Plenty of good cars on UK roads started life somewhere else, and plenty of people have been put off an import by a story about one that went wrong. Both are true. An imported car is neither a bargain nor a gamble by default. How it turns out depends on a few things you can check before you pay.
- Is it a risk?
- Only if the paperwork is missing
- Biggest check
- Who imported and registered it
- Insurance
- Tell the insurer it is an import
- Best defence
- History, paperwork, a proper inspection
What a grey import is
A grey import, sometimes called a parallel import, is a car brought into the UK by someone other than the manufacturer's official distributor. Most of what people call a Japanese import or an American import falls under it. The name sounds shady, but it isn't. It simply describes how the car arrived, and a properly imported one is registered and taxed like any other car here.
The case for buying one
- Models and trims that were never sold new in the UK
- Cars with a different specification, often better equipped, from the home market
- A wider choice when the UK market has few good examples
- Older cars that were looked after and kept in good condition by their previous owners
The case against, and the pitfalls
| Feature | What can go wrong | How to deal with it |
|---|---|---|
| Paperwork | Missing export or import documents, or a car that was never registered properly | Ask to see the V5C and the import paperwork, and run a vehicle check |
| Insurance | Some insurers are unfamiliar with imports and may quote higher | Get quotes first and use a specialist if needed |
| Parts and servicing | Parts for models never sold here can take longer to source | Find out where parts come from before you buy |
| Mileage and history | Mileage may be in kilometres, and the history may be hard to check | Ask for the auction sheet or service records |
| Conversions | Changes for UK roads done badly, or not declared | Ask what was done, by whom, and whether it was tested |
| Resale | A narrower market of buyers for some models | Keep the paperwork together for the next owner |
None of those is a reason to walk away. They're a reason to ask questions, and a seller who has answers to all of them is usually a good sign.
Checks before you pay
Before you hand over any money
0 of 8 done
Our guide to checking whether a car is an import shows how to do most of that for free, and buying a car abroad safely covers the same ground if you're buying overseas yourself.
Insurance, honestly
Insurance is the thing people worry about most, and it's usually manageable. An import can cost more to insure than the UK version of the same model, and some mainstream insurers are less comfortable with them. Specialists deal with imports every day. Whoever you go with, tell them it's an import and list the changes made to it, because leaving that out can give them grounds to refuse a claim. Our guide to import car insurance in the UK goes through it stage by stage.
Buying versus importing it yourself
Buying one that's already registered here is the simplest route, because the hard part is finished. Importing one yourself gives you more choice and, sometimes, a better car for the money, but you take on the shipping, customs, testing and registration. That's the part we do for you, in-house, from collection to plates. If you're weighing it up, see how it works, or read how a car from Japan gets here.
Questions people ask
Is it bad to buy an imported car?
No. A properly imported car that has been registered, tested and taxed is the same as any other car on UK roads. The risks come from missing paperwork, undeclared changes and poor history, which you can check before you buy.
What is a grey import car?
A car brought into the UK by someone other than the manufacturer's official distributor. It is also called a parallel import. Most Japanese and American imports fall under it.
Are imported cars more expensive to insure?
They can be. Some insurers are less familiar with cars built for other markets, and parts can take longer to source. Get quotes early and consider an insurer that specialises in imports.
Should I buy a Japanese import?
Many people do, and a right-hand drive car from Japan usually needs less work to make road legal than most imports. Check the paperwork, the history and the changes made, and get it inspected.
How can I tell if a car is an import?
Compare the build year with the first UK registration, check the chassis number and the V5C, and look for a speedometer in km/h. Our guide to checking whether a car is an import covers each step.
Thinking of bringing one in yourself? Tell us about the car on a quote and we'll price the whole job.
