Japan is a quiet favourite for Porsche buyers. Cars sold there new tend to be well looked after, many cover few miles, and plenty are right-hand drive. Add an auction sheet that tells you what a seller elsewhere might not, and it is easy to see the appeal. The catch most people miss is the tax: a German car coming from Japan is not treated as a European one.
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Under 30 years
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
- Test
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
Why buy a Porsche in Japan
Japan drives on the left like we do, and Porsche sold right-hand drive cars there. Left-hand drive was offered too and some buyers chose it, so check which one you are looking at. Either can be registered here, but most UK buyers want right-hand drive, and it keeps the list of changes short.
The other draw is condition and mileage. Many Japanese-market cars were bought new from official dealers, serviced on schedule and used lightly. That is a tendency, not a promise, so every car still needs checking on its own merits.
Which cars, and how they are taxed
The build date decides the test and the tax. These lines are worked out from today, 12 October 2026.
| Feature | Built | UK test | Import tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 964 and early 993 | Before October 1996 | MOT | 5% VAT, no duty, if original |
| Later 993, 996, 997, first Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne | October 1996 to 2012 | MOT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| 991 and cars of that era | 2012 to October 2016 | MOT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
| 992 and later 718 or Cayenne | After October 2016 | IVA test | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The duty question
Every Porsche is built in Europe, so people expect the UK-EU trade deal to take the duty off. For a car bought in Japan, it normally does not. The deal only removes duty on goods that originate in the UK or the EU, and GOV.UK says goods only keep that status in other countries while they stay under customs supervision.
A Porsche sold new in Japan, registered there and driven there has long since left customs supervision. So a car under 30 is normally treated like any other import from Japan: 10% duty, then 20% VAT on the price, the shipping and the duty together. Our guide to rules of origin and duty on EU cars explains how origin works.
Ask us about origin before you buy. Whether any proof of origin can help depends on the car and the paperwork behind it. We are HMRC CDS authorised agents and will tell you where your car stands, but budget for the 10% unless we confirm otherwise.
Classics over 30
For the older cars, origin stops mattering. A Porsche over 30 years old that qualifies as a historic vehicle pays 5% VAT and no duty. HMRC wants the car in its original state, and excludes vehicles that have been modernised or modified. Our guide to the 5% VAT rules for historic vehicles covers what HMRC looks at.
Auction sheets and mileage
Most cars from Japan are bought at auction through an agent, and the auction sheet is your best friend. It gives a grade, an interior score and a damage map drawn by an inspector who has seen the car. On a Porsche, it is worth reading every note, not just the headline grade.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, and checking the mileage on an imported car covers the wider checks. The Japanese export certificate is the one document every car from Japan needs.
The test depends on age
GOV.UK exempts cars over 10 years old from vehicle approval, so they take an MOT instead of an IVA test.
| Age of the Porsche | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test, and a speedometer reading in mph |
| 10 to 40 years | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
| Over 40 years | No MOT needed, as long as it has not been substantially changed |
A Porsche built after October 2016 is still under 10, which takes in the 992 and the later Boxster, Cayman and Cayenne. Japanese-market cars read in km/h, so a car that young needs its speedometer converted to mph, which we do in-house. Our guide to the IVA test covers the rest.
Shipping a Porsche from Japan
RoRo is the usual route from Japan and costs less than a container. The car has to run and drive, and it should be empty, with no belongings or loose parts inside. For a valuable car, many owners prefer a container, which keeps it sealed for the whole trip. Our guide to container, RoRo or air compares the two.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks. For an expensive car, read shipping a high-value car and marine insurance before it sails.
UK changes and registration
A right-hand drive Porsche from Japan needs very little. A rear fog light goes on if one is not fitted, and a car under 10 years old needs its speedometer in mph. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down. A left-hand drive car can stay that way; see left-hand drive cars in the UK.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so a newer car is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. If you would rather buy a classic in America, see buying a classic Porsche from the USA.
Questions people ask
Is a Porsche from Japan duty free because it was built in Germany?
Normally not. The UK-EU deal only keeps goods duty free while they stay under customs supervision, which a car used in Japan has not. Under 30 it usually pays 10% duty and 20% VAT. Over 30 and original, it pays 5% VAT and no duty.
Are Japanese-market Porsches right-hand drive?
Many are, as Japan drives on the left. Left-hand drive was offered too, so check the car you are looking at. Either can be registered in the UK.
Does a Porsche from Japan need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which today means built after October 2016. Older cars take an MOT, and cars over 40 that have not been substantially changed need none.
Which Porsches from Japan pay 5% VAT?
Cars over 30 years old in their original state, which today means built before October 1996. That takes in the 964 and the early 993.
How much does it cost to ship a Porsche from Japan?
As a guide, from £3,575, shipping only, with a journey of about 5 to 8 weeks. A container costs more than RoRo but keeps the car sealed.
Found a Porsche in Japan? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will check the tax and price the whole job.
