Car Shipping to Tokyo (Japan)
from the United Kingdom
Tokyo is Japan's principal vehicle import hub, receiving cargo through the Port of Yokohama and Tokyo Bay terminals. The Ship Cars ships RHD vehicles from the UK to Tokyo for collectors, JDM enthusiasts trading in reverse, expatriates relocating, and diplomatic staff. View our shipping services or request a quote.
Quick answer: car shipping to Tokyo (Japan) from the UK
Shipping a car from the UK to Tokyo (Japan) is priced per vehicle and route — request a free quote for a fixed price. 35–45 days from Southampton to Yokohama/Tokyo via the Suez Canal, depending on carrier rotation and transhipment in Singapore or Shanghai. Both RORO and container shipping are available, with vehicles arriving at Yokohama, Tokyo. The Ship Cars, the vehicle shipping agent of Ascope Shipping Services LTD, handles UK collection, export paperwork and customs documentation end to end.
Shipping to Tokyo (Japan): cars, trucks, machinery and import rules
Information reviewed September 2026. Always confirm final rules with the official authority before shipping.
Car shipping from the UK to Tokyo (Japan)
Quick answer: Cars ship from UK ports to Yokohama, Tokyo in about 35–45 days from Southampton to Yokohama/Tokyo via the Suez Canal, depending on carrier rotation and transhipment in Singapore or Shanghai. Prices depend on vehicle size and method — see our car shipping costs.
Choose RORO shipping for the lowest price on running vehicles, or container shipping for extra protection and personal effects. Specialist options include classic car shipping and electric vehicle shipping.
Estimate your price with the cost calculator or check upcoming departures on the RORO sailing schedule.
Truck and commercial vehicle shipping to Tokyo (Japan)
Quick answer: Trucks, lorries, vans and pickups usually ship by RORO to Yokohama, Tokyo, priced by length, height and weight (per cubic metre). Transit is about 35–45 days from Southampton to Yokohama/Tokyo via the Suez Canal, depending on carrier rotation and transhipment in Singapore or Shanghai.
- Exact length, width, height and gross weight required for a quote
- Running and non-running trucks accepted (towing / crane loading arranged)
- Tanks drained, loose items removed, V5C and export declaration needed
- Check Tokyo (Japan) age and emissions limits for commercial vehicles before buying
Read more: truck shipping service, commercial vehicle shipping and our guide to shipping a truck from the UK.
Machinery and plant shipping to Tokyo (Japan)
Quick answer: Excavators, tractors, forklifts and agricultural equipment ship as RORO or break-bulk cargo to Yokohama, Tokyo. Machinery must be clean and free of soil — most countries, including Tokyo (Japan), inspect for biosecurity.
- Tracked machines loaded on MAFI trailers or flat-racks
- Professional washing and fumigation certificates where required
- Dimensions and weight drive the price — oversize cargo quoted individually
- Commercial invoice and proof of ownership needed for customs
See our heavy machinery shipping service and customs clearance support.
Tokyo (Japan) vehicle import rules (September 2026)
- Japan applies strict Shaken (vehicle inspection) requirements before road registration.
- Vehicles must meet Japanese emissions and safety standards, and RHD UK cars have an inherent advantage since Japan drives on the left.
- Consumption tax of 10% applies to the CIF value plus duty.
- Cars are generally duty-free from the UK for passenger vehicles under the Japan tariff schedule, but the Shaken inspection, weight tax, and automobile tax apply.
- Vehicles over the pre-registration limit require a used-import certificate and conformity testing at a Land Transport Office.
Documents required
- V5C registration document
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Import declaration to Japan Customs
- Shaken inspection application
- Certificate of Export (de-registration from DVLA)
UK side: notify the DVLA with the V5C export notification, and see documents required and vehicle age restrictions by country.
Official Tokyo (Japan) & UK government resources
Always confirm current customs, duty and vehicle registration rules with the official authorities before you ship.
Shipping a vehicle to Tokyo (Japan)?
Tell us your vehicle and collection address and we'll send a fixed all-in price for Tokyo (Japan), usually within one working day.
