EK · EK9 · 1997–2000
Import guides / United States
Importing a car from Japan to the United States
Cars at least 25 years old — counted from the month of manufacture — can be imported without meeting US safety (FMVSS) standards. Younger Japanese-market cars are, in practice, not importable.
Rule verificationPreliminary rules
Not yet verified
Preliminary estimate
Some of the import rules and fees for the United States have not yet been confirmed by an official source or a customs broker. Treat this as a rough range and confirm with a licensed customs broker in the United States before you buy.
Eligibility
- 25-year FMVSS exemption, by month of manufacture (DOT form HS-7, box 1). A car built in October 1999 becomes eligible on 1 October 2024.
- EPA exemption from 21 years (form 3520-1, code E).
- Right-hand drive is federally legal. California additionally requires CARB emissions compliance; some states restrict kei trucks.
What you pay
- Import duty on the customs value, plus the Merchandise Processing Fee and Harbor Maintenance Fee.
- Trucks and kei trucks fall under a much higher duty rate than passenger cars.
- Customs broker, ISF filing and bond, and port handling.
- Not included in MOTORAVI estimates: state sales tax, title and registration.
Cars from Japan that may be importable to the United States — to be confirmed
Model codes whose production years already meet the import rules for the United States — part or all of the run. Each model page shows the exact years.
DC2 · 1995–2001
NA1 · 1990–2005
Model codes that reach the age limit, year by year.
Rules MOTORAVI applies
These are the rules our eligibility check uses today, with their sources.
Duties, taxes and fees in estimates
Destination ports
Long Beach, CA · Tacoma, WA · Baltimore, MD · New York / New Jersey
