In the UK it was the Shogun. In Japan, and most of the world, it was the Pajero, and Japan has a deep supply of them: short and long wheelbase, petrol and diesel, plus two oddities we never got here, the rally-bred Pajero Evolution and the tiny Pajero Mini. Whichever one you are after, it comes in the same way as any other car from Japan.
- Body
- 4x4, short or long wheelbase
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- IVA under 10 years, MOT over
Pajero or Shogun?
They are the same family of car. Mitsubishi sold the Pajero as the Shogun in the UK, so a Japanese Pajero is close kin to the ones already on British roads. Both are right-hand drive, as Japan drives on the left like we do. Some Japanese versions had engines and trim levels that were never offered here, which matters when it comes to parts, so it is worth knowing exactly which one you are looking at.
| Feature | Early Pajero | Later Pajero | Pajero Evolution | Pajero Mini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In brief | First and second generations, 1980s and 1990s | Third and fourth generations, 1999 to 2019 | A late-1990s short wheelbase special, built so Mitsubishi could rally the Pajero | A kei-class 4x4 with a 660cc engine |
| UK test | MOT | MOT, or IVA on the very latest | MOT | MOT |
| Tax today | 5% VAT, no duty on the older ones | 10% duty + 20% VAT | 10% duty + 20% VAT | 10% duty + 20% VAT, check the date on the earliest |
| UK Shogun parts | Many shared | Many shared, check the engine | Body and trim are special | Not shared |
The Pajero Evolution
The Evolution was a road-going version of the car Mitsubishi took rallying, with wide arches, a big V6 and its own suspension. Not many were made, and they are now collectable. Treat one the way you would any rare car: check the history carefully, and expect body panels and trim to be hard to find, because the UK Shogun shares little of what makes an Evolution different.
The Pajero Mini
The Mini is a kei car, which means a 660cc engine and a body built to Japan's strict size limits. It looks like a shrunken Pajero and has proper four-wheel drive on most versions. It is a fun little thing, but it was designed for Japanese roads and speed limits. Our guide to importing a kei car covers how they get on here.
What to check before you buy
A Pajero bought for snow, beaches or mountain roads can look tidy on top and be tired underneath. A clean auction sheet and good photos of the chassis count for more than a low mileage.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, and the Japanese export certificate guide covers the one document every car from Japan needs.
Diesels and clean air zones
Many Pajeros are diesel. If you live or drive in London, or in a charging Clean Air Zone, check the emissions position before you buy. These zones want Euro 6 on a diesel, and an older diesel that was never built to it cannot be made compliant with paperwork. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains how it works.
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. For almost every Pajero, that means an MOT.
| Age of the Pajero | 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 |
Japanese sales of the Pajero ended in 2019, so only a fourth-generation car built after October 2016 is still under 10 years old. That one takes an IVA test and needs its speedometer converted to mph, which we do in-house. Every Pajero Mini and Evolution is past 10, so they take an MOT.
Looking at a late fourth-generation car? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of the 10-year line changes the test it takes and whether the speedo needs converting.
Parts and servicing
This is where a Pajero has the edge over many Japanese imports. Because the Shogun was sold here, plenty of service parts, suspension and drivetrain components are shared, and independent 4x4 specialists know the car well. Where it gets harder is with Japan-only engines and trim, the Evolution and the Mini. Our guide to parts and servicing for imported cars has more on finding what you need.
Shipping a Pajero
From Japan, RoRo is the usual route 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. If it does not run, a container is the answer.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. A long wheelbase Pajero takes more room than a small hatchback, so give us the exact model when you ask for a quote. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
Import tax
A Pajero from Japan pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price plus the shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty instead. That takes in every first-generation Pajero and the early second-generation cars, those built before October 1996.
If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and have owned the car for at least 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT or duty. The import tax calculator runs your own numbers, and our cost of importing from Japan guide works through a full example.
UK changes
Because the Pajero is right-hand drive, the list is short. Any car without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position, and one under 10 years old needs its speedometer in mph. Japanese vehicles are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so a late Pajero is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. For the wider route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan.
Questions people ask
Is a Mitsubishi Pajero the same as a Shogun?
Broadly, yes. Mitsubishi sold the Pajero as the Shogun in the UK. Some Japanese versions had engines and trim never offered here, so check the engine code if parts matter to you.
Does a Pajero need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which means a fourth-generation car built after October 2016. Older Pajeros take an MOT instead.
How much tax will I pay on a Pajero?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. A Pajero over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which covers the first generation and early second-generation cars.
Can I import a Pajero Evolution?
Yes, and it follows the same route as any Pajero. Every Evolution is well over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT. Body panels and trim are specific to the Evolution, so check the car carefully before you buy.
Is the Pajero Mini a kei car?
Yes. It has a 660cc engine and fits the kei size limits. It imports like any other kei car, and most were built with four-wheel drive.
Found a Pajero you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
