The Toyota Hiace has a reputation for running forever, and Japan has a lot of good ones. That makes it a popular import, whether as a work van, a people carrier or the start of a camper. The worry is usually whether a Japanese van counts as a commercial vehicle here, and what test and tax that means. Once you know which Hiace you have, the answers are simple.
- Body
- Panel van or passenger wagon
- Shipping from Japan
- From £3,575, shipping only
- Typical journey
- About 5 to 8 weeks
- Import tax
- 10% duty + 20% VAT
Van or wagon
This is the first thing to pin down, because it shapes the test and the road tax. In Japan the Hiace is sold both as a van, built to carry goods, and as a wagon with seats in the back for passengers. They look alike from the outside.
In UK approval terms, a van up to 3,500kg is a light goods vehicle, category N1. A wagon built mainly to carry people is treated as a passenger vehicle. The export certificate and the vehicle's own plates tell us which one you have, so send them over early.
Which generation?
| Feature | H100 | H200 |
|---|---|---|
| Built | 1989 to 2004 | 2004 onwards |
| In brief | The older, squarer Hiace, simple to work on | The current shape in Japan, updated many times |
| UK test | MOT | MOT, or IVA on the newest ones |
| Tax today | 5% VAT, no duty on the early ones | 10% duty + 20% VAT |
The H200 has been on sale in Japan for a long time, with plenty of updates along the way, so there is a huge spread of ages. A 2006 van and a 2024 van can look much the same and need very different paperwork. The build date matters more than the shape.
What to check before you buy
A Hiace van has usually worked for a living, so check it the way you would any work vehicle. The auction sheet is the best place to start, and a full translation of the notes is worth asking for.
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.
Diesels and clean air zones
Many Hiaces are diesel. London's ULEZ and the charging Clean Air Zones want Euro 6 on a diesel, and an older one that was never built to it cannot be made compliant with paperwork. If you work in one of those areas, check before you buy. Our guide to ULEZ and imported cars explains the evidence TfL looks for.
The test depends on age
GOV.UK exempts both cars and light goods vehicles up to 3,500kg from vehicle approval once they are over 10 years old. So the age of your Hiace decides most of the work.
| Age of the Hiace | What it needs |
|---|---|
| Under 10 years | An IVA test (N1 for a van), and a speedometer reading in mph |
| 10 to 40 years | An MOT, with a rear fog light if one is not fitted |
Any Hiace built after October 2016 is still under 10 years old and takes an IVA test. For a van, that is the N1 test, which GOV.UK builds around goods vehicles rather than cars. We convert the speedometer to mph in-house before it goes on the lane.
Close to 10 years old? Check the build date with us before you buy. A few months either side of the line changes the test and whether the speedo needs converting.
Import tax
A Hiace from Japan pays 10% import duty and 20% import VAT. Vans sit under a different part of the tariff from cars, heading 8704 for goods vehicles, but when we checked, goods vehicles up to 5 tonnes from outside the EU carried the same 10% duty. The VAT is worked out on the price, the shipping and the duty.
A Hiace over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty, which takes in early H100s built before October 1996. If you are moving to the UK, have lived abroad for at least 12 months and have owned the Hiace for at least 6, Transfer of Residence can bring it in with no VAT or duty. The import tax calculator works for vans as well as cars.
Shipping a Hiace
From Japan, RoRo is the usual route and costs less than a container. The van has to run and drive, and it should be empty, with no tools, stock or loose parts in the load area. A van that does not run can go in a container instead.
As a guide, built from a year of real jobs, shipping from Japan starts from £3,575, shipping only. A long-wheelbase or high-roof Hiace takes up more room, so give us the exact body when you ask for a quote. Door to door, the journey is usually about 5 to 8 weeks.
Once it is registered
Because the Hiace is right-hand drive, the UK changes are short: a rear fog light if one is missing, and an mph speedometer on a vehicle under 10 years old. Japanese vehicles are no longer checked for headlight compliance.
After that, a van's design gross weight decides its yearly test. Up to 3,000kg it takes a class 4 MOT, and from 3,000kg to 3,500kg a class 7 MOT. Light goods vehicles registered since March 2001 pay a flat yearly rate of vehicle tax rather than the CO2-based car rates. A wagon is taxed as a car. Our guide to importing a van goes into weights, licences and tax in more detail.
Hiace campers
If your Hiace has been fitted out with proper living space, it is worth registering it as a motorhome rather than a panel van, as that can mean cheaper insurance. The DVSA expects real living accommodation, so talk to us about the timing when you book.
We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and our dealer-level DVLA account lets us register a vehicle within 10 working days. See importing a car from Japan for the wider route.
Questions people ask
Can I import a Toyota Hiace from Japan?
Yes. A Hiace follows the same route as any vehicle from Japan: shipping, customs, a rear fog light if needed, an MOT or IVA test depending on age, then DVLA registration.
Does an imported Hiace need an IVA test?
Only if it is under 10 years old, which means built after October 2016. A van takes the N1 IVA for light goods vehicles. Older Hiaces take an MOT.
How much duty is there on a Hiace van?
When we checked the UK Trade Tariff, goods vehicles up to 5 tonnes from outside the EU carried 10% duty, the same as cars. Import VAT of 20% goes on top. Over 30 years old, it is 5% VAT and no duty.
How is a Hiace taxed once it is registered?
A van registered as a light goods vehicle pays a flat yearly rate. A wagon is taxed as a car, by registration date, fuel and CO2. Ask us and we will tell you what to expect.
Is a diesel Hiace ULEZ compliant?
Only if there is evidence it meets Euro 6. Older diesels usually do not, so check before you buy if you drive in London or a charging Clean Air Zone.
Found a Hiace? Send us the model, body and weight on the quote form and we will price the shipping, testing and registration.
