In my post on routes to buying a car imported from Japan, we learned that time is a factor when you import a car from Japan.
In this post I’m going to give you more information on how long the whole process takes, from giving the go-ahead to the day your car arrives. This post also forms one of my series of detailed posts on the process of importing a car from Japan. Here is my 10 step guide on how to import a car from Japan.
There is some waiting involved when you import a car from Japan
There is no easy way of putting this: there is definitely some waiting involved when you import a car from Japan. I enjoy the anticipation, but if you really must have that car right now, I recommend looking for one that has already arrived from Japan.
Your waiting will take several forms. You’ll likely be waiting:
- For a suitable car to come up for sale.
- For a suitable car to come up for sale at your target price.
- For money transfers.
- For paperwork.
- For shipping.
- For the DVLA to assign a registration number.
Waiting for a suitable car to come up for sale and at your target price
The length of this wait is so variable. It depends on a few different factors:
- The type of car you want to buy and the numbers available on the used car market. It stands to reason that if there are only a few examples of your target car coming up for sale per week, you’ll have a longer wait to find a good one than if there are 20 up for sale per week.
- How picky you are with specification, colour, condition. If your car must be a certain colour or must have a pristine bosozoku style bodykit like this Hiace, your search might take a while.
- How tight you are with your target price for the car. You might miss out on one or two cars if your budget is set at the middle or lower end of the average price range for your desired car. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need to raise your maximum budget, it just means that if you’re at the lower end of the potential selling price range, the search might take longer.
- Luck! I’ve put this in because there are other influences on this part of the process too. You never know how many other people at the auction are going to be bidding on the car you want.
It is really difficult to give an exact idea of how long this wait will be for you. I think between 1 and 6 weeks is a reasonable estimate. I’m happy to provide a more detailed estimate for you by email.
Money transfers
These only cause a minor wait when you import a car from Japan – they usually don’t take more than a couple of days.
Paperwork
Once the car has been bought at auction, there is a wait for paperwork to be processed to permit the car to leave the country. This doesn’t usually take more than 10 days.
Shipping
Roll on roll off (RORO) boats leave from 4 key ports in Japan. There are between 3 and 6 sailings per month, depending on the port and the month. In most cases the wait for a boat shouldn’t be more than a week, but you may be unfortunate and find that all the places on the next boat have already been booked.
The ship has a distance of about 11,000 – 13,000 nautical miles to travel, depending whether it goes East or West. The sailing time is about 6 weeks.
Collection, preparation and testing
Your car is collected from the port, prepared and tested (MOT or IVA). For a car needing a MOT test only, all of this could happen in a couple of days. If your car needs an IVA test, both the preparation for the test and the test itself will take longer.
Registration
The DVLA suggest you should allow 10 days for them to allocate a registration mark for an imported vehicle. They have generally been faster than this in my experience.
Good things come to those who wait: how long will you be waiting to import a car from Japan?
Bringing all of the above together, I think allowing 3-4 months is reasonable in most cases. If you’re after a really rare car, this time will be extended. Here is an infographic to summarise the whole process for you.
I’ve ordered a Skyline today as my first ever Jap import. It’s 15 years old so I’m safe from the IVA?
If you don’t mind me asking so I’ve got a better idea of how I should work it,
It’ll get shipped (in this case to Newcastle), a logistics company gets it cleared through customs.
I’ll get it transported to a garage for rear fog light and mot.
Obviously there is all the paperwork side of it, does the car need registered with DVLA before MOT?
Cheers!
Hi Derek,
A great car to go for as your first import! Yes you are indeed safe from the IVA, your car will just need a standard MOT. The MOT will need to be done before you apply to the DVLA to register the car.
Good luck with the Skyline!
Andrew
Hi, I’m looking at a Nissan PAO as an import from Ja pan, it’s my first time, and I just wondered if there were any hidden costs apart from all mentioned in your blog, eg.insuring it in the UK? Also, it is a 1989 model so would I be exempt from the IVA?
