Import from Japan to uk directly

It’s only what I’ve heard aswell so don’t know if it’s true although I have seen some posts from people with imported jimnys saying they’ve had difficulty insuring them and it’s very expensive. It’s usually the first question insurance companies ask so I can imagine that’s where they bump up the price or even decline to insure an import. Plenty of American imports around here so it can be done. I think though compared to a UK spec car it doesn’t make financial sense unless it’s something really special hence or you don’t care of the cost long term hence my question as to why the op wants to get out of their highly desirable SZ5 auto.

lf l could import a Five Door version that might be worth the effort.

The insurance thing is because the cheap insurers just bash the make, model & trim spec. into "the com-puh-tah" and if it isn't there, they can't quote.

So you have to go to a specialist insurer and pay more.

I hear that the 5 doors are put together about as well as my Sunderland built Renault Nissan, I wouldn't have one unless the VIN number starts with a J....

New Zealand is full of jap import cars. Suzuki's,  Toyota's, Mazda's, all sorts. They come down here by the boatload. As we have no automotive manufacturing in NZ I guess there's no pressure on the regulatory boffins  to favour local industry. ( Then again, can the UK even claim that now? ) 
Jap imports are the ubiquitous vehicle for the masses down here, cheap to operate and insurance is never a problem. Having said that, there are a few dodgy importers that try to cover up imported wrecks etc. 
Now I'm thinking about it, the vast majority of Jimnys here are NZ new. Suzuki has a strong dealer network down here, and they're dirt cheap brand new so it doesn't seem to make sense going through the paperwork for little profit. Pretty much the only jap import ones I've come across personally are the little 660cc turbo models made specifically for Japan. 
I guess my point is that if we don't go out of our way to import them to NZ where it's easy as falling off a log , it obviously isn't worth the effort
Also, you're never quite too sure of it's history in japan, i guess if its a new model thats less of a concern. You'd have to be saving a considerable amount of money to make it worth it
 

Hughes wrote: New Zealand is full of jap import cars. Suzuki's,  Toyota's, Mazda's, all sorts. They come down here by the boatload.
 

It's not the fact that they are Japanese that's the issue, it's that they are grey imports. We have loads of Suzuki's, Toyota's etc. and as you say, very little motor industry to protect.

A grey import is one that has not come in as part of a manufacturers import.

Typically this is done in order to get a specification or vehicle that is not available in the UK. So since 2020 we cannot get 4 seat Jimnys or automatics as Suzuki withdrew them.

Therefore as they are still made you can grey import one from Japan. However for some reason insurance companies hike up insurance prices because "repairs would be expensive on a car not available in this country" which is ludicrous as we already have the exact specification here prior to 2020. Also Suzuki themselves will not typically honour warranty claims on cars they did not import. Also the vehicle tax from the government can be higher as it is considered to be "unassessed" so goes into a high bracket.

It can be done but the costs can be high

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Isn't there a Single Vehicle Approval hoop to jump through, too?  Looking at the prices of fresh imports, you mught as well buy from a trader and avoid the hassle.