Buy a car from Japan and one document comes up again and again: the export certificate. It is in Japanese, it looks official, and everyone seems to want it. That makes it easy to worry about losing it or getting it wrong. In practice it is one sheet of paper with one job, and once you know what that job is, looking after it is simple.
- What it is
- Proof the Japanese registration is cancelled
- Send us
- A copy, before the car ships
- DVLA needs
- The original
- You get it back
- No
What the export certificate is
A car in Japan is registered there, much like a car here has a V5C. Before it can be exported, that Japanese registration is cancelled, and the export certificate is the document that records it. You will sometimes hear it called a deregistration certificate.
For a Japanese car, it does the job a registration document does for cars from elsewhere. That is why it appears on our list for Japan where other countries have a registration certificate or a US title.
Who arranges it
You do not usually apply for it yourself. Most Japanese imports are bought at auction, and the auction agent typically arranges the inland transport and the shipment, and the export paperwork is dealt with in Japan before the car sails.
What you need to do is make sure the seller will provide it, and that it reaches you or us. When you are choosing a car, it belongs on the same list as the purchase invoice: no export certificate, no deal. Our Japanese import checklist has it in the "before you buy" section for that reason.
Why we want a copy early
Send us a copy of the export certificate before the car ships. It lets us check the car's technical details are complete while there is still time to do something about it. Missing information can delay the import, and it is far easier to chase a seller in Japan before the car is on a ship than after it has landed.
We check it against the car and the rest of your paperwork. The chassis number in particular needs to match the invoice and the car itself. A transposed digit is enough to hold things up at customs, as our guide to customs delays explains.
Being in Japanese, it is not a document most people can read at a glance. A clear photo or scan of every page is all we need at this stage.
What the DVLA needs
The export certificate matters most at the very end, when we register the car. GOV.UK says the DVLA needs the original foreign registration certificate, and that you will not get it back. Photocopies and faxed copies are not accepted.
So the original has to come to the UK and, once the car is ready to register, it goes to the DVLA with the application. Treat it like a passport until then. Do not write on it, staple it or leave it in the car.
Copy first, original later. We want a copy before the car ships so we can check it. The original is what the DVLA keeps, so look after it until we ask for it.
Proving the car's age
Age matters a great deal with a Japanese import. It decides whether the car takes an IVA test or an MOT, whether the speedometer must read in mph, and whether it qualifies for the 5% rate of VAT for cars over 30 years old.
The DVLA uses the foreign registration certificate as evidence of when the car was made. GOV.UK says that if you do not have it, the DVLA might accept other proof of the manufacture date, such as a letter from the manufacturer or a vehicle enthusiast club.
Where more evidence is needed, for an age-related plate or a classic, we source the dating evidence for you. For cars over 10 years old, the V5C can take longer to arrive if the original registration document is missing, which is one more reason to keep the export certificate safe.
What it does not replace
The export certificate proves the Japanese registration has ended. It does not show what you paid, so customs still needs the purchase invoice or the auction paperwork. And it is not the shipping document either: that is the bill of lading, issued by the shipping line.
Your Japan paperwork
0 of 6 done
Where it fits in the import
-
Before it ships
Copy to us
You send a copy of the export certificate and invoice, and we check the technical details and chassis number.
-
5 to 8 weeks
At sea
The car crosses, usually by RoRo, while the original paperwork makes its way to the UK.
-
On arrival
Customs and NOVA
We clear the car as HMRC CDS authorised agents, then tell HMRC it has arrived within 14 days.
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At our site
Changes and testing
A rear fog light and an mph speedo where needed, then an IVA test or MOT on our own lanes.
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Within 10 working days
Registration
The original export certificate goes to the DVLA with the application, and the car gets its UK number.
The whole journey is covered in our guide to importing a car from Japan, and the cost of importing from Japan works through the numbers. The Japan destination page has the route facts.
Questions people ask
What is a Japanese export certificate?
It is the document that records a car's Japanese registration being cancelled so it can be exported. For a Japanese import, it does the job of the registration document.
Why do you want a copy before the car ships?
It lets us check the car's technical details are complete before it sails. Missing information can delay the import, and it is easier to fix while the car is still in Japan.
Does the DVLA need the original export certificate?
GOV.UK says the DVLA needs the original foreign registration certificate, does not accept photocopies, and does not return it. So the original goes with the registration application.
What if the export certificate is lost?
GOV.UK says the DVLA might accept other proof of the manufacture date, such as a letter from the manufacturer or an enthusiast club. Registration can take longer, so tell us straight away and we will work out the best route.
Who gets the export certificate in Japan?
It is dealt with in Japan before the car sails, usually by the seller or the auction agent who arranges the shipment. Make sure your seller will provide it before you buy.
Buying in Japan? Send us the car's details on the quote form, with a copy of the export certificate if you have it, and we will check it before anything ships.
