The Land Cruiser has a reputation for going anywhere and lasting forever, and in Japan, Australia and the Gulf there are plenty to choose from. The worry is that you are buying a working vehicle from the other side of the world, sometimes left-hand drive, often with a hard life behind it. Choose the right series and the right source, and bringing one home is a well-trodden route.
- Popular series
- 40, 60, 70, 80, 100 and 200
- Main sources
- Japan, Australia, the Middle East
- Shipping
- From £2,150 (Middle East), £3,200 (Australia), £3,575 (Japan), shipping only
- Tax
- 20% VAT + 10% duty, or 5% VAT over 30 years
Which series
| Feature | Built | Testing today | Tax today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 series | 1960 to 1984 | No MOT if not substantially changed | Reduced classic rate |
| 60 series | 1980 to 1990 | MOT, or none if built before October 1986 | Reduced classic rate |
| 70 series | 1984 to today | Depends on the build date | Depends on the build date |
| 80 series | 1990 to 1997 | MOT | Reduced rate if built before October 1996 |
| 100 series | 1998 to 2007 | MOT | Standard rate |
| 200 series | 2007 to 2021 | MOT, or IVA if built after October 2016 | Standard rate |
The 40 and 60 series are the classics, simple and tough, and every one is now old enough for the reduced tax rate. The 80 series is many people's favourite, with coil springs, solid axles and a big, comfortable body. It is the one most often imported for overlanding.
The 100 series moved most versions to independent front suspension and brought more luxury. The 200 series went further still. Alongside them runs the lighter Prado line, which is a different vehicle and worth checking separately if it is on your list.
The 70 series is a special case
The 70 series was first built in 1984 and is still made for some markets today. That means two 70s that look almost the same can be 40 years apart in age, and treated completely differently for tax and testing.
An early 70 may need no MOT at all. A recent one, under 10 years old, needs an IVA test and pays the standard rate of tax. Always work from the build date on the car, not the look of it.
Japan, Australia or the Middle East
Each source has its own character, and the right one depends on what you want.
- Japan: right-hand drive, often lower mileage, usually with an auction sheet. Check underneath for rust on cars from snowy regions.
- Australia: right-hand drive, and the home of the working 70 series. Many have done serious distance off-road, so condition varies widely.
- The Middle East: left-hand drive, usually dry and rust-free, often with big petrol engines. Desert use brings its own wear.
A left-hand drive Land Cruiser can be registered here without moving the steering. Our guide to left-hand drive cars in the UK covers what living with one is like.
What to check before you buy
Before you pay a deposit
0 of 8 done
A tired Land Cruiser can still be a great project, as long as you know that is what you are buying. Our guides to buying a car abroad safely and the Japanese import checklist cover the general checks.
Shipping and tax
How it travels depends on where it starts. These are guide prices built from a year of real jobs, shipping only.
- Japan: usually RoRo, about 5 to 8 weeks door to door, from £3,575
- Australia: shared or dedicated container, about 6 to 10 weeks, from £3,200
- The Middle East: shared container from Jebel Ali, about 4 to 6 weeks at sea, from £2,150
Tell us about any lift kit, roof rack or other change to the size of the vehicle when you ask for a quote, so we can price the right space for it. Our guides to shipping from Australia and shipping from Dubai cover those routes in detail.
A vehicle under 30 years old pays 20% VAT and 10% duty, worked out on the price plus shipping. A vehicle over 30 years old pays 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026 that covers every 40 and 60 series, early 70s and 80 series built before October 1996. If you are moving to the UK and qualify for Transfer of Residence, it can come in with no tax at all. The import tax calculator will run your own numbers.
Check the build date, not the model year. On an 80 series built in 1996, or any 70 series, a few months can change the tax bill and the test. We work out exactly what applies when we quote.
Getting it road legal
A right-hand drive Land Cruiser from Japan or Australia usually needs little more than a correctly positioned rear fog light. A speedometer in mph is only required on vehicles under 10 years old. Japanese cars are no longer checked for headlight compliance.
A left-hand drive vehicle from the Gulf needs its headlights changed for driving on the left, a rear fog light if it does not have one, and an mph speedometer if it is under 10 years old. Our guide to speedometer and headlight conversions explains each job.
Vehicles over 40 years old that have not been substantially changed do not need an MOT. Those between 10 and 40 take one, and anything under 10 takes an IVA test. We run one of only seven privately operated IVA centres in Great Britain, and do MOTs on the same site in Castle Donington. Our dealer-level DVLA account then lets us register the vehicle within 10 working days. For older vehicles, our guide to importing a classic car has more.
Questions people ask
Can I import a left-hand drive Land Cruiser from the Middle East?
Yes. Left-hand drive vehicles can be registered without moving the steering. It needs headlight changes, a rear fog light if not fitted, and an mph speedometer if it is under 10 years old.
Which Land Cruisers qualify for the reduced import tax?
Vehicles over 30 years old pay 5% VAT and no duty. As of October 2026 that includes every 40 and 60 series, early 70 series and 80 series built before October 1996.
Does an 80 series need an IVA test?
No. Every 80 series is well over 10 years old, so it takes an MOT instead, usually after a rear fog light is fitted.
Can I import a new 70 series?
Yes, but a vehicle under 10 years old from outside Europe needs an IVA test and pays 20% VAT and 10% duty. Talk to us before you buy so we can check what it will need.
Is it cheaper to ship from the Middle East or Australia?
As a guide, shipping from the Middle East starts from £2,150 and from Australia from £3,200, shipping only. The vehicle itself, its condition and the changes it needs matter more to the total.
Found a Land Cruiser you like? Send it to us on the quote form and we will price the shipping, customs, testing and registration.
