Is200se Parallel Import

enthusiast007 · July 14, 2009

Hi All,

My father purchased a new Lexus IS200SE in 2004 from a dealer. Unfortunatley he passed away earlier this year - and I am now trying to sell the vehicle. It transpires, and to my surprise, the vehicle is actually a 'parallel' import, and is registered as a Toyota on the V5. I took the vehicle to the DVLA for an inspection a couple of weeks ago to query the v5 (beofre i realised it was an import), and the inspector confirmed that he was happy that it was a Lexus- but yesterday I heard that they werent going to change the details due to information on the import / original paperwork.

This all has obviously had an impact on selling the vehicle..in fact I accepted a deposit (which I will happily pay back) from someone who liked the vehcile that wanted me to organise amending the v5 details amended (as part of the process of retaining the private plate)

The car is full UK spec (a friend of mine has the same model bought from a UK dealer)...and I have no doubt that it is not a grey import (Altezza etc)

I guess I have a couple of questions:

- has anyone else experienced this and specifically around the information on the v5? The DVLA have now closed the case and say they will not change the information

- does anyone have any guidance on what an IS200SE (with satnav), 43k, metallic blue, service history, PARALLEL IMPORT..i advertised it for £5k (not as a parallel import) and got good interest.

Apologies for the long winded appraoch...unfortunately its a bit of long tale.

Many thanks in advance,and any guidance would be appreciated.

Rgds,

Ash

aido · July 14, 2009

Welcome to the club.

First of all, sorry to hear about your loss earlier this year.

As for the car, do you have any idea what country it was imported from? What badge does the car have on the steering wheel as normally if it's an Altezza it would have the Toyota badge there, as well as on the engine cover underneath the bonnet.

Just wondering if maybe someone has rebadged it or whether someone at the DVLA has made a mistake?

Was it actually a Lexus dealer that the car was purchased from do you know? Or just a company such as Trade Sales or Carcraft etc?

enthusiast007 · July 14, 2009

Aido,

Many thanks for the prompt response...

the car is fully badged as a lexus...from steering wheel right through to window etchings etc etc (there is no mention of a toyota anywhere on the vehicle)...

my thoughts are that it is registered incorrectly...even if it is an import then it could be noted as a Lexus import on the v5...i tried to use an example with the dvla..of someone stealing the car and committing a crime..as it stands the police would not be able to trace my car based on whats on the databse...its totally stupid really!

The vehicle was purchased form a dealer (unfortunately now closed down) called Pinewoods in Coulsdon in Surrey. I have got in touch with someone who used to work there...and he has confirmed that they were selling parallel imports and ours was one of these i.e. brand new, unregistered, imported from Belgium or Germany

Any views?

aido · July 14, 2009

In that case the DVLA were at fault as these cars from those countries were branded as Lexus - only vehicles coming in from the Asian markets were branded as Toyota.

In terms of the police they may be ok as I think they do realise about the vehicle being the same, I got stopped one day for that very thing (badge said Lexus, V5 said Toyota), and they just let me be on my way as they realised it was a Jap import in my case. In your case it should indeed be Lexus.

In yours it's strange though - what else does it say on the V5?

Does it say Toyota IS200?

There was a similar discussion on another site I use and the DVLA are next to useless at changing the information without charging a fee as they tend to refuse they could possibly ever be at fault!

My V5 just says Toyota and for the model it says Saloon - it could be applicable to half of their range!

enthusiast007 · July 15, 2009

Aido,

The v5 says its a Toyota, no model number/ id and the colour (blue). i.e. no mention of Lexus at all.

I guess i just need to be clear with whoever looks at the car

many thanks

In that case the DVLA were at fault as these cars from those countries were branded as Lexus - only vehicles coming in from the Asian markets were branded as Toyota.
In terms of the police they may be ok as I think they do realise about the vehicle being the same, I got stopped one day for that very thing (badge said Lexus, V5 said Toyota), and they just let me be on my way as they realised it was a Jap import in my case. In your case it should indeed be Lexus.

In yours it's strange though - what else does it say on the V5?

Does it say Toyota IS200?

There was a similar discussion on another site I use and the DVLA are next to useless at changing the information without charging a fee as they tend to refuse they could possibly ever be at fault!

My V5 just says Toyota and for the model it says Saloon - it could be applicable to half of their range!

aido · July 15, 2009

They've definitely messed up there mate - from what I've seen written on some V5s it makes you wonder whether they're paying some chimps £3 an hour for data entry - and the problem is you only ever get what you pay for!

Good luck with it anyway :)

enthusiast007 · July 15, 2009

Cheers Aido...I am only trying to maintain the integrity of their database/ records...but obviously doing anything out of the norm and actually providing a good service is beyond the means of the DVLA. Its funny, tax disc reminders and other things that make them money are run very efficiently!

cheers

They've definitely messed up there mate - from what I've seen written on some V5s it makes you wonder whether they're paying some chimps £3 an hour for data entry - and the problem is you only ever get what you pay for!
Good luck with it anyway :)

kev dood · July 15, 2009

DVLA are a nightmare at admitting they are wrong - apparently they never are.

Sorry to hear about your father passing. This is the last you need!

I think I know roughly where that garage was - along the highstreety bit? If so, wasnt that a Toyota dealer?

Personally, I would give Lexus GB a call and see what they can tell you. If they have chassis no. etc down as a Lexus then they may be able to help you with DVLA getting the correct registration sorted. Their back up alone would help if they can confirm vehicle type.

The earlier IS200's had Toyota badges on the windows etc, so if you have Lexus then I doubt it would ever have been a dodgy Toyota import thats got dubious history.

And, if previous employee said they used to parallel import then makes sense. Bit of a pain though as doubt people were told this! nice!

I guess its a bit like importing a VW or something from Holland or somewhere. Means they are generally worth less. Most important thing is not really the old bill, but the insurance company and what they would then class it as.

Anyway, try Lexus first and get them to help you out - a friendly dealer might be able to help you too? Croydon seem OK (Purley Way).