- No obligation
- UK-wide collection
- RORO & container options
Methods
RORO & Container
Transit Time
35–45 days to Yokohama/Tokyo via the Suez Canal, depending on carrier rotation and transhipment in Singapore or Shanghai
Ports
Yokohama, Tokyo
Starting From
£2,600
Overview
Tokyo is Japan's principal vehicle import hub, receiving cargo through the Port of Yokohama and Tokyo Bay terminals. The Ship Cars ships RHD vehicles from the UK to Tokyo for collectors, JDM enthusiasts trading in reverse, expatriates relocating, and diplomatic staff. Japan's used import market is small but active for European classics and performance cars not sold domestically.
Shipping Methods
RORO is not commonly available on the UK-Japan trade lane, so vehicles are shipped in dedicated or shared 20ft/40ft containers from Southampton or Tilbury. Container shipping protects the vehicle over the long transit and simplifies Japanese customs handling at Yokohama, which serves the greater Tokyo area.
Transit Time
35–45 days from Southampton to Yokohama/Tokyo via the Suez Canal, depending on carrier rotation and transhipment in Singapore or Shanghai.
Import Regulations
Japan applies strict Shaken (vehicle inspection) requirements before road registration. Vehicles must meet Japanese emissions and safety standards, and RHD UK cars have an inherent advantage since Japan drives on the left. Consumption tax of 10% applies to the CIF value plus duty. Cars are generally duty-free from the UK for passenger vehicles under the Japan tariff schedule, but the Shaken inspection, weight tax, and automobile tax apply. Vehicles over the pre-registration limit require a used-import certificate and conformity testing at a Land Transport Office.
Documents Required
- V5C registration document
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Import declaration to Japan Customs
- Shaken inspection application
- Certificate of Export (de-registration from DVLA)
Costs & Fees
Dedicated container from £2,600–£4,200. Shared container from £1,800–£2,600. Consumption tax 10%. Shaken inspection and registration fees approximately ¥100,000–¥150,000 (£550–£800).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import a right-hand drive UK car to Tokyo?
Which port serves Tokyo for car imports?
Is import duty payable on cars shipped to Japan?
How long does it take to ship a car from the UK to Tokyo (Japan)?
Which UK ports do you ship from to Tokyo (Japan)?
What documents do I need to ship a car to Tokyo (Japan)?
What shipping methods are available from the UK to Tokyo (Japan)?
How much does it cost to ship a car from the UK to Tokyo (Japan)?
Available Ports
Why ship a car to Tokyo (Japan) from the UK
The Ship Cars is a specialist UK vehicle export company moving cars, SUVs, classics, motorbikes and light commercials to Tokyo (Japan) every month. Routing into Asia typically tranships through Singapore or Port Klang, with sealed 40ft containers used for everything except a handful of RORO-served deepwater ports. Carnet de Passage, Euro 4–6 emission proofs and chassis verification are the recurring compliance themes. Typical clients on this lane include Carnet-holding overlanders, alongside private owners relocating to Tokyo (Japan) and returning residents importing a personal vehicle. Our UK-to-Tokyo (Japan) corridor is engineered around predictable transit, transparent pricing and full compliance with Tokyo (Japan) customs.
Vehicles depart from Bristol (Portbury), Felixstowe, Southampton and arrive at Yokohama, Tokyo via direct Far East rotation via Colombo and Singapore. Typical door-to-port turnaround is 35–45 days from southampton to yokohama/tokyo via the suez canal, depending on carrier rotation and transhipment in singapore or shanghai, supported by marine all-risks insurance, GPS-tracked UK collection and bonded warehousing where required. For an instant indication of cost, use our car shipping cost calculator or request a tailored quote on our quote page.
