Not everyone needs a GT-R. The turbocharged, rear-wheel drive Skylines that sat below it in the range look much the same, share the famous RB straight six, and cost a fraction of the price. For a lot of buyers, an R32 GTS-t, R33 GTS25t or R34 25GT-t is the Skyline they actually want to drive. Every one of them is now over 10 years old, so the route to UK plates is simple.
- Body
- Coupe or four-door saloon, rear-wheel drive
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- MOT, as every one is over 10
Three generations
The turbo Skylines most people import come from three generations. All of them are right-hand drive from the factory, as Japan drives on the left like we do, so there is no steering conversion to think about.
| Feature | R32 GTS-t | R33 GTS25t | R34 25GT-t |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1989 to 1994 | 1993 to 1998 | 1998 to 2001 |
| Engine | RB20DET 2.0 turbo | RB25DET 2.5 turbo | RB25DET NEO 2.5 turbo |
| In brief | Small, light and the cheapest way in | Bigger, softer and more of a cruiser | The most modern, and the most wanted |
| UK test | MOT | MOT | MOT |
| Tax today | 5% VAT, no duty | Reduced rate on the early ones, check the date | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The R32 is the purist's choice, with a 2.0 litre engine that loves to rev. The R33 brought the bigger RB25DET and a longer, heavier body. The R34 tightened everything up again and is the one whose prices have climbed the most. There are also four-wheel drive GTS-4 versions, and plenty of non-turbo cars, so make sure you know which one you are looking at.
A cheaper way into a Skyline
A GTS-t gives you the shape, the sound and the tuning scene without GT-R money. The RB25DET in particular is well understood by UK tuners, and rear-wheel drive suits drifting and track days. If you want the twin-turbo RB26 and four-wheel drive, our Skyline GT-R buying guide covers the real thing.
Watch out for fake GT-Rs
Because the cars look so alike, a lot of GTS-t Skylines have been dressed up as GT-Rs with bumpers, bonnets, badges and sometimes an engine swap. That is fine if you know what you are paying for. It is a problem if the price says GT-R and the car does not.
The chassis code tells you the truth. A genuine GT-R is a BNR32, BCNR33 or BNR34. A GTS-t is an HCR32, the R33 GTS25t is an ECR33 and the R34 25GT-t is an ER34. Check the code on the chassis plate against the export certificate and the auction sheet, not the badges.
What to check before you buy
Most of these cars have had a hard life. Many have been tuned, drifted or crashed and repaired. A clean auction sheet and a straight history matter more than the power figure.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 9 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. If the car has been tuned, read importing a modified car before you commit, and tell your insurer about every change. Our Japanese import insurance guide explains why.
Clean air zones
Every GTS-t is petrol. London and the charging Clean Air Zones want Euro 4 on a petrol car, and an older Japanese import often has no Euro standard on record. If you drive in one of those zones, check the position before you buy. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains what evidence helps.
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. The last R34s were built in 2001, so no GTS-t needs an IVA.
| Age of the Skyline | What it needs |
|---|---|
| 10 to 40 years | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
| Over 40 years | No MOT needed, but no R32 is that old yet |
Shipping a Skyline
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. That includes spare wheels, bucket seats and tuning parts. If the car does not run, or it has been lowered so far it cannot get up a ramp, a container is the answer.
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. Bought at auction? The auction agent usually handles getting the car to the port.
Import tax
A Skyline 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 R32 and the earlier R33s, those built before October 1996. No R34 is old enough yet. If you are looking at an R33 from around 1996, check the build date with us, as a few months can make a big difference to the bill. The 5% VAT rules guide explains what counts.
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 Skyline is right-hand drive, the list is short. A car without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance, which keeps the work down. We do the work in-house, then the MOT, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register the car within 10 working days. For the wider route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan, and if you want more room for the same running gear, the Stagea guide.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Skyline GTS-t to the UK?
Yes. It follows the same route as any car from Japan: shipping, customs, a rear fog light if needed, an MOT, then DVLA registration.
Does a GTS-t need an IVA test?
No. Every R32, R33 and R34 is over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT instead.
How much tax will I pay on a GTS-t?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. A car over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which covers every R32 and R33s built before October 1996.
How do I tell a GTS-t from a real GT-R?
Check the chassis code on the plate and the export certificate. A GT-R is a BNR32, BCNR33 or BNR34. An HCR32, ECR33 or ER34 is a GTS-t, whatever the badges say.
Is a Skyline GTS-t ULEZ compliant?
It depends on whether there is evidence it meets Euro 4. Many older Japanese imports have no Euro standard on record, so check before you buy if you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone.
Found a Skyline you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
