Can I import an Alphard or Vellfire from Hong Kong?

Yes. They are right-hand drive and built for left-hand traffic, so the work is usually limited to the speedometer and a rear fog light, followed by the right test for the car's age.

Will the seats and seat belts be a problem?

Seats, belts and their mountings are part of the IVA inspection for cars under ten years old. We look at the seating layout on inspection and tell you if anything needs attention.

Does an older Alphard need an IVA test?

No. Cars ten years old and over need an MOT instead of an IVA test.

Can a big MPV fit in a shared container?

Tell us the exact model when you ask for a quote and we will confirm how it will travel. A dedicated 20ft container is also available on request.

Importing a Toyota Alphard, Vellfire or big MPV from Hong Kong

Walk along any busy road in Hong Kong and you will see them. Tall, boxy, comfortable people carriers, ferrying families, school runs and business passengers. The Toyota Alphard and Vellfire are part of the scenery, along with other large Japanese MPVs.

In the UK they are much less common. That is exactly why families moving over often want to bring theirs, and why buyers here go looking for them. This guide covers what is involved.

Why people bring them

For a family, a big MPV is often the car that fits everyone. Children, grandparents, luggage, the weekly shop. Replacing that in the UK with something equivalent is not always easy, because the same models and trims are much harder to find here.

There is the comfort side too. Many of these cars have reclining captain’s chairs, powered sliding doors and a level of rear-seat comfort that people get used to quickly. Once you have done the school run in one, it is hard to go back.

And for buyers in the UK, Hong Kong is a sensible place to source one, because the cars are already right-hand drive.

Already right-hand drive

Hong Kong drives on the left, so its cars are right-hand drive and built for the same traffic as ours. Hong Kong cars are also no longer scrutinised for headlight compliance.

It means the big conversion jobs that cars from left-hand drive markets need simply do not apply. For an MPV from Hong Kong, the typical work is:

converting the speedometer from km/h to mph
installing or converting a rear fog light

We do both in-house at our workshop in Castle Donington.

On many recent MPVs the instrument display is digital, and on some the units can be switched in the car’s settings. On others, the work is a physical conversion. We look at your car on inspection and tell you which applies. If the car has extras fitted in Hong Kong, such as rear entertainment screens or aftermarket lighting, mention them at the quote stage. Most will not matter, but it is better to know in advance than to find out on test day.

Which test it needs

The car’s age decides the test. The age checker on this page will tell you which applies to yours.

Car’s age	What it needs
Under ten years old	IVA test
Ten years old and over	MOT
Over forty years old	No MOT, if not substantially changed

A newer Alphard or Vellfire will take an IVA test. We run the first privately owned IVA testing centre for passenger vehicles in the UK, so preparation and testing happen on our own site without waiting for an outside slot.

Our guide to the IVA test explained covers what is looked at.

Seats, belts and layouts

Let’s talk about seating, because it is the part that is specific to MPVs.

Large MPVs come in a wide range of seating layouts. Seven or eight seats, captain’s chairs, bench rows, seats that slide or swivel. Seats, seat belts and their mountings form part of the IVA inspection, so the layout matters.

We look at the seating on inspection and tell you plainly if anything needs attention. Most of the time, a standard factory layout is not a concern. If a car has been modified, for example with aftermarket seats or a changed layout, tell us when you ask for a quote so we can take it into account.

Size and shipping

These are big vehicles. When you ask for a quote, give us the exact model, year and any accessories such as roof boxes or tow bars. That way we can confirm how it will travel.

Most cars go in a shared container, which is the economical option. A dedicated 20ft container is available on request if you want the car to travel on its own. Either way, the car is covered by marine insurance and is typically 3 to 6 weeks at sea.

The family move

Many of the MPVs we bring from Hong Kong belong to families relocating to the UK. If that is you, Transfer of Residence relief may remove the import duty and VAT altogether.

Broadly, you need to have lived outside the UK for 12 consecutive months or more, owned the car for at least 6 months before moving, be moving your main home, and use the car privately. ToR1 has to be applied for through GOV.UK and approved before the car ships. Without the relief, the car pays 10% duty and 20% VAT, which on a large, valuable MPV is a significant sum. Our ToR checker will help you see where you stand.

Plan the car around the family’s timeline. The whole job takes about 12 to 14 weeks from the first paperwork to UK plates, so most families manage with a hire car or lifts for the first couple of months. If you are still house-hunting when the car is ready, we can store it indoors or outdoors and keep it charged and on the key.

Our guide to moving to the UK on a BN(O) visa sets out the order of play.

Registration and delivery

After testing, we register the car through our dealer-level DVLA account, which typically takes around 10 working days. We can then deliver it to your door in an open or enclosed transporter. You can follow each stage in the customer portal.

Next steps

If you have an Alphard, Vellfire or similar MPV to bring over, Get a quote with the model, year and seating layout. We will tell you exactly what it needs. We’d be more than happy to help should you need it.