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Japanese Market
Why choose a Japanese import?
Compared to the UK there are 4 times as many new cars sold per annum in Japan. This is due to the strict vehicle testing laws and many dealer incentives offered to buy new vehicles rather than used. There is no real private market for used vehicles in Japan and vehicles are only sold through auction houses.
Due to the high expense of travelling long distances, very strict vehicle testing laws, and as mentioned lack of a private market makes low mileage well maintained vehicles readily available.
Tough consumer protection law means Japanese cars have to be extremely reliable.
The Japanese public demands a higher grade of vehicle compared to a British standard.
Similar to a new vehicle supplied in the UK a Japanese vehicle is registered with a 3 year MOT called a ‘Shaken’. Unlike the UK the shaken is extremely rigorous and can cost in excess of £2000. Further re-tests are required every two years costing around £1000, and because of the inconvenience and expense of re-testing many people prefer to buy new cars.
To summarise, because of the shaken, buying a new car can be cheaper for the Japanese. This means for us there are a lot of good quality second hand vehicles available for export. Due to these volumes the most effective way to sell a car is by auction, and there are around 40,000 cars available per week.
Heard rumours about Japanese imported cars?
There has been a fair deal of negative publicity surrounding imported vehicles from manufacturers and the press. Tradition in the UK is to buy a more expensive, lesser spec vehicle that’s naturally more profitable to the manufacturers and the associated bodies, even though these vehicles more than likely started life in Japan designed for the UK market. The negative press was designed to deter the public from buying cars from independent importers, however this was over exaggerated and the reality is that the import market is continuing to grow.
Is my Japanese import different to its UK equivalent?
Both vehicles are made in the same factory, however the vehicles intended for sale in the UK are usually built to a lesser specification. The numberplate sizes on imported cars are a different size.
Other differences are covered in the European Type Approval test (SVA).
What do I have to do to ensure my AIS Ltd supplied vehicle is official in the UK?
Nothing. All our vehicles are imported directly from Japan. Our buyers in Japan complying with their regulations complete all Japanese legal paperwork. Once on UK shores we will ensure all the relevant import taxes and paperwork is complete, we will prepare the vehicle for SVA (single vehicle approval) if required. A MOT certificate will complete the necessary documentation which will then be passed to DVLA who will check through Interpol (international police) and stolen vehicle records and finally issue a year relevant registration number, or if preferred a cherished plate. At this point road tax is issued and the vehicle is road worthy.
How do I service/maintain my car?
Most garages including main dealers carry relevant diagnostic equipment that will link with the majority of manufacturer’s models regardless of their country of origin. Service parts are readily available from most garage suppliers as per usual. If you have a vehicle with no UK equivalent e.g. FTO, there are many specialist suppliers throughout the country. If any problems are encountered please contact us.
Is my Japanese import harder and more expensive to insure?
Due to the increasing volumes of Japanese imports, there are now a growing number of insurance specialists who offer competitive prices for this type of vehicle. |
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