MarkJ Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Hi All, Hoping someone out there may be able to help/advise. I have a 2021 Forester (purchased in December 2021), which I've bought here in Thailand. I'm unexpectedly moving back to the UK and would really like to bring my car with me, but I think I might need to get modifications done to the car to make it possible to drive in the UK.....but I'm not sure what those would be and how/who could do this for me, can anyone help? Has anyone got experience on/with this topic? My initial thoughts/worries are: 1) The speedo (physical and digital) are in KPH, would this need to be changed to MPH? 2) The car is prepared for hot climates as opposed to cold ones and I'm not sure if the heating unit will be powerful enough to cope, is there a way to upgrade? 3) Would the underbelly of the car need preparation for potential salt on icy roads 4) No doubt things I'm not aware of (sorry I have very little idea on this topic!) Thanks for any advice/help in advance Best Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moto.Avalon Posted January 3, 2023 Share Posted January 3, 2023 Hi Mark, Plenty of imports in the UK. Mine is a JDM import and I've kept the speedo in KPH, no problems with MOTs as they'll record it in Km. You're right the car will likely need to be waxoyled to protect from rust. Can be a DIY job, or a few hundred to have a specialist treat for you. I doubt heating will be an issue as this comes from the engine, quick way to check is turn it up and see if it gets even hotter in there! Next step is to get prices for shipping including transportation insurance. Once back in the UK you'll have to sort registration with the DVLA, road tax, and finally get it an MOT then you're good to go. Best of luck with the move, Ben 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted January 4, 2023 Author Share Posted January 4, 2023 Hi Ben, Thanks for this, I think the only reason I was worried about the heating was that someone I know mentioned this as being an issue for someone who imported a car to the UK from the Philippines....but I'm guessing this was sometime ago and things will have changed, anyway, as you say I can test it and see just hot it gets! Also thanks re the move! Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr B Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Above info not that complete to real world importing a passenger vehicle that not over 10 years old. First thing you do is pay import fees/vat to customs (you pay vat on the shipping cost too) Once that done you need individual vehicle report approval inspection or a model report if DVLA already has one for your model (unlikely but worth checking) Emissions, safety, lighting has meet requirement . If your vehicle built in Japan factories it likely better equipped and better component quality than if in country specific built that likely change lot of things for cost purposes and local component sourcing . (Thailand for example always had buying preference on Japan produced vehicles compared to local/malaysia built as spec, quality difference night and day) You can check things like heating and demist equipment and things like factory glass not a tint level that likely a problem . It will be a fair cost and hassle so be sure educate yourself on process before making final decisions ... Knowing Thailand, I would expect export process could be a ballache of unclear requirements/costs, certainly not as easy as from Japan where it a common and clear process . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAN@ADRIAN FLUX Posted January 5, 2023 Share Posted January 5, 2023 Hi. If you need any help with insurance on a chassis number once the car is in the UK then please feel free to drop me a line. Regards, Dan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 On 1/4/2023 at 7:38 PM, Mr B said: Above info not that complete to real world importing a passenger vehicle that not over 10 years old. First thing you do is pay import fees/vat to customs (you pay vat on the shipping cost too) Once that done you need individual vehicle report approval inspection or a model report if DVLA already has one for your model (unlikely but worth checking) Emissions, safety, lighting has meet requirement . If your vehicle built in Japan factories it likely better equipped and better component quality than if in country specific built that likely change lot of things for cost purposes and local component sourcing . (Thailand for example always had buying preference on Japan produced vehicles compared to local/malaysia built as spec, quality difference night and day) You can check things like heating and demist equipment and things like factory glass not a tint level that likely a problem . It will be a fair cost and hassle so be sure educate yourself on process before making final decisions ... Knowing Thailand, I would expect export process could be a ballache of unclear requirements/costs, certainly not as easy as from Japan where it a common and clear process . Thanks for above, re import duties, I should be ok as I am a returning resident. so I can import my household goods (including vehicle) without duties, VAT etc. I've asked a specialist import company and they can do the necessary testing etc so I think that's ok Good point on the tint, I'll need to check that, but I guess that may be part of the tests For Thailand, you need to de-register the vehicle, but that's it Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkJ Posted January 6, 2023 Author Share Posted January 6, 2023 13 hours ago, DAN@ADRIAN FLUX said: Hi. If you need any help with insurance on a chassis number once the car is in the UK then please feel free to drop me a line. Regards, Dan. Yes, that would be good, could you provide your email contact and I'll email you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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