How UK to Tokyo (Japan) car shipping works
Every shipment to Tokyo (Japan) follows the same six-step pipeline: free quotation, UK collection or self-drop at Bristol (Portbury), bonded UK warehousing and pre-shipment photos, HMRC NOVA / C88 export clearance handled by our UK customs clearance team, ocean transit to Yokohama (and onward feeder to Tokyo where required), and destination customs handover. You choose the shipping mode that best matches the vehicle profile and budget — see the full breakdown on our car shipping costs page or compare live RORO sailing dates to Tokyo (Japan).
RORO to Tokyo (Japan)
Roll-on/Roll-off is the lowest-cost method for running, road-legal vehicles bound for Tokyo (Japan). Drive-on at the UK port, drive-off at Yokohama. RORO shipping to Tokyo (Japan) — check the weekly RORO schedule.
Container to Tokyo (Japan)
20ft sole-use or 40ft dedicated containers give classic, high-value, modified or non-running vehicles fully enclosed protection on the route to Tokyo. Dedicated container shipping to Tokyo (Japan).
Tokyo (Japan) ports, routing and transit
Vehicles bound for Tokyo (Japan) are typically routed through Yokohama as the lead discharge port, with Tokyo available as alternatives depending on sailing schedule and onward inland transport. We schedule loads to match weekly RORO sailing schedules to Tokyo (Japan) and book 20ft and 40ft container slots on the same rotation.
- Port of Yokohama
- Port of Tokyo
- UK departure: Southampton
- UK departure: Tilbury
- UK departure: Bristol (Portbury)
Tokyo (Japan) import duty, VAT and customs in 2026
Importing a vehicle into Tokyo (Japan) is regulated and document-driven. The headline framework is summarised below; our team verifies every figure against the latest Tokyo (Japan) customs schedule before quoting.
- Strict homologation and emission standards (Euro 4–6)
- Carnet de Passage in selected markets
- Right-hand-drive advantage for South and East Asia
- Container shipping via Singapore, Port Klang and Hong Kong
Document checklist for Tokyo (Japan)
- V5C registration document
- Passport
- Commercial invoice
- Bill of Lading
- Import declaration to Japan Customs
- Shaken inspection application
- Certificate of Export (de-registration from DVLA)
For full country-specific customs rules, see our Tokyo (Japan) import guides and articles, our UK and Tokyo (Japan) customs clearance service, or use the duty-inclusive cost calculator for a landed estimate to Yokohama.
Who ships to Tokyo (Japan)
- • Returning Tokyo (Japan) residents and dual nationals
- • UK expats relocating to Tokyo (Japan)
- • Asia car dealers and Tokyo (Japan) re-exporters
- • Private collectors and classic-car enthusiasts
- • Diplomatic missions and corporate fleets
- • Online auction buyers (Copart, BCA, Manheim)
Vehicles we ship to Tokyo (Japan)
- • Saloons, hatchbacks and family cars
- • SUVs, 4x4s and pickups (Land Rover, Range Rover, Toyota, Nissan)
- • Luxury and executive vehicles (Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi)
- • Performance and supercars (McLaren, Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari)
- • Classic and historic vehicles (pre-1990 with HMRC NOVA exemption)
- • Motorbikes, scooters and quad bikes
- • Vans, light commercials and motorhomes
- • Electric and hybrid vehicles (EV battery documentation supported)
Why exporters choose The Ship Cars for Tokyo (Japan)
• Specialist UK-to-Tokyo (Japan) corridor with weekly capacity
• Marine all-risks insurance and bonded UK warehousing
• HMRC NOVA, C88, EORI and DVLA V5C export handled in-house
• Transparent UK to Tokyo (Japan) pricing with no hidden destination fees
• Direct relationships with Yokohama agents
• Dedicated account manager from booking to delivery
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Shipping methods
Pricing & schedules
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Other Asia destinations from the UK
We ship to 8+ other Asia countries from the UK on the same trade lanes as Tokyo (Japan). Many customers shipping to Tokyo (Japan) also enquire about Dubai (UAE), Karachi (Pakistan) because routing, customs documentation and transit windows overlap.
Get an instant quote for car shipping to Tokyo (Japan)
Our Tokyo (Japan) corridor team responds through the online quote form with port pairing, container availability and indicative duty in a single reply.