We bid at the Japanese auction houses, ship RoRo into the UK, and handle every bit of compliance in between — so the Leaf, Prius or Outlander PHEV you've wanted shows up ready to register, not half-finished paperwork.
Every car ships with its original Japanese auction sheet, and every EV or plug-in ships with a battery health check on top. Grades and notes are read straight from the paperwork — we don't rewrite the assessment to make a car look better.
This is the actual sequence a car goes through, from the moment it's spotted at auction to the moment it's on your drive.
We search live Japanese auction listings against your spec — model, grade, mileage ceiling, colour — and bid on your behalf with a hard limit you set in advance.
Once we win the car, we send you the original auction sheet, translated, plus extra photos — and for EVs and plug-ins, a battery state-of-health reading — before anything is paid for in full.
The car goes RoRo or in a container from a Japanese port to Southampton or Bristol, depending on sailing schedules — typically 6–9 weeks.
We handle HMRC import declarations, NOVA notification, and DVLA registration, including IVA testing where the age and spec of the car require it.
Fully registered with a UK plate and V5C, delivered to your door or ready for collection in Leeds.
Import cars are usually paid to the Japanese seller in stages, which makes them awkward for some lenders. We work this out before you commit to a car, not after.
Cash price, landed and pre-registered
Example only, based on typical rates — not a quote. Finance is subject to status and available to UK residents 18+. EVHybridimports.com is a credit broker, not a lender, and may receive commission from the finance provider we introduce you to.
EVHybridimports.com began in 2013 when our founder, tired of paying UK dealer markups on the hybrids and EVs Japan already had in huge supply, started bringing in his own from the Osaka auctions and doing the compliance work himself. Japan simply has more low-mileage, well-serviced hybrids and EVs moving through auction than the UK market ever sees — short ownership cycles mean cars change hands early, in excellent condition.
We're still a small team — no call centre, no sales targets. The person who bids on your car at auction is the same person you'll call when it's time to arrange delivery.
EV HYBRID IMPORTS