The Toyota Alphard and its twin, the Vellfire, have become a familiar sight on British roads, from school runs to airport transfers. Most of them came from Japan. If you are thinking about importing one, the worry tends to be the age of the car, the test it needs and whether everything inside will work here. Those questions all have straightforward answers.
- Body
- Large luxury MPV, 7 or 8 seats
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Import tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty
Why they are so popular here
The appeal is simple. They are big, comfortable people carriers with sliding doors, lounge-style rear seats on many versions and the kind of equipment list you would expect on a luxury saloon. They are right-hand drive from the factory, as Japan drives on the left like we do.
Toyota's reputation helps too, and later cars came with hybrid versions alongside the petrol engines. For a family that wants space, or a business that moves people about, there is not much else quite like them.
Alphard or Vellfire
The two are closely related. The Vellfire arrived in 2008 as a sister model to the second-generation Alphard, sold through a different Toyota dealer network in Japan with its own styling. Underneath, they share most of their engineering. Which one you choose is mostly a question of looks, trim and the car in front of you.
| Feature | First generation | Second generation | Third generation | Fourth generation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 2002 to 2008 | 2008 to 2015 | 2015 to 2023 | 2023 onwards |
| Vellfire version | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| UK test | MOT | MOT | MOT or IVA, check the date | IVA |
What to check before you buy
These are large, complicated cars with a lot of electric parts. Most problems show up in the equipment rather than the engine, so give it a thorough look, or ask your exporter to.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 9 done
If the car is at auction, the sheet is your best friend. Our guide to Japanese auction grades explains how to read it, and the Japanese import checklist covers the paperwork side.
The Japanese bits inside
Expect the screens, sat nav and voice prompts to be in Japanese, and the radio to be set up for Japanese FM frequencies, which sit in a different band from ours. Plenty of owners fit a band expander or a new head unit once the car is here. It is worth budgeting for, but it is not something that affects the test.
Getting it to the UK
From Japan, RoRo is the usual route, and it costs less than a container. The car has to run and drive for RoRo, and it should be empty, with no belongings or loose parts. Door to door it is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. A big MPV takes up more room than a small hatchback, so give us the exact model when you ask for a quote. If you bought at auction, the auction agent usually arranges the trip to the port.
Import tax
A car from Japan pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT. Both are worked out on the price of the car plus the shipping, and the VAT is charged on top of the duty. Even the earliest Alphards are nowhere near the 30-year mark, so the reduced classic rate does not apply.
The exception is Transfer of Residence. If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and have owned the car for at least 6, it can come in with no VAT or duty at all. The import tax calculator will run your own numbers.
IVA or MOT
The age of the car decides the test. A car under 10 years old takes an IVA test. A car over 10 years old is exempt from vehicle approval and takes an MOT instead.
That makes the third generation the one to watch. Depending on the build date, one car may need an MOT and an almost identical one an IVA. Every fourth-generation car is under 10 years old and will need an IVA test.
Close to 10 years old? Check the build date with us before you buy. It decides the test the car takes and whether the speedometer has to be converted.
UK changes
Because the Alphard is right-hand drive, the list is short. On a car under 10 years old, the speedometer must read in mph, and we convert it in-house. Any car that does not have 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 run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, so the car is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. See speedometer and headlight conversions and the IVA test explained for more.
Vehicle tax and insurance
Once it is registered, the car needs taxing like any other. GOV.UK sets vehicle tax by the registration date, the fuel type and, for most modern cars, the CO2 figure. For an import, the figures available can vary, so ask us and we will tell you what the car is likely to pay before you commit.
Insurers are used to Japanese imports, but they will want the details. Our guide to insuring a Japanese import covers what they ask for.
Questions people ask
Does an imported Alphard need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old. Older cars are exempt from vehicle approval and take an MOT instead. Every fourth-generation car, and some third-generation ones, will need an IVA.
What is the difference between an Alphard and a Vellfire?
They are sister models. The Vellfire arrived in 2008 alongside the second-generation Alphard, sold through a different Toyota dealer network in Japan with its own styling. They share most of their engineering.
How much tax will I pay to import an Alphard?
Usually 10% import duty and 20% import VAT, worked out on the price of the car plus shipping. Transfer of Residence can make it nil if you are moving to the UK and qualify.
Will the radio and sat nav work in the UK?
They will usually be in Japanese, and the radio is set up for Japanese FM frequencies. Many owners fit a band expander or a new head unit. It does not affect the test.
How long does it take to import an Alphard from Japan?
Usually about 5 to 8 weeks for the journey, plus time for customs, any changes, testing and registration.
Found an Alphard or Vellfire you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
