Japan's Model 3s are right-hand drive, like those sold in the UK and New Zealand, and they're often cheaper at Japanese auction. The catch is not the steering but the charging hardware and the paperwork.
Charging: the big difference
The UK and New Zealand use Type 2 / CCS2 charging. Japanese-market Teslas use the connector sold in Japan. Before you buy, check:
- whether a charge-port retrofit to CCS2 is available locally (some specialists offer it) and what it costs,
- whether the car can use local public and Tesla Supercharger networks after conversion,
- whether Tesla service in your country will support a Japanese-market car (software, connectivity, warranty status).
United Kingdom
- Cars under 10 years old need approval (IVA or mutual recognition) before DVLA registration. Every Model 3 qualifies as under 10.
- Speedometer and lighting must meet UK rules; the touchscreen can usually be switched to mph.
- Import duty and VAT are charged on the car plus freight.
New Zealand
- Every import needs NZTA entry certification and compliance before registration.
- Electric vehicles pay Road User Charges in NZ.
- Check the current Clean Car rules and fees with an NZ compliance centre.
Battery health
Ask us for the battery state-of-health or a full-charge range reading before buying. See the Model 3 buying guide.
Price
The table below shows the live delivered price to the UK and New Zealand. See the UK and New Zealand pages, or WhatsApp us.