Thanks a million, Hilary
Hi Hilary
Thanks for your questions and my compliments on a great choice of car to import!
A 1989 Pao would definitely be exempt from the IVA test, it would just need to pass the MOT, for which it would most probably need a fog light fitting.
I’ve listed all the various types of cost involved here. The only extra cost I can think of in addition to those shown would be if you were importing the car yourself or through an agent and additional work was required to get the car through an MOT once it arrived.
I don’t think insurance would be particularly expensive for a Nissan Pao, but finding quotes can take a little longer because none of the price comparison sites work for imported cars. However there are plenty of companies that cover imported cars.
You probably know I offer a Japanese import car sourcing service. I’d be happy to provide a detailed price illustration for you: please let me know if you’d like me to do this.
Cheers
Andrew
How much is total cost of this unit up to the port of Dar-es-salaam?
Hi Osward
Thanks for the question, but I’m not sure which unit you mean?
Andrew
Hi I am getting a Toyota Noah from Japan I am just wondering what will I need to do to pick it up from Newcastle do I need insurance to drive it back home and do I need to to get a mot I have never done this before so could you give me information what I need do thanks Neil
Hi Neil
You definitely need insurance, and this will need to be from a company prepared to cover the car based on the chassis number.
My understanding is that you can drive the car directly to a pre-booked MOT and then directly home again. But please check this advice for yourself before starting off on your journey. I usually have the cars delivered to me or collect them using my trade plates and motor trader insurance.
Also, remember that if you’re planning on driving the car away from the port, it will probably have a flat battery, be running on fuel vapour and the tyres will need some air. This is slightly tongue in cheek but not far from the truth in most cases!
Best wishes
Andrew
Nice information
I got my friend who bought a very nice car, its now over 2 years now without any problem, I think very soon i’ll be next the next client to you!, ure doing the nice jobs Mr Adrew, I thank u !
Thank you!
Hi Andrew,
I just won a Toyota Prius car for 690000 yen. What would be the total cost in UK road?
Hi, thanks for your question. It is a difficult one for me to answer, because I don’t know how much you’re paying for shipping, which port it is coming to, whether you’re planning on doing the IVA prep yourself, model report costs, the exchange rate you’re getting, export agent costs etc etc. I could go on! There are a lot of variables. Based on today’s rates I’d guess at somewhere between £9500 and £10500.
Hi Bari,
Can I ask which year / model is the car? is it okay to ask which website / auction did you used?
Hi Bari,
which model year have you won?
Is it true that December cars becomes a bit cheaper
I think there are more factors influencing a car’s price than just the month. E.g. convertibles might be cheaper in December, but perhaps not 4x4s. Also remember that the exchange rate has a huge bearing on the cost of a car, and there are so many factors influencing exchange rates.
Hi, I am not sure how long in these current times my Registration will Take.
I ordered and paid for the car on the 11th November 2021
Car was shipped within two weeks.
Car Arrived 7th January 2022, Newcastle.
Car was prepared for MOT a week later
Car was delivered to me 5th March
Due to the Shipping companies poor administration. I did not get the NOVA letter until last week.
I sent the documents over to DVLA on Tuesday by Special Delivery.
Now I await the V5.
I have a ferry booked to Spain on the 3rd April with our Grandchildren. However, I am not holding my breath as most people are reporting long waits for the V5’s. At least I have another car to travel in. But it’s hardly the point.
Car is a Low Mileage 32,000, full service history for every year, regardless of KM travelled, 13 year old Toyota Vellfire 3.5 V6 Selectable AWD/4WD 8 seater.
When it arrived and even now, I can’t believe the amazing almost showroom condition the vehicle is in.
I am probably going to keep the Japanese radio/nav/DVD setup as I don’t see much point in ruining the great setup it has with Rear DVD screen etc.
Fingers X