The Patrol is a big, tough 4x4 with a loyal following in the Gulf and in Australia, and the latest one has never been sold new in the UK. Bringing one here can look complicated, with a left-hand drive car from one side of the world and a right-hand drive one from the other. In practice both routes are well worn, and the work needed to make a Patrol UK road legal is predictable.
- Generations
- Y60, Y61 and Y62
- Main sources
- The Gulf and Australia
- Shipping
- From £2,150 (Middle East), £3,200 (Australia), shipping only
- Tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which Patrol
| Feature | Built | Testing today | Tax today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Y60 | 1987 to 1997 | MOT, or none once over 40 | 5% VAT, no duty if built before October 1996 |
| Y61 | From 1997, and for years afterwards in some markets | MOT, or IVA on a late car under 10 years old | Standard rate |
| Y62 | From 2010 | MOT, or IVA if built after October 2016 | Standard rate |
Y60 and Y61
The Y60 and Y61 are the old-school Patrols: separate chassis, solid axles and a reputation for going anywhere. The Y61 was sold in the UK in its day as the Patrol GR, so UK 4x4 specialists know it well. Early Y60s are now over 30 years old and pay the reduced rate of tax.
The Y61 carried on being built for some markets, the Gulf among them, long after the Y62 arrived. So a Y61 can be much newer than it looks, and the build date decides the test it takes.
Y62
The Y62 is a much bigger, more luxurious car, with a V8 petrol engine. It was never sold new in the UK, which is why people import one. It is a very common sight in the Gulf, and right-hand drive versions were sold in Australia too.
The Gulf or Australia
Each source gives you a different car, so the choice usually comes down to steering and condition.
- The Gulf: left-hand drive and built to GCC specification. Usually dry and rust-free, often big petrol engines, and desert use brings its own wear.
- Australia: right-hand drive, so fewer changes. Many have done long distances off-road or towing, so condition varies widely.
A left-hand drive Patrol can be registered here without moving the steering. It needs a few changes first, which we cover below, and our guide to left-hand drive cars in the UK covers what living with one is like.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
History matters most on Gulf cars. We are not able to ship or register salvage vehicles from Dubai, because a UK registration really needs a clean title to go smoothly. If you are not sure about a car's history, call us before you buy. Our guide to buying a car abroad safely covers the general checks.
Shipping and tax
How a Patrol travels depends on where it starts. These are guide prices built from a year of real jobs, shipping only, and they exclude registration, testing, import tax and any work the vehicle needs.
- The Gulf: shared container from Jebel Ali, about 4 to 6 weeks at sea, from £2,150. Our agents in Dubai handle the RTA deregistration and export plates.
- Australia: shared or dedicated container, about 6 to 10 weeks at sea, from £3,200. Our partner hauliers collect from anywhere in the country.
A Patrol is a large vehicle, and a lift kit or roof rack makes it larger. Give us the exact model and any changes to its size when you ask for a quote, so we can price the right space. Our guides to shipping from Dubai and shipping from Australia cover each route in detail.
A Patrol under 30 years old pays 20% import VAT and 10% import duty, worked out on the price plus shipping, with VAT charged on top of the duty. Over 30 years old, it pays 5% VAT and no duty. If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for 12 months and owned the car for 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no tax at all. The import tax calculator will run your own numbers.
Check the build date on a Y61. Because it stayed in production for some markets, a late Y61 from the Gulf can be under 10 years old and need an IVA test. We work out exactly what applies when we quote.
Getting it road legal
A left-hand drive Patrol from the Gulf usually needs:
- Headlight changes for driving on the left
- A speedometer converted to mph, on vehicles under 10 years old
- A rear fog light, if it does not have one
A right-hand drive Patrol from Australia usually needs only the rear fog light, plus an mph speedometer if it is under 10 years old. Our guide to speedometer and headlight conversions explains each job.
Then it takes the test for its age. Under 10 years old means an IVA test, 10 to 40 years an MOT, and over 40 years no MOT if it has not been substantially changed. Shipping a Car is part of My Car Import, and we run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, with MOT testing on the same site in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register the vehicle within 10 working days. The IVA test explained covers what the examiner looks at.
Looking at other big 4x4s too? Our Toyota Land Cruiser guide covers the Patrol's main rival from the same sources.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Nissan Patrol Y62 to the UK?
Yes. The Y62 was never sold new in the UK, but it can be imported and registered. A Y62 under 10 years old needs an IVA test, and a left-hand drive one needs headlight changes, an mph speedometer and a rear fog light if not fitted.
Is it better to buy a Patrol from Dubai or Australia?
It depends on what you want. Gulf cars are left-hand drive, usually rust-free and often petrol. Australian cars are right-hand drive and need fewer changes, but many have worked hard off-road.
Which Patrols qualify for the reduced import tax?
Vehicles over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026 that covers Y60s built before October 1996.
Can you ship a salvage Patrol from Dubai?
No. We are not able to ship or register salvage vehicles from Dubai, because a UK registration really needs a clean title. Call us before you buy if you are unsure about a car.
How much does it cost to ship a Patrol?
As a guide, shipping starts from £2,150 from the Middle East and £3,200 from Australia, shipping only. A lifted or heavily accessorised Patrol may need more space, so tell us about any changes.
Found a Patrol? Send us the details on the quote form and we will price the shipping, customs, testing and registration.
