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What are the pros and cons of buying a car imported from Japan?
There are a number of dealers importing Japanese cars. What are the snags I might not have thought about? Is insurance more expensive? Are spares harder to get hold of?
Asked on 6 November 2018 by David Turner
Answered by
Honest John
These are cars that have become uneconomic to run in Japan because of the country's very strict 'shaken' vehicle condition tests that can cost so much to pass that it is more expedient to simply auction the car off and export it to another RHD country. Usually the models imported to the UK are MPVs that are not UK market models, such as Toyota Alphard hybrids, Toyota Estima hybrids and Mazda Bongo. As long as the car has been properly UK registered it will be legal in the UK because it will have passed the necessary UK ESVA tests. Spares could be a problem, especially for vehicles that have become obsolete in Japan. Insurance requires a specialist insurer.
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