The 25-year rule

Importing a Japanese car into the United States

A vehicle twenty-five years or older is exempt from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and from EPA emissions certification. That single exemption is what makes importing a Japanese car straightforward — and it is measured from the month the car was built, not its model year.

Right nowAny vehicle built in or before August 2001 may be imported into the United States under this rule.

Exemption age: 25 years
Import duty: 2.5%
Federal forms: HS-7 · 3520-1
Typical clearance: 3–10 days

How the twenty-five-year rule actually works

The exemption runs from the month of manufacture, which is stamped on the compliance plate in the door jamb — not from the model year on any brochure. A car built in March 2001 becomes eligible in March 2026. Attempting to import one month early does not result in a warning; it results in the vehicle being seized or exported at your cost.

Measured from the build month on the chassis plate
A model year is not the same as a build date — check the plate
The car must be in its original, unmodified configuration to qualify
There is no discretion and no early release

The paperwork we file

Two federal declarations accompany every import, alongside the customs entry itself. We complete all of them as part of the service.

DOT form HS-7, box 1 — declares the FMVSS exemption on age
EPA form 3520-1, code E — declares the emissions exemption on age
CBP form 7501 — the customs entry, with duty assessed at 2.5%
Japanese export certificate with a certified English translation
Original bill of lading from the shipping line

Duty, and what it is charged on

Import duty on a passenger car is 2.5% of the customs value — the price paid plus freight and insurance to the port of entry, not just the hammer price. A customs bond is required for the entry, and there is a small harbour maintenance and merchandise processing fee. None of this is large in the context of the car, but it should be in your budget from the start.

Titling, which varies by state

Federal clearance gets the car into the country. Titling it is a state matter, and the states differ meaningfully. Most will title an imported vehicle on the customs entry and export certificate without difficulty. California is the notable exception: CARB has its own requirements, and a direct import can be harder to register there than in most other states.

Most states title on the CBP 7501 and translated export certificate
Some require a VIN inspection by a state officer
California applies CARB rules in addition to the federal exemption
Insurance is straightforward once titled — most major insurers will cover an imported vehicle

Verify with the authorities

We handle all of this for cars we sell and source, but the final word always rests with these bodies.

US Customs and Border Protection
Customs entry, duty assessment and admissibility
NHTSA (Department of Transportation)
FMVSS exemption and the HS-7 declaration
Environmental Protection Agency
Emissions exemption and the 3520-1 declaration

This guide is general information for buyers, written to make the process understandable. It is not legal, customs or tax advice. Rules and rates change. Confirm your specific circumstances with the authorities above or a licensed customs broker before committing money to a purchase.

Is it legal to import?

Both rules run from the month a car was built, not its model year. Enter the build date and see both markets at once.

Year builtMonth built

USA

Eligible now

Cleared the 25-year rule in May 2024.

Canada

Eligible now

Cleared the 15-year rule in May 2014.

The United States exempts vehicles 25 years old from FMVSS and EPA requirements; Canada exempts vehicles 15 years old from the RIV programme. Both are measured from the month of manufacture. This is general guidance, not customs advice — confirm with CBP or CBSA before committing to a purchase.