Importing a vehicle into the United Kingdom - modifications
Vehicles imported from Japan
The most common disparities with Japanese standards are: no rear fog light; no m.p.h. display on the speedometer; inadequate number plate space; wrong RASS frequency; and the fuel-filler nozzle being of incorrect diameter (which safeguards against using leaded fuel in vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter).
Emissions
Vehicles sold in several parts of the world often do not meet European emissions standards. Please note that petrol-fuelled cars manufactured from August 1992, and other vehicles manufactured from August 1994, might be required to meet a standard that can usually only be achieved by a catalytic converter. Details of vehicles needing to meet such a standard may be found in "In Service Exhaust Emissions Standards for Road Vehicles" which is available from The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, Berkley House, Croydon Street, Bristol, BS5 0DA , telephone 0870 60 60 440. All passenger cars with up to 5 passenger seats and up to 2,500kg gross weight manufactured from August 1995 will need to meet the "catalyst" emission standard to pass SVA / ESVA.
Imperial Speedometer
Great Britain uses imperial units for speed measurement. The law requires that speedometers must include a miles-per-hour display. Please note in particular that any modified display must be visible in daylight and in darkness.
Markings may be added to the existing speedometer provided they are:
- accurate;
- durable;
- can be seen clearly in daylight and when the instrument is lit during darkness.
Dimensions
The maximum permitted width of vehicles in the United Kingdom is 2.55m and the maximum length for a rigid vehicle is 12m.
Numberplates
Once your vehicle has been allocated a UK registration number, it must be displayed on front and rear numberplates in accordance with UK requirements. Failure to meet the requirements is an offence attracting a maximum fine of up to £1,000 and in some cases the registration mark may be withdrawn. The police can also issue fixed penalty fines for illegally displayed numberplates and vehicles may also fail the annual vehicle MoT test. It is an offence to alter, rearrange or misrepresent letters or numbers in order to form names or words; e.g. A242 ABC must not be displayed as A242A BC.
For vehicles first registered on after 1 January 1973, the characters must be black, the background must be reflex-reflecting material, white at the front and yellow at the rear. Each number plate shall be permanently and legibly marked in such a position as to be clearly visible when the number plate is fitted to the vehicle, with the following information: (i) the name, trade mark or other means of identification of the maker; (ii) the number of the British Standard, i.e. BS AU 145a.
New or Replacement Plates Fitted from 1 September 2001 must be fitted in accordance with BS AU 145d, and show (i) the number of the BS (i.e. BS AU 145d), (ii) the name trade mark or other means of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier; (iii) name and postcode of the supplying of identification of the manufacturer or component supplier; (iv) name and postcode of the supplying outlet.
Certain imported vehicles may be permitted to display numberplates with smaller characters if:
- The vehicle does not have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval
- The vehicle's construction/ design cannot accommodate standard size plates
|
