Yes, you can import a used car from Japan to the UK, and GOV.UK lists no maximum age. You make an import declaration, pay VAT and customs duty, tell HMRC through NOVA, get vehicle approval (usually IVA) if the car is 10 years old or less, and then register it with the DVLA.
Key takeaways
- Tell HMRC about the car through the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA) service within 14 days of it arriving. The DVLA will not register it until NOVA is processed.
- A car first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago might not need vehicle approval. Newer cars from Japan usually need an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA).
- Register with the DVLA on form V55/5, sending the original Japanese registration document, proof of approval and, for cars over 3 years old, evidence of a current MOT.
1. Check the car’s age and history
Age decides how much paperwork you face. The UK does not ban older imports, but it treats newer ones more strictly.
- More than 10 years since first registration or manufacture: GOV.UK says you might not need vehicle approval.
- 10 years or less: you will normally need proof of vehicle approval before the DVLA registers the car. For a car from Japan this usually means an IVA test.
Check the car’s history too. The DVLA will not register a vehicle classed as “seriously damaged”. For imports, GOV.UK says the foreign registration certificate might say something like “statutory write-off”, “scrapped” or “non-repairable”. Ask to see the Japan export certificate and the auction sheet before you pay.
You can browse cars in Japan on our used car stock page. Autocom has no office in the UK, so you deal directly with our head office in Yokohama (sales@autocj.co.jp, +81-45-227-7095). Always ask us to confirm the date of manufacture and first registration before you pay. Our UK import rules hub collects related guides.
2. Make the import declaration and pay VAT and duty
When the car arrives, an import declaration is made. GOV.UK says you must pay a shipping company or customs agent to do this for you, either before the car arrives or at the border.
You then pay VAT and customs duty at the UK border, and again this is usually arranged through the shipping company or customs agent. The amounts depend on the car and change over time, so we don’t quote them here. Check with HMRC or your customs agent before you buy, and use our landed cost checklist to list every part of the final price.
3. Tell HMRC through NOVA
You must tell HMRC about the imported car through the Notification of Vehicle Arrivals (NOVA) service within 14 days of bringing it into the UK permanently.
If you are a private buyer and not VAT-registered, your shipping company, customs agent or HMRC’s own team can submit NOVA for you. You may be fined if you are late, and you cannot register the car until NOVA is processed.
4. Get vehicle approval (IVA)
Vehicle approval shows the car meets UK safety and environmental standards. For a car that has not been registered in the UK or EU, the route is an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA), run by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Motorcycles and some small vehicles use Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) instead.
If the car was first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago, check the GOV.UK approval pages: you might not need approval at all. Book the IVA early, because the car cannot be registered without proof of approval when it is needed.
5. Register, tax and insure the car
Register the car with the DVLA using form V55/5, the form for used vehicles, including used imports. You send original documents, not copies:
- Proof of vehicle approval (unless the car is exempt)
- Evidence of a current MOT if the car is over 3 years old
- The original foreign registration certificate showing when the car was manufactured (you will not get it back); for a car exported from Japan, ask us for the original export certificate
- Evidence of the date you collected the car, such as the supplier’s invoice
- Proof of identity, such as a photocard driving licence
You also pay the first registration fee and the vehicle tax, and you must insure the car before driving it on UK roads. The DVLA may ask to inspect the car. Once the registration certificate (V5C) arrives, you can have number plates made up.
Buying safely from Japan
Pay only into a bank account in Japan whose beneficiary is “Autocom Japan Inc.” (see the official list on our bank accounts page). Any request to pay someone else is fraud. Read how to avoid scams when buying cars from Japan.
Want to see a real purchase from start to finish? Read about Mat Watson’s Honda S660 purchase via Autocom Japan. For the choice between shipping methods, see Ro-Ro vs container shipping.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an age limit for importing a car from Japan to the UK?
GOV.UK lists no age limit. Age decides the paperwork instead: a car first registered or manufactured more than 10 years ago might not need vehicle approval, while a newer one usually needs an IVA.
What is NOVA and who submits it?
NOVA is how you tell HMRC that a vehicle has arrived. It must be done within 14 days, and a private buyer can ask the shipping company or customs agent to submit it.
Which DVLA form do I use for an imported used car?
Form V55/5. Send it with the original foreign registration certificate, proof of approval if needed and MOT evidence if the car is over 3 years old.
Can I register a car that was written off in Japan?
Not if it is classed as seriously damaged. If the registration certificate says something like “statutory write-off”, “scrapped” or “non-repairable”, the DVLA will not register it.
Does Autocom have an office in the UK?
No. UK buyers deal directly with our head office in Yokohama, and payments go only to Autocom Japan Inc. bank accounts in Japan.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Importing vehicles into the UK (updated 10 Dec 2024, checked 1 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Importing vehicles into the UK, Telling HMRC (NOVA) (updated 10 Dec 2024, checked 1 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Importing vehicles into the UK, Getting vehicle approval (updated 10 Dec 2024, checked 1 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Importing vehicles into the UK, Registering an imported vehicle (updated 10 Dec 2024, checked 1 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK: Vehicle approval (IVA and MSVA) (updated 9 Sep 2026)
- GOV.UK: Vehicle registration, New registrations (V55/5) (checked 1 Oct 2026)
