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Recently, there has been an increase in interest in JDM vehicles in the UK. If you are interested in JDM cars, read our article, where we dive into the wonderful world of Japanese domestic cars, answering all your burning questions.
What is a JDM vehicle and what does JDM stand for?
JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market and refers to the Japanese Domestic Vehicle and Parts Market. Strictly speaking, only cars made specifically for the Japanese market fall under this term. While many believe that all Japanese cars are considered JDM, this is not the case as many Japanese cars are made for countries outside of Japan.
Are JDM cars legal in the UK?
Generally, JDM vehicles are legal in the UK, so if you want to import a JDM vehicle from Japan into the UK, you are allowed to do so. However, a vehicle must pass an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test before it is considered road legal. If this is not the case, you may need to modify the car before you can drive it on UK roads.
What JDM vehicles are available in the UK?
There are a number of dealers who are solely focused on providing customers with used Japanese imported vehicles. These include Jap Import Cars based in High Wycombe and All Japanese Motors specializing in 7 and 8 seater Japanese cars. Torque GT also offers a range of JDM vehicles on its website.
You will find that many vehicles in stock are the “usual suspects” when it comes to Japanese vehicles for the UK market. This includes the Subaru Impreza STi, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Honda NSX and Toyota Supra RZ-S.
Buying a JDM vehicle that is already in the UK has a number of benefits. For example, it’s likely that the vehicle has already passed the IVA test and you probably won’t need to register it with HMRC, as is the case with a JDM vehicle that you import yourself.
What car brands are JDM?
This includes all car brands that produce Japanese cars for the Japanese market. The most famous are Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi and Subaru. Please note that some Japanese brands still produce vehicles that are exported to other countries, so not all vehicles from these brands are considered JDM vehicles.
Are Japanese-style license plates legal in the UK?
The UK follows strict rules regarding license plates and what can and cannot be used. However, there are some websites such as JDM Plates that can help you get smaller BSI, BSAU 145e and DVLA compliant license plates to better match your Japanese imports.
All Japanese JDM vehicles?
No, not all Japanese cars are for the Japanese domestic market. Many Japanese manufacturers produce vehicles that are then exported to the rest of the world. The only difference between Japanese cars and JDM cars is that JDM cars are made exclusively for the Japanese market.
Are all JDM vehicles right hand drive?
Yes, since Japan drives on the left and is a right-hand drive (RHD) country, all cars produced for the Japanese domestic market are right-hand drive. It is suitable for people who want to import JDM car to UK, New Zealand, Australia and other Commonwealth countries, because just like in Japan, we drive on the left side and also use right hand drive cars.
Why Japanese cars are right hand drive?
The answer goes back to a time when there were no cars on the roads yet. Samurai usually sheathed their swords on the left side, so walkers were told to go to the left so that two passing samurai would not accidentally cross their swords.
The UK was also instrumental in the creation and launch of Japan’s rail system, so trains were also set up to run on the left side of the track. These two developments are believed to have affected left-hand drive in Japan, and thus the use of right-hand drive vehicles.
Are JDM cars cheaper in Japan?
The price of a JDM car in Japan varies depending on the make and model you are looking for. Many rare cars can cost tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of pounds. You also have to consider the costs associated with bringing a car from Japan into the UK, as well as having it checked to make sure it’s fit to drive in the UK, as the process isn’t cheap.
If you’re still looking for a real deal from Japan, it might be cheaper to get your dream car from a UK dealer that specializes in Japanese imports.
Are JDM vehicles good and reliable?
Japanese-made vehicles, including JDMs, are often considered much more reliable than their British and American counterparts.
Why are Japanese cars so reliable?
Many speculate that this is due to the manufacturing process in Japan compared to other countries. To reduce waste and maximize efficiency, Toyota created the Toyota Production System (TPS), which aimed to produce vehicles as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to deliver vehicles as quickly as possible with minimal waste.
Basically, this system aims to ensure that if there is a problem, all equipment will stop and the problem will be fixed immediately to prevent long-term problems from occurring. The company also used Just-In-Time (JIT) equipment, which means the company produced only what was needed to keep the production process going.
The fundamental principles of TPS are still widely used in Japanese manufacturing, so the risk of a company producing defective products is minimized as much as possible.
How much do JDM cars cost?
It really depends on what you’re after. If you want to get your hands on one of the rarer JDM models like the Nissan Fairlady Z432R, you might have to shell out over £500,000. Other JDM vehicles are much more reasonable, like the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo which can be had for around £40,000 or the Nissan Skyline R32 which can also be had for around £40,000.
How can I find JDM vehicles to buy?
There are several JDM dealers in the UK who specialize in imports. If you are looking for a JDM vehicle, this is the easiest way to find Japanese imports. For example, Jap Import Cars deals exclusively with Japanese imports and has a range of vehicles listed on its website.
Should I buy Japanese imports?
If you are a car enthusiast and have been eyeing a JDM car for a long time, buying an imported Japanese car is probably a great idea. Importing a Japanese car yourself can be quite time-consuming, but if you’re willing to invest the money and time, the reliability (and sheer beauty) of a Japanese car is well worth it.
Is the Nissan Skyline a JDM?
The Nissan Skyline is arguably one of the most popular JDM vehicles of all time. And not in vain; it is a racing legend and a beautiful beast of a car.
However, not all Skylines are JDM. The R31, R32 and R34 are all JDM but it should be noted that 100 British specification R33s were built and sold by Middlehurst Motorsport. The R33 is also available with JDM specifications and the R35 (also known as GT-R) is available in both UK and JDM versions.
Is the Toyota Celica a JDM vehicle?
Toyota Celicas are JDM vehicles, but some were made in the UK and cannot be classified as made for the Japanese domestic market. The Toyota Celica JDM is still in high demand, especially the WRC-era Celicas, as they offer the bombastic modified aesthetic that many JDM enthusiasts have come to love.
Is Mazda a JDM?
It’s a difficult question; essentially, it depends. Initially, Mazda was produced for the Japanese domestic market, but then became available to the rest of the world in 1990. In the UK it is known as the MX-5 and in the US as the Miata.
So how do you know if you have an original Mazda JDM? The Japanese version is usually called Eunos and is right hand drive. You will most likely have to look for the JDM version or import it yourself.
Is the Honda NSX a JDM car?
You will find that some Honda NSX models were produced exclusively for the Japanese domestic market, such as the 1997 NSX Type S and S-Zero. Honda also produced 483 NSX-R variants that were built exclusively for JDM.
Subarus JDM?
While Subaru mainly manufactures its vehicles in Japan and some are made exclusively for the Japanese market, some are also made for international markets such as the EU, UK and US. If you are looking for a Subaru for the Japanese domestic market, you can import the car directly or through a specialized Japanese import dealer.
Find out more by reading our blogs on the best JDM cars of the 90s and the best classic Japanese cars.
Get JDM insurance for your imported vehicle
If you have finally decided to take the plunge and buy the JDM car of your dreams, give us a call to inquire about Japanese Import Car Insurance to take the stress out of the import process. We offer custom coverage to suit your needs and budget. Call us on 0800 369 8590 or request a call back for a quick and affordable quote.
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