---

The complete guide to importing a car to the UK.

1. Finding Your Car

We offer 2 levels of service.

We offer two levels of service:

• Assisted Search: We can help you find a car that meets your requirements.  Please contact us for more details, pricings etc.
• Self-Search: You may also search for a vehicle yourself.

Our agent in Japan supports us by obtaining additional information, translating auction listings, and verifying vehicle details.

GO TO AUCTION SEARCH PAGE

---

2. Vehicle Purchase

Once you find a car you wish to bid on, a deposit is required (please see the subheading “JDM Garage Buying Fee” for more information on this). After receiving the deposit, we can authorise your bids.

When your bid is successful, we will invoice you for:

• Vehicle cost
• Maritime insurance
• Japanese agent’s fee
• Transport to the port in Japan
• Our buying fee

If the vehicle requires the suspension raising for shipping (e.g., if it’s very low), an additional car raising fee may apply.

This total covers all costs to deliver the vehicle to the UK.

---

3. Estimated Costs

• Shipping: ~£1,500 (varies by size, volume, and exchange rate). Kei cars cost less; larger vehicles cost more. We can provide a tailored estimate.
• Maritime Insurance: 5,000 yen (higher for high-value vehicles).
• Local Transport (Japan): £295–£350 (depending on distance to Osaka).
• Low Car Raising Fee: 32,000 yen.
• Japanese Agent Fee:
  • Up to 9.9M yen – 130,000 yen
  • 10M–15M yen – 3.5% of winning bid
  • 15M–20M yen – 4% of winning bid
• JDM Garage Buying Fee:

The JDM Garage buying fee acts as your deposit and covers our full support throughout the purchase process. This includes coordinating with our agent in Japan for deregistration, transport, and shipping to the UK. We keep you updated with collection details, extra photos before shipping, tracking links during transit, and shipping confirmations. Once the car arrives in the UK, we handle all customs paperwork and can also arrange collection from the docks and road registration if required.  Please note that our buying fee doesn’t cover the cost of road registration or collection/delivery of the car.

• Up to 1.49M yen – £799 + VAT
• 1.5M–5.99M yen – £995 + VAT
• 6M–9.99M yen – £1,500 + VAT
• 10M–14.99M yen – 3% (min. £2,000)
• 15M–19.99M yen – 3.5% (min. £3,000)
• 20M–29.99M yen – 4% (min. £4,000)
• 30M+ yen – 4.5%

Important Notes

• Vehicles under 10 years old require IVA testing, the must also be older than 6 months to be able to apply for an IVA test.
• We offer a registration service for imported vehicles:
  • Over 10 years old: £25 + VAT (includes completion of all paperwork for registration).
  • Under 10 years old: Registration and IVA arrangements available by negotiation (typically £50 + VAT).

Please contact us for details.

• Customers are responsible for registration and collection unless otherwise agreed in writing with JDM Garage.
• Shipping times from Japan to the UK vary. Please allow at least 3 months from purchase to arrival.
• Vehicles are insured for total loss only during transit; minor cosmetic damage may occasionally occur.  This is infrequent but can happen.
• All removable items are shipped separately along with the vehicle’s documents.  These will be forwarded to you once the car has arrived into the country along with your original export certificate.
• Deposits are deducted from the final balance, which is payable by bank transfer within 2 working days of being provided with the invoice.

---

4. Shipping

Before shipment, vehicles are de-registered and transported to the most suitable port, depending where in the world they are being shipped to. Once at the port, our agent provides detailed photos, which we forward to you.

This process usually takes 2–4 weeks, though occasionally longer. When the vehicle is booked on a vessel, we’ll provide tracking details and an estimated arrival date.  You will be invoiced for shipping when the car is due to land at the port.

---

5. Arrival & Collection

When your vehicle is due to arrive into the UK we will contact you.  When the car arrives at the port, VAT and duty must be paid to the shipping agent before they will release the car for collection.

We use Kleerfreight to handle VAT and duty paperwork. Their customs clearance service costs £125.

Kleerfreight will calculate your taxes and invoice you for the total, including their fee.  We will liaise directly with them on your behalf.

Example of Customs Charges

Item	Calculation	Amount
CIF Value	—	£1,000
Import Duty (10%)	£1,000 × 10%	£100
VAT (20%)	(£1,000 + £100 + £95) × 20%	£239
Total Taxes	Duty + VAT	£339

You’ll also need to pay terminal handling fees (£75–£100) & shipping fees before collection of your vehicle from the docks.  Again, we will forward the invoices to you for this for payment.

After clearance, HM Customs will register your vehicle on the NOVA system within 7–10 working days, confirming that taxes have been paid. Kleerfreight will email you copies of the customs declaration and invoice.

---

6. Collection From Docks

We can arrange vehicle collection from the docks on your behalf or you can collect and register the car yourself if preferred.

Please contact Natalie to discuss your requirements:
📧 [email protected]

---

7. Registering Your Vehicle

Vehicles Over 10 Years Old

You’ll need the following documents:

• Export certificate
• Insurance certificate
• MOT certificate
• NOVA letter
• Completed V55/5 form (available at gov.uk/dvlaforms)
• Cheque for £55 registration fee plus road tax

Vehicles Under 10 Years Old

These may require an IVA test at an approved test station. Once completed, send the IVA certificate to the DVLA along with the same documents listed above.

The IVA test costs £199, payable to DVSA.

For registration assistance, please contact Natalie:
📧 [email protected] | ☎️ 01409 231887

GO TO AUCTION SEARCH PAGE

---

Understanding the Japanese Auction Sheet

Examples:

• 

• 

• 

Grades:

Grade S>6>5 – Brand new to perfect condition
Grade 4.5 – very good condition
Grade 4.0 – good condition
Grade 3.5 – fair condition
Grade 3 – average to poorer condition
Grade 2 – spares/repair
Grade 1 – modified vehicle
Grade 0 / 0.1 / 0.2 – Accident repaired (see vehicle report for replaced parts)
Grade R / R A – Accident repaired / with very clean repair – usually by the insurance companies.
(Please note some Grade R or A or O might be just cosmetically repaired so dont rule these out)
(* next to milege indicates – meter change history or aftermarket speedo fitted before or now – so don’t dismiss these)

Any cars with aftermarket speedometer or speedo changed in Japan must be deemed incorrect milege unless we can verify – The current ODO display is what will be used