrated functionality it can be a bigger issue. Depends on the car. It's common to fit an aftermarket carplay-compatible unit, depends on the car how satisfactory this is.

Speedo, odo etc may be in kmh.

V5 document is the same in principle although the fields are whatever the original importer filled on in the form. ULEZ will be taken on date of manufacture only, so 2006 for petrol and 2016 for diesel, as no emissions values. Road tax will be £300-something a year on the old scheme unless under 1.6L; this is good or bad depending what it would be for the UK equivalent.

Generally no issue with owning an import.

[Dog Biscuit]

samoht said:

If you go to https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk you can see both "Year of manufacture" and "Date of first registration" (ie UK registration), for a grey import the latter is typically some years after the former. Eg my old RX-7, manufactured 1996, first registered in the UK 2003.

Best thing with insurance is to get a quote before you buy, yes it may be a bit higher but hard to say as a general rule.
Infotainment can be an issue. In the old days it was just the FM radio frequency range was too low, now with navigation etc and more integrated functionality it can be a bigger issue. Depends on the car. It's common to fit an aftermarket carplay-compatible unit, depends on the car how satisfactory this is.

Speedo, odo etc may be in kmh.

V5 document is the same in principle although the fields are whatever the original importer filled on in the form. ULEZ will be taken on date of manufacture only, so 2006 for petrol and 2016 for diesel, as no emissions values. Road tax will be £300-something a year on the old scheme unless under 1.6L; this is good or bad depending what it would be for the UK equivalent.

Generally no issue with owning an import.

Apart from the st looking license plates/plate recess, and usually less underseal/corrosion protection compared to equivalent UKDM

[TVRBRZ]

Thanks samoht and DB for the replies, I'll go check.

MOT history only shows suspension components corrosion so it may still be ok. Underseal will be a job for me if i buy it

[TVRBRZ]

Well that is odd. UK reg and manufacture are the same.

I went and had a close look at the number plate mountings in the photos and it looks like someone has just put square number plates on for styling and it is a UK car.

I'm glad I asked. Thanks PH!

[TarquinMX5]

I was also going to add that sometimes people use square rear number plates because they add a taxi licence / private hire plate alongside it; it's not restricted to imported cars.

Also, some insurance companies will not insure imported vehicles.

[ChocolateFrog]

TVRBRZ said:

Hi all,

I'd be grateful for advice on buying a 2nd hand, private Japanese Import. Ad on gumtree makes no reference to import but as photos show square number plates I'm assuming an import.

Before I message the seller, any gotchas? I've heard that insurance can be higher. It has been in the UK quite a few years and lots of MOT history, so I'm assuming MOTs are fine. V5C still the same...?

Thanks

Insurance can be more.

Main thing is whether it was under sealed when it came in with Bilt Hamber or similar. Some JDM cars can suffer really badly on our roads.

[TVRBRZ]

Thanks both.

However OBE as despite telling me it had a svc history, went asked for photos as evidence the owner was forced to admit it did not have a service history.

Do people genuinely think that because they call you "mate" and "you aint gonna be disappointed bruv" that such Brewrisms make up for disengenuos sales spiel? Grrr.