How to Import a Car from Japan to the USA: the 25-Year Rule

Most cars sold new in Japan were never certified to the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) or to EPA emission standards. For a young car, that usually rules out importing it for road use. Once a car is old enough, two federal age exemptions remove most of that barrier. This guide explains both, the forms that go with them, the duty, and the date mistake that catches many buyers of Japanese export cars.

This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your entry with a licensed US customs broker before the car sails.

The short answer

NHTSA (safety): a vehicle at least 25 years old can be imported without regard to FMVSS. The 25 years run from the date of manufacture, not the model year.
EPA (emissions): a vehicle at least 21 years old and in original, unmodified configuration is exempt. EPA counts calendar years: year of import minus year of manufacture.
Forms: DOT HS-7, Box 1, and EPA 3520-1, code E, filed with CBP at entry.
Duty: passenger cars are generally dutiable at 2.5% of the price paid or payable.

The NHTSA 25-year rule

NHTSA says a motor vehicle at least 25 years old can be lawfully imported whether or not it complies with FMVSS. It is entered under Box 1 of the HS-7 declaration, which asks for the date of manufacture. In NHTSA's words, "the 25 year period runs from the date of the vehicle's manufacture."

So the clock is month-precise. A car built in June 2001 is eligible once it is 25 years old in June 2026, not on 1 January. What counts is the car's age on the date of entry into the US, so plan the sailing so the car arrives after its 25th birthday. Entering it early is a false declaration on a federal form.

If the build date is not on a label fixed by the manufacturer, NHTSA suggests other evidence: an invoice showing the date of first sale, a registration document showing the car was registered at least 25 years ago or, failing those, a statement from a recognised vehicle historical society.

A car under 25 years old that was never US-certified can only come in through a Registered Importer. NHTSA must first have found that model eligible, and you post a DOT bond of 150% of the car's value. For most Japanese-market cars that route is impractical.

The EPA 21-year exemption

EPA Form 3520-1 code E covers a vehicle at least 21 years old, counted as calendar year of import minus calendar year of manufacture, and in original unmodified configuration. Two practical consequences:

Engine swaps can disqualify a car. A replacement engine is only acceptable if it is the same model as the original, or a certified engine with its aftertreatment from a vehicle no older than the one being imported. EPA asks importers in doubt to contact its Imports Hotline before shipping.
Modified cars need a different route. A heavily modified car can pass the NHTSA 25-year test and still fail EPA's original-configuration test. A non-conforming car must then go through an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI).

Gasoline cars built before 1 January 1968 are excluded from EPA requirements entirely. CBP may ask for proof of age under either rule.

The Japanese paperwork trap: first registration is not the build date

When a car leaves Japan it is deregistered, and the Transport Bureau issues an export certificate (輸出抹消仮登録証明書). That certificate records the first registration year and month (初度登録年月), not the build date.

For a car sold new in Japan, first registration usually follows the build date closely. Near the 25-year line, though, a gap of even one month decides whether the car is eligible.
For a car that was itself imported into Japan, such as a European classic, first Japanese registration can come long after the car was built.

NHTSA counts from manufacture, so get build-date evidence before you bid. That means a manufacturer's label or build certificate, the chassis number decoded against the maker's records, or the documents NHTSA lists above. Ask for photos of the chassis plate and any build labels before you commit.

Duty and tariffs

CBP lists foreign-made vehicles as generally dutiable at:

Vehicle	Duty rate
Passenger car	2.5%
Truck	25%
Motorcycle	Free or 2.4%

Duty is based on the price paid or payable, so the bill of sale matters. Some vans and pickups are classed as trucks, which moves them from 2.5% to 25%.

Since 3 April 2025, CBP has collected an additional Section 232 tariff on most imported passenger vehicles and light trucks. CBP's guidance (CSMS #64624801) applies 0% additional duty under heading 9903.94.04 to vehicles manufactured in a year at least 25 years before the year of entry. Tariff policy has changed often since 2025, so confirm the current rate with your broker before shipping.

Paperwork checklist

Document	From	Why CBP or your state needs it
Export certificate (輸出抹消仮登録証明書)	Japanese Transport Bureau	Proves deregistration in Japan; shows the first registration date
Bill of sale or invoice	Seller	Basis for the duty value
Original bill of lading	Shipping line	Required by CBP for clearance
DOT HS-7, Box 1	Importer or broker	Claims the 25-year NHTSA exemption
EPA 3520-1, code E	Importer or broker	Claims the 21-year EPA exemption
Proof of manufacture date	Manufacturer or historical society	Supports both exemptions
CBP Form 7501	Customs broker	Entry document state DMVs use for titling

Step by step

Confirm the build date. It must put the car at 25 years or more on its expected arrival date, not just on the export certificate.
Confirm originality. Check that the engine and emission equipment match the original specification so code E applies.
Buy the car. Bid at USS through our auction agent service, or choose from stock.
Export and ship. Deregistration, the export certificate and RoRo or container booking are covered in our export guide.
Clear US customs. Your broker files the entry with the HS-7 and 3520-1, and you pay duty.
Title and register in your state. State rules vary, and some states apply their own emissions rules on top of the federal exemptions.

Two LHD Porsche 911s that already qualify

Both cars in our current stock clear the NHTSA and EPA age thresholds by a wide margin, and both are left-hand drive:

1974 Porsche 911 2.7: 52 years old, 2,687cc flat-six, 5-speed manual, left-hand drive.
1992 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 (964): 34 years old, 3.6-litre air-cooled flat-six, 5-speed manual, left-hand drive, first registered May 1992.

Before either car ships, we can provide the documents your broker needs to prepare the HS-7 and 3520-1.

FAQ

Is the 25-year rule counted from the model year?

No. NHTSA counts from the date of manufacture, and a car's model year can differ from when it was built. EPA's 21-year rule uses calendar years: year of import minus year of manufacture.

Can I ship a car before it turns 25?

Yes, as long as it is at least 25 years old on the date it is entered into the US. Allow a margin for early arrivals; if the car arrives a week early it is still under 25.

Do I need a Registered Importer for a 25-year-old car?

Not for the NHTSA side: a Box 1 entry does not require one. On the EPA side, a car that is not in original configuration may still need an Independent Commercial Importer.

How much import duty will I pay on a car from Japan?

Generally 2.5% for a passenger car and 25% for a truck, based on the price paid. Under CBP's guidance, the Section 232 surcharge does not apply to vehicles built in a year at least 25 years before entry. Confirm the current rates with your broker.

Is right-hand drive a problem?

No federal rule bars a right-hand-drive car imported under the 25-year exemption. Both of the 911s above are left-hand drive in any case.

Can ClickCar buy at Japanese auctions for me?

Yes. We bid at USS auctions on your behalf and handle export from Japan. Our commission is a percentage of the purchase, agreed before you bid. See our USS auction service.