Dealing with the Red Tape

 Those who have every imported anything of significant value know the hassle and difficulty of dealing with the customs office. While there is, of course, a lot of paperwork, there also are a lot of hidden fees. First of all, there is a 10% import duty on vehicles as well as the ever present 17.5% VAT. Also, unknown to many are the many extra customs fees and licensing fees that can also apply. In fact, were the base price of your chose Japanese Car Import to be around £2500, you might end up paying as much as £5000 in total costs by the end of the process. One good way to check up on the red tape you’ll be facing is at the website www.autoadvan.com where they detail the process for you and can help you through it by making it less confusing.
 Not only can the costs be frustrating, but the shipping process is often long and difficult to facilitate. Japanese Car Imports, while being less expensive than many domestic vehicle options, can often be a long process. A few pointers on how to deal with the red tape follow, as well as an outline describing how the process typically functions.
 The first step is of course to find an exporter of Japanese cars and choose the car you want. Always make sure your choice of exporter is reliable by checking the trade associations they claim to be a member of, and then checking with the trade association to make sure they really do have membership. After you contact the exporter and offer to buy the car, a Pro-Forma Invoice will typically be issued by the exporter. Although email is becoming a more popular method for the issuing of Pro-Forma Invoices, they are still typically sent via fax. Next, you need to sign the Invoice and then send it back, certifying that you have decided to buy the car.
 The next step of the metaphorical red tape is payment. You must send payment for the car to the export service you have chosen using whatever method they recommend. Often a simple bank transfer will suffice, and some export services that deal with Japanese Car Imports even accept credit cards. Upon receipt of payment, the company from which you purchased the car with put the car on a ship from Japan and register it to be shipped. Once the car is in transit you’ll receive a post from the exported that includes both the relevant vehicle documents and the shipping confirmation documents. Now is when most export services require you to make the balance of your payment.
 Here is the point where many people have problems or get stuck on their purchase of a Japanese Car Import. The next step is to contact a Shipping Agent who will deal with the arrival of the vehicle in the UK and clear it through customs. Next the shipping fee must be paid which is generally figured based on the volume of the vehicle. Then you must pay the import tax (10%) and the VAT (17.5%). All the other fees are then paid, including the Customs Duty and the Shipping Agent, and then the car will be released for you to collect.
 Now that these have been done, the only remaining paperwork type items are things that most UK car owners are familiar with: you must register the car and pay the registration fee as well as have the car run through the SVA and MOT tests. Finally, after the car is insured, it is ready to drive and the red tape will be cut. Your new Japanese Car Import will be ready to drive.