The Toyota Harrier is the Japanese market's upmarket SUV, and for its first two generations it was the same car the rest of the world bought as the Lexus RX. That makes an early Harrier one of the easier Japanese imports to own here, as a lot of the parts are already in the UK. Later Harriers went their own way, with hybrid versions and a look we never got. Here is what to know before you buy one.
- Body
- Five-seat SUV, petrol or hybrid
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Test
- MOT for most, IVA for the latest
Four generations
Every Harrier is right-hand drive from the factory, as Japan drives on the left like we do. Which generation you pick decides how easy it is to find parts here, and which test it takes.
| Feature | First (1997 to 2003) | Second (2003 to 2013) | Third (2013 to 2020) | Fourth (2020 on) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus twin | Lexus RX 300 | Lexus RX of the time | No, Japan only | No, RAV4 based |
| Hybrid | No | Yes, V6 hybrid from 2005 | Yes | Yes, later plug-in too |
| UK test | MOT | MOT | MOT or IVA, check the date | IVA |
| Tax today | 10% duty + 20% VAT | 10% duty + 20% VAT | 10% duty + 20% VAT | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The first two generations are the ones with the most in common with UK cars. The RX 300 and later RX models were sold here, so engines, suspension and many service items are shared. The third and fourth generations were built for Japan, and while they use Toyota parts found in other models, trim, lights and body panels are more likely to need ordering from Japan. Our guide to parts and servicing for imported cars covers what to ask before you commit.
What to check before you buy
Harriers tend to be well looked after in Japan, but they are heavy cars and many have done a lot of town driving. On a hybrid, the health of the hybrid system matters more than anything else, so look for warning lights and ask about the battery.
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 10 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.
Petrol, hybrid and clean air zones
Harriers are petrol or petrol hybrid, which helps in London. The ULEZ asks for Euro 4 on a petrol car, and TfL says compliant petrol cars are generally those first registered after 2005. Most second-generation cars onwards should be fine. A first-generation car may need evidence of its emissions standard, so check before you buy if you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains how the evidence works.
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.
| Age of the Harrier | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test, and a speedometer reading in mph |
| 10 years and over | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
Every first and second-generation Harrier is well past 10, and so are third-generation cars built before October 2016. A later third-generation car, and every fourth-generation one, is still under 10 years old. Those take an IVA test and need the speedometer converted to mph, which we do in-house.
Looking at a third-generation car? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of October 2016 changes the test it takes and whether the speedo needs converting.
Shipping a Harrier
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. If it does not run, a container is the answer. Hybrids carry a battery as well as a fuel tank, so tell us exactly what the car is and we will declare it correctly. Our guide to shipping an electric or hybrid car explains more.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. Give us the exact model when you ask for a quote. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
Import tax
A Harrier 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. The first Harriers went on sale in 1997, so none is yet over 30 years old for the reduced 5% rate.
If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and have owned the Harrier 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.
Vehicle tax
Road tax depends on when the car was first registered, including abroad. A car first registered before 1 March 2001 is taxed on engine size, and every Harrier engine is over 1549cc, so it sits in the bigger band. Cars from then until March 2017 are usually taxed on CO2 if there is evidence of the figure. A car first registered from 1 April 2017 pays the standard rate, and a late one with a high list price may be caught by the £40,000 supplement. Our guide to road tax for imported cars explains the rules.
UK changes and registration
Because the Harrier is right-hand drive, the list is short. Any car without a rear fog light needs one fitted in the right position, and one under 10 years old needs its speedometer in mph. Japanese vehicles 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 a late Harrier is tested on our own lane in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register it within 10 working days. For the wider route, see our guide to importing a car from Japan, and for cover, our guide to insuring a Japanese import.
Questions people ask
Is the Toyota Harrier the same as the Lexus RX?
The first two generations, built from 1997 to 2013, were sold outside Japan as the Lexus RX. From 2013 the Harrier became a Japan-only model and is no longer an RX twin.
Are parts easy to find for an imported Harrier?
For the first two generations, many parts are shared with the Lexus RX sold in the UK. Later Harriers share some Toyota parts, but trim, lights and panels may need to come from Japan.
Does an imported Harrier need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which means a third-generation car built after October 2016 or any fourth-generation car. Older Harriers take an MOT instead.
How much tax will I pay on a Harrier?
Usually 10% duty and 20% VAT on the price plus shipping. No Harrier is yet over 30 years old, so none qualifies for the reduced 5% rate.
Is a Harrier ULEZ compliant?
Later petrol and hybrid cars usually are, as the ULEZ asks for Euro 4 on petrol. An early first-generation car may need evidence, so check before you buy if you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone.
Found a Harrier you like? Send us the listing or auction lot on the quote form and we will price the whole job.
