The current Suzuki Jimny is one of those cars people wait for. Small, square and properly capable off road, it has a following far bigger than its size. Suzuki stopped selling the four-seat version new in the UK some time ago, so a lot of buyers now look to Japan. The worry is usually which Jimny is which, and whether a young car means a lot of testing. It means an IVA test, which we run ourselves.
- Models
- Jimny (kei) and Jimny Sierra
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- IVA on every JB64 and JB74
JB64 or JB74
The current generation arrived in 2018 and Japan gets it in two forms. The JB64 is the kei car version, simply called the Jimny there. The JB74 is the Jimny Sierra, a slightly bigger car with a larger engine. They share the same shape and the same ladder-frame, four-wheel-drive layout.
| Feature | Jimny JB64 (kei) | Jimny Sierra JB74 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 660cc turbo, within the kei limit | 1.5 litre, no turbo |
| Body | Narrower, without wheel arch flares, to fit kei size limits | Wider, with flared arches and a wider track |
| Sold new in the UK? | No | Yes, as the Jimny, for a time |
| UK test today | IVA | IVA |
The JB74 is the car that was sold new here, so parts and know-how are easy to find. The JB64 is the purer kei car: it has to fit Japan's light vehicle rules, which cap the engine at 660cc and keep the body narrow. Our guide to importing a kei car explains the class.
Which suits you depends on how you will use it. A 660cc turbo is happy around town and on lanes, and many owners love it for that. If you spend a lot of time on the motorway, the bigger engine in the Sierra is the easier companion.
The older JB23
Before 2018, the kei Jimny was the JB23, built from 1998 to 2018. One built before October 2016 is now over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT rather than an IVA test. That makes most JB23s a simpler import than a new car, if you can live with the older design. The very last ones are still under 10, so check the build date.
The five-door Jimny Nomade
Japan has also had a five-door Jimny, sold there as the Jimny Nomade. It follows exactly the same route as the others: being nearly new, it takes an IVA test. Send us the export certificate and we will check the details.
What to check before you buy
Jimnys are often bought to be used off road, and some are modified straight away. A lifted, re-tyred car can be great fun, but every change has to pass the IVA test, so a standard car is the easier import.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read the sheet, and the Japanese import checklist covers the paperwork side.
The IVA test
A car under 10 years old needs vehicle approval before it can be registered here, and for a Japanese import that means an IVA test. Every JB64 and JB74 falls into that group. The examiner checks the car against the UK standards for lights, mirrors, seat belts, noise, emissions and more.
Before the test, the speedometer has to read in mph, and the car needs a rear fog light in the right position if it does not have one. We do both in-house. Japanese cars 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 your Jimny is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington, with our workshop next door if anything needs another look. Our guide to the IVA test explains what happens on the day, and speedometer conversions covers that part.
Planning upgrades? Fit them after the car is registered, not before. A standard Jimny is much more straightforward to put through the IVA test than a modified one.
Shipping and tax
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. 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.
A Jimny from Japan pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price of the car plus the shipping, with the VAT charged on top of the duty. 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.
Living with one
Once it is registered, the car is taxed like any other, by registration date, fuel and, for most modern cars, CO2. If you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone, petrol cars need to meet Euro 4. A car registered on an IVA certificate may have no Euro status on its V5C, so keep the evidence. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains what TfL will accept.
Insurers will want to know it is an import and which model it is. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import covers what they ask for.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Japanese Jimny to the UK?
Yes. Both the kei JB64 and the JB74 Jimny Sierra can be imported and registered here. Being under 10 years old, they take an IVA test first, with an mph speedometer and a rear fog light.
What is the difference between the JB64 and JB74?
The JB64 is the kei car version, with a 660cc turbo engine and a narrower body to fit Japan's light vehicle rules. The JB74 Jimny Sierra has a 1.5 litre engine, flared arches and a wider track.
Does an imported Jimny need an IVA test?
A JB64 or JB74 does, as every one is under 10 years old. A JB23 built before October 2016 takes an MOT instead.
How much tax will I pay on a Jimny from Japan?
Usually 10% import duty and 20% import VAT on the price plus shipping. Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving to the UK and qualify.
Can I import a modified Jimny?
You can, but every change has to pass the IVA test. A standard car is the easier import, and you can fit upgrades once it is registered.
Found a Jimny you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
