How do you import a car from Japan to the USA, and what does it cost? (2026)
Last reviewed by AVON INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD., licensed USS member dealer (card L-1525)
You can import a car from Japan to the USA once it is at least 25 years old: cars under 25 must meet every Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, which Japanese domestic cars do not, so in 2026 that means cars built in 2001 or earlier. Duty is 2.5% for cars and 25% for trucks, and every entry needs DOT form HS-7 and EPA form 3520-1.
Car import duty calculator for the USA
Federal law does not ban right-hand-drive cars; what decides whether a Japanese-market car can enter is its age. US Customs and Border Protection states that, as a general rule, motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to be imported permanently. Cars built for the Japanese domestic market were never certified to those standards, so in practice only cars 25 years or older come in, which in 2026 means 2001 or earlier. That rule is why older Japanese performance cars, vans and four-wheel drives have become a steady import category. Each entry is declared on DOT form HS-7 (safety) and EPA form 3520-1 (emissions), together with the bill of lading, bill of sale and foreign registration. Cars pay 2.5% duty and trucks 25%. State registration, inspection and sales tax follow once the car is released.
Can you import a used car from Japan to the USA?
- Steering
- Right- and left-hand drive
- Age limit
- Minimum-age rule: vehicles under 25 years old must comply with all applicable FMVSS to be imported permanently, so Japanese-market cars qualify only at 25 years or older. Right-hand drive is not banned federally; state registration rules apply.
- Inspection
- DOT HS-7 + EPA 3520-1
- Restrictions
- Under-25-year vehicles effectively barred.
- Special rules
- US–Japan 15% reciprocal tariff (Sept 2025) may apply on top of the 2.5% base — confirm at entry.
- Entry ports
- Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach, Port of Baltimore
How do you import a car from Japan to the USA, step by step?
Check the car is at least 25 years old
Confirm the month and year of manufacture from the Japanese registration. A car under 25 years old must meet every FMVSS requirement, which Japanese-market cars do not.
Buy the car and obtain the export certificate
After purchase in Japan the registration is cancelled and an export certificate is issued. Its English translation serves as the foreign registration CBP asks for.
Ship to a US port
Cars from Japan arrive at Los Angeles / Long Beach on the West Coast or Baltimore on the East Coast. The shipping line issues the original bill of lading.
File the customs entry with HS-7 and EPA 3520-1
The importer or a customs broker files the entry with the bill of lading, bill of sale, foreign registration, DOT form HS-7 and EPA form 3520-1, and pays the duty: 2.5% for cars, 25% for trucks.
Title, inspect and register in your state
With the stamped customs entry, apply for a state title and registration. Each state sets its own inspection, emissions and sales-tax rules.
Documents checklist
- Bill of sale (commercial invoice)
- Japanese export certificate (cancelled registration) with English translation, as the foreign registration
- Original bill of lading
- DOT form HS-7
- EPA form 3520-1
- Customs entry filed with CBP
- State title and registration application
What import duties and taxes does the USA charge?
| Tax | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty (passenger car, base) | 2.5% | CIF value |
Customs Duty (passenger car, base)
Rate: 2.5%. Charged on: CIF value.
CBP charges duty on the price paid: 2.5% for passenger cars and 25% for trucks, so the vehicle's classification matters. The duty table shows the 2.5% passenger-car rate. Tariff measures announced since 2025 may add to this for newer vehicles, so check the current rate at entry. State sales tax, title and registration fees are paid later in the state where the car is registered. The 25-year rule matters more than the tax: a car under 25 years old must comply with all applicable FMVSS, which in practice keeps Japanese-market cars out.
How much does it cost to import a car from Japan to the USA?
Worked examples are not shown for this market. Use the calculator below with your own car.
How long does shipping take, and which ports?
| Port | Method | Transit (days) | Freight from (sedan) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach | RoRo or container | 14–18 | US$1,450 |
| Baltimore | RoRo or container | 34–46 | US$1,600 |
Which Japanese cars are popular in the USA?
- Models and prices
Nissan Skyline GT-R
The R32 GT-R was built from 1989 to 1994 and the R33 from 1995 to 1998, so both are past the 25-year mark.
- Models and prices
Mitsubishi Delica
The four-wheel-drive Delica van was never sold in the US; 2001 and older Japanese-market examples qualify on age.
- Models and prices
Toyota Land Cruiser
Japanese-market Land Cruiser 70 and 80 series diesels were not sold in the US in that form; examples built in 2001 or earlier qualify.
- Models and prices
Mazda RX-7
The third-generation RX-7 was built until 2002; Japanese-market cars built in 2001 or earlier are eligible.
How much is inland delivery to cities in the USA?
| City | From port | Sedan | SUV / wagon | Extra days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Port of Los Angeles / Long Beach | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| New York | Baltimore | US$330 | US$410 | 2 |
| Baltimore | Baltimore | US$150 | US$190 | 1 |
| Chicago | Baltimore | US$780 | US$980 | 5 |
| Houston | Baltimore | US$1,460 | US$1,820 | 7 |
| Atlanta | Baltimore | US$760 | US$950 | 5 |
How do you avoid scams when buying a car from Japan?
- Check that the exporter is a registered Japanese company: look up its corporate number and address, and prefer members of the Japan Used Motor Vehicle Exporters Association.
- Ask for the original auction sheet and, after purchase, the export certificate. Both name the chassis number, which should match the invoice.
- Pay only to a company bank account in the exporter's name, never to a personal account or a money-transfer agent.
AVON INTERNATIONAL company and licence details are on the About page, and the JUMVEA member list is public. JUMVEA (exporters association) · About AVON INTERNATIONAL · Is buying a car from Japan safe?
Frequently asked questions
- What is the 25-year rule for importing a car from Japan to the US?
- Cars under 25 years old must meet every Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard to be imported permanently. Japanese-market cars do not, so in practice only cars 25 years or older can be imported.
- Which Japanese cars can I import to the US in 2026?
- Cars built in 2001 or earlier, counted from the month of manufacture. That includes the R32 and R33 Skyline GT-R and early Delica and Land Cruiser models.
- What duty do I pay on a car imported from Japan to the US?
- 2.5% of the price paid for a passenger car and 25% for a truck. State sales tax and registration fees are paid separately.
- Which forms do I need to import a car into the US?
- DOT form HS-7 and EPA form 3520-1, filed with the bill of lading, bill of sale and foreign registration.
- Can a right-hand-drive car be driven in the US?
- Federal import rules do not ban right-hand drive. Registration and use are set by each state, so check your state's rules before buying.
Sources
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — Importing a motor vehicle — checked 15 October 2026
- NHTSA — Importation and certification — checked 15 October 2026
- U.S. EPA — Importing vehicles and engines — checked 15 October 2026
Car import duty calculator for the USA
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Estimate only. Duties are assessed by customs on arrival, freight rates move, and rules change. Check current figures before you buy.