Frequently asked questions

We search internationally, focusing on markets where good right-hand-drive classic Land Cruisers can still be found.

We use local contacts and sourcing networks as well as advertised vehicles, which means our search isn't limited to cars already being marketed to UK buyers.

Our priority is finding the right vehicle, wherever it happens to be.

Right-hand drive is our speciality because it makes the most sense for most UK buyers.

That said, if you are looking for a particular left-hand-drive vehicle, we can still help.

When we find a serious candidate, we arrange a local inspection focused on the things that matter most when buying a classic Land Cruiser: identity, documentation, originality, corrosion, previous repairs and overall condition.

We'll normally also arrange a live video call with the seller, with a translator where needed, so you can see the vehicle yourself, hear it running, ask questions and inspect specific areas.

Where available, we'll also gather evidence of how the vehicle starts, drives, steers, brakes and operates in four-wheel drive.

For customers wanting a deeper mechanical assessment, we can arrange an additional specialist inspection before purchase.

The aim is simple: give you a clear, evidence-based picture of the car before you decide.

A classic Land Cruiser is very different from owning a modern SUV.

Most are 40 or 50 years old, so part of the appeal is their simplicity and character — but they also need more involvement from their owner.

That can mean regular servicing, preventative maintenance, occasional fettling and dealing with age-related issues as they arise.

The upside is that these are relatively simple, mechanical vehicles with strong parts support and a large enthusiast community.

You should expect to spend some money maintaining one properly, but you don't need to be a mechanic to enjoy owning one.

The key is to buy a good car to begin with and look after it well.

For many classic Land Cruisers, ongoing UK ownership costs can be relatively modest.

Vehicles more than 40 years old can usually qualify for MOT exemption, provided they have not been substantially modified. They must still be kept in a roadworthy condition, and some owners choose to have a voluntary MOT anyway.

Qualifying historic vehicles can also be registered in the historic tax class, meaning there is no annual Vehicle Excise Duty to pay, although the vehicle still needs to be taxed each year.

Classic-car insurance can also be surprisingly affordable, particularly where the vehicle is used for limited mileage. Specialist policies often include features such as agreed-value cover and limited-mileage options, although premiums depend on the individual driver and vehicle.

So while a classic Land Cruiser needs more care than a modern car, the fixed annual costs can be quite reasonable.

Then we don't buy it.

You'll see the vehicle details, inspection findings, photographs, video and expected landed cost before making a decision.

If something doesn't feel right — condition, price, originality or simply the car itself — we keep looking.

The search fee is for the search process, not for forcing you into the first car we find.

Our complete sourcing service starts from £3,990.

As a rough guide, an entry-level right-hand-drive classic Land Cruiser needing some further work could start from around £15,000 landed in the UK, including our sourcing fee.

Before you approve a car, you'll see the expected total cost clearly.

Finding the right vehicle is the biggest variable.

Once a Land Cruiser is approved and purchased, export, shipping and UK import will typically take around 8–12 weeks, depending on location, shipping schedules and registration requirements.

We'd rather take longer to find the right Land Cruiser than rush you into the wrong one.

Yes. We arrange marine cargo insurance for the vehicle while it is in transit.

We'll provide the relevant insurance details before shipment so you know what cover is in place.

Once you approve a vehicle, you pay us in pounds sterling to a UK business account.

You will not normally be asked to send money directly to an overseas seller or intermediary. We handle those payments on your behalf.

Before funds move, you'll receive a clear breakdown showing the vehicle price, third-party costs and our fee.

For customers who want additional protection, we can also offer an escrow-backed option where your funds remain with an independent escrow provider while we fund the purchase and import ourselves. This costs more because we commit our own funds from the point of purchase through to vehicle delivery.

We manage the UK side of the process too.

That includes coordinating customs clearance, the required import paperwork, onward transport and the steps needed for UK registration.

Very little.

For a permanently imported vehicle, HMRC needs to be notified through the NOVA process, any VAT or customs duty due must be settled, and the vehicle then needs to be registered with DVLA before it can be used normally on UK roads.

We coordinate the process and paperwork with the relevant shipping/customs agents and guide you through anything that needs to be completed in your own name.

The aim is that you don't have to work out NOVA, customs and DVLA registration for yourself — we manage the process with you.

Yes.

Some Land Cruisers will arrive needing nothing more than routine servicing. Others may benefit from tyres, brakes, electrical work, mechanical recommissioning or sympathetic cosmetic attention.

We can help arrange suitable UK specialists where needed and discuss likely work with you before purchase, so you have a realistic idea of what ownership may involve.

The aim isn't to turn every Land Cruiser into a restored show car — it's to help you get the right car into the condition you want.

Yes.

If you know exactly what you want — a particular model, year range, engine, roof style, colour or level of originality — we can search to that brief.

If you're less certain, we can help narrow things down based on how you want to use the vehicle, your budget and how much originality or restoration matters to you.

You don't need to arrive knowing the difference between an FJ40, BJ40 or FJ45.

Yes.

Some buyers want a highly original Land Cruiser with age, patina and history intact. Others would rather have something already restored, mechanically sorted and ready to use.

We can search for either.

Our role is to understand what matters to you, then find the strongest car that fits that brief rather than pushing one particular type of vehicle.

Our sourcing fee is separate, but before you approve a vehicle we'll show you the estimated total landed UK cost.

That estimate includes the vehicle price, inspection, local transport, export costs, shipping, expected import taxes and our sourcing fee.

So when we say an entry-level right-hand-drive classic Land Cruiser needing some further work could start from around £15,000 landed in the UK, we mean the expected total to get the vehicle here — not £15,000 plus another set of hidden import costs.

Final third-party costs can vary slightly, but we'll make the expected total clear before you commit.

We act as your buying agent.

Once you approve a vehicle and it is purchased on your behalf, it is your Land Cruiser. We then manage the overseas payment, export, shipping and UK import process for you.

While the vehicle is in transit, we arrange marine cargo insurance and provide the relevant cover details before shipment.

That keeps the relationship clear: we are not buying a car and then trying to sell it to you later. We are sourcing and managing the purchase of your chosen vehicle from the outset.

Yes.

You can pause or stop the search at any time.

The initial £250 search fee covers the work involved in starting and running the search. If we are unable to identify a suitable vehicle within 90 days, that fee is refunded.

If suitable vehicles are identified but you decide not to proceed, the search fee is not normally refundable.

It costs £250 to begin the search.

A further £250 becomes payable when we identify and present a vehicle that meets your agreed brief.

Both payments form part of our total sourcing fee.

If we're unable to identify a suitable vehicle within 90 days, the initial £250 is refunded.