Importing a car from Japan.

[pete]

A pal is thinking about importing a car from Japan, it's a bit of an oddity (M5 engined M3) that he has been offered.

Anyone have any experience of the process of getting it to the UK, minimising taxes and then getting it road registered...

[Jeremy]

A pal is thinking about importing a car from Japan, it's a bit of an oddity (M5 engined M3) that he has been offered.

Anyone have any experience of the process of getting it to the UK, minimising taxes and then getting it road registered...

I done this years ago with a MX5 and it was a right royal pain in the arse just to save a few grand. At the time you couldn't land the car directly in the UK so I had to get it shipped to Dublin then go and collect it on temporary Irish plates. Not sure if the procedure is still the same, I hope that it isn't for the sake of common sense.

Regards,

Jeremy

[Dark]

If it's a 'special' then obtaining a CofC and the ESVA report could be very difficult / expensive.

[pete]

He was contemplating bringing it in as a track toy, then maybe road registering it a later date...

(Thanks for the advice, very useful).

[j2 lot]

Don't know if its still true or not but recall being told years ago the Japanese cars didn't have the same level of rust proofing and protection and that it would need additional under sealing and proofing work if you want to keep it in good nick.

[rossybee]

Don't know if its still true or not but recall being told years ago the Japanese cars didn't have the same level of rust proofing and protection and that it would need additional under sealing and proofing work if you want to keep it in good nick.

I think this only applied to Japanese grey (as opposed to parallel) imports.

All Beemers are made in Geermany or the states or SA and haven't ever heard of lack of rust proofing?

[j2 lot]

that would make sense.

[pete]

Aye it's more just whether the semantics of bringing it in are workable...