How long can you drive in UK on foreign plates?

Table of Contents

6 months
The general rule for foreign number plates in the UK, is that a driver with foreign plates is allowed to drive in the UK for 6 months in any one given year.

How do Japanese number plates work?

The registration consists of one Japanese letter in smaller format, followed by two numerals, a hyphen and two numerals. At the top of the plate are two Japanese letters followed by three numerals. The two Japanese letters above the registration indicate the prefecture, in this case Tokyo (Tama).

What plates are legal UK?

The number plates on your vehicle must:

be made from a reflective material.
display black characters on a white background (front plate)
display black characters on a yellow background (rear plate)
not have a background pattern.
be marked to show who supplied the number plate.

How do I change my foreign number plate to UK?

What do I need to apply?

Completed application form V55/4 (for new vehicles) or V55/5 (for used vehicles)
Registration fee (if applicable) and the required fee for the vehicle tax.
Current UK certificate of insurance.
Foreign registration document and any other papers you have relating to the vehicle.

How long does it take to import a car from Japan to UK?

Shipping generally takes 8-10 weeks and we will supply you with boat tracking details so you can track your cars journey from Japan. For UK customers we can ship to Newcastle or Southampton – depending on your preference.

What is a Japanese Y plate?

Vehicles owned by personnel with the United States military in Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) have a “Y” on white plates, or an “A” on yellow plates, where the hiragana character is normally displayed.

What does the hiragana on a Japanese license plate mean?

A Japanese license plate bears a locality and a small number topping a hiragana character and up to four large digits below. Hiragana characters lack the suggestiveness of kanji, but still, shi (し) is taboo – “death” again.