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When importing a car into the U.S., there are various steps and regulations that you can expect. Knowing what to anticipate before buying or shipping the vehicle can save considerable time, money and effort.
The first question is whether the vehicle can legally be imported. U.S. Customs and Border Protection handles the customs entry, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) applies federal vehicle-safety requirements and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) applies emissions requirements.
The age of the vehicle matters, but the well-known 25-year rule is only part of the picture. A newer vehicle may already have been manufactured to U.S. standards, while a foreign-market vehicle that does not comply can require additional work through a Registered Importer and, where applicable, an Independent Commercial Importer.
This guide explains how to import a car into the United States, including eligibility, the 25-year rule, EPA requirements, documents, shipping, customs clearance, and what happens after the vehicle arrives.
If you are planning to import a vehicle, contact A1 Worldwide Logistics at 305-821-8995 with the make, model, year, VIN, current location, and U.S. destination. Our team can review the transportation and Customs requirements and provide a quote for the shipment.
Yes, but whether a particular car can be permanently imported depends on its age, certification and configuration.
A vehicle originally manufactured to comply with applicable U.S. safety and emissions standards can generally be imported using the appropriate declarations and supporting documentation.
A vehicle that is at least 25 years old from its actual date of manufacture can be imported without having to comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards under NHTSA’s age exemption. Younger vehicles that were not originally certified to U.S. standards can be considerably more complicated and may need to be imported through a Registered Importer if NHTSA has determined the vehicle eligible for importation.
EPA emissions requirements are separate, so satisfying the NHTSA 25-year rule does not mean every EPA question can simply be ignored.
NHTSA allows a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old to be permanently imported without regard to whether it complies with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
The important detail is that the 25 years runs from the vehicle’s date of manufacture, not simply its model year. If the manufacturer label does not establish the production date, NHTSA says other evidence such as an original sales invoice, registration document or recognized vehicle-history documentation may be needed to establish its age.
A qualifying vehicle is declared under the applicable provision on DOT Form HS-7 when it is imported.
The 25-year rule is particularly relevant to collectors importing older Japanese and European-market vehicles that were never originally certified for sale in the United States.
Yes, but the EPA provision is different from NHTSA’s 25-year safety exemption.
EPA provides an age-based exemption for qualifying vehicles that are at least 21 original-production years old and remain in the required original configuration. EPA specifically cautions that the engine needs to be the same model and configuration as the engine originally installed. A vehicle with a replacement engine does not automatically qualify merely because the chassis is more than 21 years old.
This is why a statement such as “cars over 21 years old do not need EPA compliance” is too broad.
Prospective importers should establish both the NHTSA and EPA basis for entry before the car is shipped.
A car that is less than 25 years old is not automatically prohibited from importation.
If the vehicle was originally manufactured and certified to comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, it can generally be imported as a conforming vehicle. A certification label is normally located in the driver’s-door area on vehicles manufactured to U.S. standards.
If a vehicle was not originally manufactured to U.S. standards, the process can be much more difficult. NHTSA must generally have determined that the make, model, and model year are eligible for importation, and a Registered Importer (RI) may need to bring the vehicle into conformity with the applicable safety standards.
EPA has its own requirements. A nonconforming vehicle that does not qualify for an exemption may need to be handled by an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) for the necessary emissions work, testing and certification. EPA explicitly advises prospective importers to make these arrangements before shipping a non-U.S.-version vehicle.
For that reason, do not buy a younger foreign-market car simply because a seller says it “can be made U.S. compliant.” Check its actual federal eligibility first.
Vehicles being shipped to the United States should be thoroughly cleaned before departure, particularly around the tires, wheel wells and undercarriage.
Foreign soil is tightly controlled because it can carry plant pests, diseases, weed seeds, and other organisms into the United States. USDA APHIS restricts the entry of foreign soil, so an imported vehicle should arrive free from soil and organic debris.
If the vehicle has been used off-road, on farms or in other environments where soil can build up underneath it, pay particular attention to the undercarriage before shipment.
Once you have established that the vehicle is eligible for importation, the process moves to ownership documents, international transportation, the required NHTSA and EPA declarations, Customs entry, and final delivery.
The following steps cover a typical permanent vehicle import into the United States.
Start with the VIN, date of manufacture, make, model, engine and market for which the car was originally manufactured.
Check whether it has the U.S. safety and emissions certification labels or whether it qualifies under an age or other exemption.
If the vehicle is younger than 25 years and was manufactured for a foreign market, determine whether a Registered Importer or Independent Commercial Importer will be required before committing to the purchase.
Once eligibility has been established, make sure you can obtain the original ownership documents. Depending on the country and vehicle, these can include the foreign title or registration, Bill of Sale, and export documentation.
The VIN and vehicle details should match across the purchase, shipping, and import records.
International vehicle shipping is normally arranged by ocean freight for cars arriving from overseas. Depending on the vehicle, route, and port, this can involve Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) transportation or container shipping.
RoRo allows the vehicle to be driven onto and off the vessel, while container shipping places the car inside a shipping container. The best choice can depend on the vehicle’s value, condition, route, and the services available at the origin and destination ports.
A freight forwarder can coordinate collection, export transportation, ocean booking, and delivery to the U.S. port.
Before the car arrives, the importer or customs broker should have the ownership, transportation and federal vehicle-import information required for entry.
