What You Need to Know Before Importing a Japanese Car

Importing a car from Japan to the United States is legal, but it requires meeting specific federal standards and following a defined process through U.S. Customs and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). You cannot straightforward buy a car in Japan and drive it into the country — the vehicle must pass emissions and safety inspections, and you must pay import duties and shipping costs that often exceed the purchase price itself.

The most common route is importing a car that is at least 25 years old, because vehicles that old are exempt from many modern safety and emissions rules. Newer Japanese cars can be imported, but only if they were manufactured to meet U.S. standards from the factory, or if you are willing to modify them to comply. The total cost — purchase, shipping, tariffs, compliance work, and registration — typically ranges from $8,000 to $25,000 or more, depending on the vehicle and its condition.

Key Takeaways

  • Cars 25 years old or older can be imported with fewer restrictions because they are exempt from current safety and emissions standards.
  • Newer Japanese cars can only be imported if they were built to U.S. specifications from the factory, or if you pay to have them modified to meet federal standards.
  • You must clear the vehicle through U.S. Customs, obtain an NHTSA entry number, and register it with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles.
  • Shipping, import duties, compliance modifications, and inspection fees can easily cost $3,000 to $10,000 on top of the purchase price.
  • Working with a customs broker or import specialist reduces the risk of delays, rejected paperwork, or vehicles being held at the port.

The 25-Year Rule and Why It Matters

The NHTSA allows vehicles manufactured 25 or more years ago to enter the United States without meeting current safety standards. This rule exists because older vehicles are considered historical or specialty items, and retrofitting them to modern standards is often impractical or impossible. A 1999 Nissan Skyline GT-R or a 1995 Toyota Supra can be imported under this rule, even though neither was sold in the U.S. market and neither meets modern airbag or emissions requirements.

To use the 25-year exemption, you must be able to prove the vehicle's manufacture date through the title, registration, or factory documentation from Japan. The NHTSA will ask for this proof when you request your entry number. Once the vehicle clears customs and arrives at your home state, you register it with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Some states allow 25-year-old imports to be registered as-is; others require a safety inspection but waive emissions testing.

The catch is that you cannot legally drive the car on public roads in most states until it is registered, and registration rules vary widely. California, for example, has stricter emissions rules and may refuse to register an older import unless it was originally sold in California or meets specific criteria. Check your state's DMV website or call before you buy, because a car that is legal to import federally may still be impossible to register where you live.

Importing Newer Japanese Cars Built for the U.S. Market

If you want to import a Japanese car less than 25 years old, it must have been manufactured to meet U.S. safety and emissions standards from the factory. This is a narrow category. Most Japanese domestic market (JDM) vehicles — cars sold only in Japan — do not meet U.S. standards and cannot be imported legally unless you pay a specialist to modify them, which is expensive and often impractical.

Some Japanese manufacturers, like Honda and Toyota, sell the same models in both Japan and the United States with identical safety and emissions equipment. A 2015 Honda Accord sold in Japan with U.S.-spec components can be imported because it already meets federal standards. However, you will need the original factory documentation proving it was built to U.S. specifications, and you will still need to clear it through customs and obtain an NHTSA entry number.

If the car was not built to U.S. standards, a specialist importer can sometimes modify it — installing U.S.-spec airbags, emissions equipment, and lighting — but this work is costly, time-consuming, and not all vehicles can be successfully modified. The cost of modifications alone can reach $5,000 to $15,000, and there is no may provide the NHTSA will accept the work or that your state will register the vehicle afterward.

The Customs and NHTSA Entry Process

When your car arrives at a U.S. port, it must clear U.S. Customs before you can take possession. You will need a bill of lading from the shipping company, proof of ownership (the Japanese title or registration), and a commercial invoice showing the purchase price. Customs will assess import duties, which are typically 2.5% of the vehicle's declared value, plus any applicable tariffs.

Before or when ready after customs clearance, you must obtain an NHTSA entry number from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This is a federal requirement for all imported vehicles. You request the entry number through the NHTSA's Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance by submitting a form that includes the vehicle's VIN, the country of origin, the manufacturer, and the model year. The NHTSA will review your request and either issue the entry number or deny it if the vehicle does not meet the criteria for import.

For vehicles 25 years or older, the NHTSA entry number is usually issued without inspection. For newer vehicles, the NHTSA may require proof that the vehicle meets U.S. standards, or it may deny the entry if the vehicle is a JDM-only model. The process typically takes one to four weeks, and during that time your car will be held at the port or at a bonded warehouse. You will pay storage fees if the vehicle sits longer than a few days.

