Frequently Asked Questions

What is an import?
Much has been written, and said, about so-called imports, but what does it all mean?

Japanese car manufacturers such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda and Mitsubishi produce cars for sale to Japanese buyers, and in the same factories they produce cars for the UK market. In the UK they sell their cars through their own network of dealers.

"Imports" are cars which have been used on Japanese roads, and which we have then bought second-hand from the auctions, or car dealers, or private buyers in Japan, and shipped to Europe.

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So there's nothing mysterious about it. Actually, if you think about it, all Japanese cars that come to the UK are imports, even the new ones.

Why should you buy an import?
To save money. And also to get a better quality car with lower mileage, higher specification, and bodywork that is in undeniably superior condition.

Has VAT and Duty been paid on all of your cars?
The VAT and Duties are paid on all vehicles at the port of entry before delivery to our premises. Before we can register them the Local Vehicle Registration office HM Customs forms have to be presented to the registration office.

Can you guarantee the vehicle has not been stolen in Japan?
Yes. Japan has joined the INTERPOL scheme which means that before registration the Local Vehicle Registration office contact Interpol who check the vehicle status in Japan. If it shows up as stolen it will not be registered.

The only stolen vehicles that we are aware of came via Dubai or Ireland. EVERY vehicle we import comes direct from Japan - not via any other country.

Do so-called imports conform to the same standards of safety as those manufactured in the UK?
All imported vehicles under 3 years old now go through an SVA (Single Vehicle Approval) to make sure they confirm to UK standards. This includes seeing if it has a fog light, MPH speedo, etc, and they check things like seat belt anchorages, glass, etc.

The tyre markings are now recognised too. Over 3 years they very easily pass the MOT test - plus some other test we perform make sure everything is as it should be.

About Parallel Import Japanese Cars Generally...
Japan drives on the left, just like the UK, so of course cars in Japan are all right hand drive.

All our cars are offered registered in the UK with 12 months MOT, EU customs duty and VAT paid.

Used cars are bought at auction, or from dealers or private individuals, new cars are bought from local dealers in Japan with whom we have negotiated very special discounts.

All Japanese cars like Mazda's and Nissans were made in Japan and therefore have been imported at some point.

Japanese import cars have several advantages over vehicles that have been in England from new. The advantages are:

CONDITION:
second hand Japanese cars are virtually all low mileage, certainly by British standards, and the mileage can be relied on. It would actually be pretty hard to find a car in Japan that had done 12000 miles per year

Japanese road conditions and traffic habits just make fast driving impractical. Japanese drivers generally keep their cars immaculate and well serviced.

Before any dealer in Japan exposes and car for sales (private sales are quite unusual) he makes sure it can pass the Japanese MOT (known as "SHAKEN") which is very severe and he has to be ready to support the car, since consumer protection is fierce.

Because of this you don't have the be concerned about mechanical condition (certainly not when you buy imported vehicles from us, because we only buy the very best condition);


2) EQUIPMENT:
Cars in Japan always have air conditioning, and usually have all the extras available - which indeed are mostly treated as virtual standard equipment.

Mazda don't sell in Japan the toned down versions of the MX5 that are available in the UK.

Another example, also Mazda, is that in Japan, the MX5's all went from 1600cc to 1800cc in September 1993, and thereafter 1600 cc versions were not available. And Mazda certainly don't sell MX5's with pressed steel wheels or manual windows. If you drove one of those in Japan quite frankly you would be laughed at!