This commonly includes DOT Form HS-7, EPA Form 3520-1, proof of ownership and the Bill of Lading, together with any additional compliance documentation that applies to the particular vehicle.
The documents are explained in more detail below.
When the vehicle arrives, CBP handles the customs entry and clearance process and verifies that the applicable NHTSA and EPA declarations have been made.
Duties and any additional trade measures are assessed according to the vehicle, value, classification, origin and rules in effect at the time of entry.
CBP can also request supporting evidence where necessary before release.
Once Customs and any other applicable agency requirements have been satisfied, the vehicle can be collected from the port or terminal.
A1 can coordinate inland trucking and final delivery where required.
Federal import clearance and state registration are separate processes.
CBP states that proof of lawful Customs entry is needed when registering a foreign vehicle in the United States. State DMV requirements can then include additional title documents, inspections, emissions requirements, or restrictions depending on the state and type of vehicle.
Check the requirements of the state where the vehicle will ultimately be titled rather than assuming that federal import approval automatically guarantees registration.
Once the Customs entry is completed, keep the CBP Form 7501 Entry Summary and the federal import forms. CBP says the entry documentation is used as proof of lawful importation when applying for state registration.
The exact paperwork depends on the vehicle and the basis under which it is being imported. A typical permanent vehicle import can involve:
CBP entry documentation is also important after import because it can be required for state registration.
The total cost of importing a car includes much more than ocean freight.
Depending on the vehicle, an importer may need to consider the purchase price, overseas transportation, ocean freight, port charges, customs brokerage, Customs duties, additional tariffs, examinations, inland delivery, insurance and any federal compliance work required before the vehicle can be admitted.
Before buying the car, ask a customs broker to review the vehicle information and current tariff treatment so you can estimate the landed cost rather than relying on an old generic duty percentage.
The Customs duty calculation should be checked for the specific vehicle before purchase. Passenger cars, trucks and other vehicles can have different base HTS classifications and rates.
Additional automobile tariffs can also apply. U.S. automobile tariff measures changed substantially beginning in 2025, and the current treatment can depend on the vehicle classification, age and country of origin.
One particularly important distinction for older imports is that certain passenger vehicles and light trucks manufactured at least 25 years before the year of entry are excluded from the additional Section 232 automobile duty under the applicable Chapter 99 provision. The ordinary HTS classification and any other applicable charges still need to be considered.
Because these tariff measures can change, check the current treatment rather than relying on an older article quoting one universal car-import duty rate.
Japan is a particularly important source of collector and Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles.
For many Japanese-market cars, the exact date of manufacture is critical because of the 25-year NHTSA rule. A vehicle that has just reached 25 years from its production date can have a very different import path from an otherwise similar newer model.
Younger JDM vehicles that were not manufactured to U.S. standards can require NHTSA eligibility and Registered Importer involvement.
For Japan-specific export, shipping, and Customs considerations, see our guide to importing a car from Japan to the U.S.
Cars purchased in Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and other European countries are subject to the same federal NHTSA, EPA and Customs requirements.
A European version of a model that was also sold in the United States should not automatically be assumed to be U.S.-compliant. Check the certification labels and vehicle-specific eligibility before purchase.
This becomes particularly important for European-market cars under 25 years old.
Canadian-market vehicles can sometimes have a simpler path because Canadian and U.S. vehicle standards overlap considerably, but compliance still needs to be established for the actual vehicle.
NHTSA has specific procedures for certain Canadian-certified vehicles, including circumstances where a manufacturer’s compliance letter can support importation.
Vehicles purchased in Mexico are not automatically U.S.-compliant simply because they were manufactured in North America. The vehicle’s federal safety and EPA status still needs to be established.
Country of origin can also affect the Customs tariff treatment, so check both vehicle compliance and current duties before purchase.
There is not a blanket requirement that every individual importing a conforming vehicle hire a customs broker.
However, vehicle imports can involve Customs entry requirements, NHTSA and EPA declarations, duties and supporting ownership or compliance documents. A licensed customs broker can prepare the Customs entry and coordinate the import information required for release.
Using a broker can be particularly useful if the car is arriving by ocean freight, the tariff treatment is unclear, additional compliance documentation is involved or you are unfamiliar with the U.S. import process.
A customs broker cannot make an otherwise ineligible vehicle eligible for importation. The vehicle still needs to meet the applicable NHTSA and EPA requirements.
Some of the most expensive vehicle-import problems begin before the car ever leaves the seller.
Common mistakes include:
The best time to resolve these questions is before paying the overseas seller and before the vehicle is loaded for shipment.
A1 Worldwide Logistics provides international vehicle shipping, freight forwarding and U.S. customs brokerage for vehicles entering the United States.
If you are preparing to import a car, contact us at 305-821-8995 with the make, model, year, VIN, current location and U.S. destination. The earlier the vehicle’s eligibility, shipping requirements, and Customs information are checked, the more opportunity there is to resolve questions before the car is shipped.
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Importing a truck, tractor or heavy piece of equipment? The requirements can differ from passenger-car imports, particularly for EPA declarations and oversized transportation. See our guide to importing machinery and heavy equipment into the U.S. or call A1 at
Regulatory note: This guide provides general information and is not legal or regulatory advice. Vehicle-import requirements and tariff treatment can change and may vary by vehicle, age, configuration, origin and intended use. Importers should confirm current requirements with NHTSA, EPA, CBP and, where appropriate, a licensed customs broker or qualified vehicle-import specialist before shipping.
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