Shipping, Costs, and Timeline

Shipping a car from Japan to the United States costs between $1,500 and $3,500, depending on the port of departure, the U.S. port of arrival, and the shipping method. Container shipping (your car shares a container with others) is cheaper than dedicated shipping. The voyage takes three to four weeks, and you do not have access to the car during transit.

Import duties are calculated as 2.5% of the vehicle's declared value, plus any state sales tax once it is registered. If you buy a car for $10,000 in Japan, you will owe $250 in federal duty plus whatever your state charges on the vehicle's value. Some states tax the purchase price; others tax the fair market value as determined by the DMV, which may be higher or lower than what you paid.

Registration and inspection fees vary by state but typically range from $200 to $500. If the vehicle requires modifications to meet emissions or safety standards, those costs can add thousands more. The entire process — from purchase to registration — usually takes two to four months, depending on how quickly you arrange shipping, how long customs and NHTSA processing take, and how quickly your state's DMV processes the registration.

Working with a Customs Broker or Import Specialist

Many people hire a customs broker or import specialist to handle the paperwork and logistics. A customs broker is licensed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and can clear your vehicle through customs, handle duty payments, and manage the NHTSA entry process. An import specialist is a private company that may offer additional services like arranging shipping, inspecting the vehicle in Japan before purchase, and coordinating with your state's DMV.

A customs broker typically charges $300 to $800 per vehicle. An import specialist may charge a flat fee ($1,000 to $3,000) or a percentage of the vehicle's value. These fees are worth paying if you are unfamiliar with the process, because a mistake — such as submitting incorrect paperwork to the NHTSA or misrepresenting the vehicle's specifications — can result in the vehicle being held at the port, rejected for entry, or seized by customs. A broker or specialist also knows which states have restrictions on imported vehicles and can advise you before you buy.

State Registration and Inspection Rules

Once your car clears federal customs and the NHTSA, you must register it with your state's Department of Motor Vehicles. Registration rules for imported vehicles vary significantly by state. Some states treat imported cars the same as domestic cars and require only a standard safety inspection. Others have specific rules for imported vehicles, such as requiring a VIN inspection, an emissions test, or proof that the vehicle meets federal standards.

California, New York, and Massachusetts have the strictest rules. California will not register a vehicle that does not meet its emissions standards, and it does not grant blanket exemptions for 25-year-old imports. You may need to show that the vehicle was originally sold in California or that it has been modified to meet California standards. New York requires a safety inspection and may deny registration if the vehicle has significant rust or structural damage. Massachusetts has similar requirements and also checks the vehicle's history through the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Before you buy a car in Japan, contact your state's DMV and ask what rules explore to imported vehicles. Some states have a specific form or process for imported cars. Others require you to bring the vehicle in person for inspection before registration. A few states will not register certain imported vehicles at all, particularly JDM-only models or vehicles with right-hand drive (which is standard in Japan but uncommon in the U.S.).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import a right-hand-drive car from Japan?

Federally, yes — there is no rule against right-hand-drive vehicles. However, many states will not register them because they are considered unsafe for U.S. roads, where traffic drives on the right. Check your state's DMV before buying. Some states allow right-hand-drive vehicles only if they are 25 years or older and registered as historical vehicles.

What happens if the NHTSA denies my entry number?

If the NHTSA denies your entry number, the vehicle cannot legally enter the United States. It will be held at the port and you will have to arrange to ship it back to Japan or sell it to someone in another country. This is why it is critical to confirm the vehicle's may be able to access before you buy and pay for shipping.

Do I have to pay sales tax on an imported car?

Yes. Most states charge sales tax on imported vehicles based on either the purchase price or the fair market value, whichever is higher. Some states waive sales tax for vehicles over a certain age (often 25 years or older), but rules vary. Contact your state's DMV or tax authority to find out what applies to your situation.

How long does the whole process take?

From purchase to registration, expect two to four months. Shipping takes three to four weeks, customs and NHTSA processing takes one to four weeks, and state registration can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks depending on how busy your DMV is and whether the vehicle requires modifications or additional inspections.

Can I drive the car before it is registered?

No. Once the car clears customs, you cannot legally drive it on public roads until it is registered with your state's DMV. You can have it towed or transported to your home or to a mechanic for inspection, but driving it yourself is illegal and will result in a citation and possible impound.