Imported vehicle specifications: establish the original market

Identify which market the evidence describes

Ask the seller for the original market, exact variant description and source of the claimed specification. Put overseas factory material in one column and the current advert in another. A third column can record registration documents and observations. Keep engine, gearbox, steering position and important equipment as separate questions instead of treating an overseas trim name as a direct translation of a UK trim.

Record publication dates and the scope of any brochure or catalogue. A general web page for a current model may not describe the production period you need. If the seller supplies a manufacturer response, keep the date and enough context to establish which vehicle it covers. Do not assume there is a universal public VIN decoder that can establish all factory options for every market.

• Original market and exact model designation.
• Production or model-year evidence, distinct from registration dates.
• Manufacturer source and the equipment claim it actually supports.

Retain original labels when translating or converting

Create a note containing the original text, the translation and the source of that translation. If a label remains uncertain, say so. A translated description without its original wording is difficult to check later. Do not treat an automatic translation of a technical term as conclusive evidence of a particular gearbox, assistance system or emissions specification.

Keep original units next to converted values. Establish whether horsepower means metric PS or mechanical horsepower before using the converter. For odometer and historic mileage entries, retain whether each source records miles or kilometres rather than rewriting the original record. A unit difference can explain an apparent mismatch, but the explanation still needs evidence for the actual instrument or document involved.

Separate import paperwork from specification evidence

GOV.UK’s importing guide describes different routes depending on where the vehicle is brought and how it arrives. It includes customs and HMRC steps, vehicle approval and registration, with distinct geographic conditions for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Use the current official route for the actual circumstances. Our worksheet is not a substitute for that process and does not tell you which approval route applies.

Ask what supporting import and registration documents are available and which identity each relates to. Do not request that the seller publish sensitive reference numbers or personal details. A document’s existence should not be described as blanket approval of the vehicle’s current condition or every later modification. Seek appropriate professional guidance when the documentary position or technical conformity is unclear.

• Keep foreign registration events and later UK events in separate timeline rows.
• Ask about changes made before or after import and supporting invoices.
• Do not label unknown approval or emissions details as passed.

Finish with a practical viewing brief

List the remaining market-specific questions in order of importance. Include any equipment you need demonstrated, uncertain translated terms and identity checks that need the physical vehicle. Follow GOV.UK’s used-car checking guidance alongside the import questions. Matching text in three worksheet columns cannot authenticate an imported car or establish its present mechanical condition.