Import a JDM Vehicle
The paperwork-first guide to buying in Japan, clearing U.S. Customs, and building a title packet that survives the county counter.
Age is the gate.
For the common enthusiast route, the car must be at least 25 years old from its actual date of manufacture when it enters the United States—not simply “a 25-year-old model year.”
Establish the build date before purchase and keep evidence in the file: a manufacturer plate, first-registration record, export certificate, invoice, or other credible age documentation. NHTSA says the 25-year period runs from the manufacture date.
DOT / NHTSA
A vehicle 25 or more years old generally enters under Box 1 of Form HS-7 without regard to FMVSS compliance.
EPA
EPA uses a separate 21-year framework. The age exclusion depends on the vehicle remaining in original, unmodified configuration; engine changes can break the easy route.
Customs / CBP
Age exemptions do not replace Customs entry. You still need ownership evidence, the federal declarations, entry processing, and proof of release.
What's eligible now.
The 25-year clock runs from the build month on the car's plate, not the model year and not the first-registration date in Japan. A car built in March 2002 can enter under the age exemption in March 2027.
Already eligible
- Honda Integra Type R (DC5): production began July 2001, so early builds cleared in July 2026
- Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB): launched 2000
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A): 2001 builds
- Toyota Altezza: launched 1998
Coming in 2027
- Nissan Skyline GT-R V-spec II Nür / M-spec Nür (BNR34): launched February 2002, 1,003 built
- Mazda RX-7 Spirit R (FD3S): on sale April 2002, production ended August 2002
- Lancer Evolution VII GT-A: launched January 2002
- Final-year Supra (JZA80) and Silvia (S15) builds: production ended August 2002
- Honda NSX-R (NA2): 2002
Two different clocks
NHTSA counts from the build month. CBP's Section 232 auto-tariff exemption counts calendar years, so a car built in November 2001 can be tariff-exempt in January 2026 but still not NHTSA-eligible until November 2026. Ship on the later date.
Seven clean handoffs.
The easiest import is a chain of documents that all tell the same story: same owner, same chassis number, same purchase price, same car.
Qualify the exact car
Confirm build date, original engine/configuration, chassis number, and eligibility before money moves. JDM chassis numbers may not be 17 characters; copy them exactly.
Buy with titleability in mind
Get a signed bill of sale and the original Japanese ownership/export document. Make, model, year, chassis number, buyer, seller, price, and date should agree across every document.
Book export and ocean freight
Choose roll-on/roll-off or container service, confirm port fees and storage rules, and retain the bill of lading and arrival notice. Ask who is filing the Customs entry.
Prepare federal declarations
Complete DOT Form HS-7 and EPA Form 3520-1 using the eligibility basis that actually applies. Do not copy a box or code from somebody else’s import.
Clear CBP
Present ownership, shipping, DOT, EPA, and entry documents; pay assessed duty and fees. Preserve the signed/stamped release and CBP Form 7501 Entry Summary.
Inspect and reconcile
Before leaving the port, photograph the car and chassis marking. Compare every digit on the vehicle with the export certificate, bill of sale, HS-7, EPA form, and Customs entry.
Build the state title packet
Follow the state and county process for VIN inspection, title application, translations, tax, and odometer documents. Bring originals plus organized copies.
Read Japan's paperwork.
Two Japanese documents tell you most of what you need: the export certificate (the closest thing to a Japanese title) and the auction sheet (the inspector's condition report).
Export certificate
- Registered cars: 輸出抹消仮登録証明書 (Yushutsu Massho Kari-Toroku Shomeisho), issued by the regional Transport Bureau
- Kei vehicles: 自動車検査証返納証明書, issued by the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization
- Shows the chassis number, model code (for example BNR34), engine model, and first-registration date
- Only one original exists. Treat it like a title.
Auction grades
- 5: as new. 4.5: very clean. 4: minor blemishes. 3.5: needs some paint or panel work. 3: rough.
- R or RA: accident-repaired (RA is a minor repair)
- Interior A (as new) through D (burns, tears, smells)
Damage codes
- A1–A3: scratches
- U1–U4: small dents. B: larger dents.
- W: repaired or wavy paint
- S or C: rust or corrosion, common on snow-country cars
- X / XX: needs replacement / already replaced
The export certificate shows when the car was first registered in Japan. Confirm the actual build month from the plate or another manufacturer record before you count to 25.
Keep every page.
Make a digital scan as soon as each original reaches you. Port paperwork is much harder to reconstruct after the car is home.
Before shipping
- Bill of sale / invoice
- Original export or registration certificate
- Certified translation, if requested
- Build-date evidence
- Engine and chassis photos
Federal / port
- Bill of lading / arrival notice
- DOT Form HS-7
- EPA Form 3520-1
- CBP Form 7501 / release
- Duty and port-fee receipts
State title
- Foreign ownership original
- VIN inspection certificate
- State title application
- Odometer form if applicable/requested
- Statement of fact / correction support
Small car. Big trip.
The forms are dry. The payoff is not. An age-eligible Beat is exactly the kind of strange, joyful machine the 25-year rule opens up.
Honda Beat photography from the Aaron Goes Fast archive.
Build it for the counter.
The loaded Montana checklist calls for released foreign ownership, a VIN inspection, Customs entry documents, title application, odometer paperwork when applicable, and HS-7 support.
The Drive checklist is dated 2016 and notes that exceptions may apply. Call the Montana county treasurer before your appointment and ask what they currently require for a Japanese export certificate, translation, non-17-digit chassis number, VIN inspection, and odometer disclosure.
Cheap to keep.
Once the car is titled, Montana is one of the least expensive places to own an old import.
Tax and registration
- No general sales tax
- Annual light-vehicle registration for an 11+ year-old car is $28 plus the county option tax
- Vehicles 11+ years old can be permanently registered: pay the fees plus five years of county option tax once and skip renewals while you own it
- Title fee: $12
Collector plates
Montana collector plates require a vehicle more than 30 years old that is used solely as a collector's item, not for general transportation. Most 1990s JDM cars qualify as ordinary permanent registrations long before they qualify here.
Kei trucks
- Montana has no kei or mini-truck statute. A road-capable kei truck titles as an ordinary light truck (rated 1 ton or less).
- No special speed cap, but the minimum-speed rule bars driving slow enough to block traffic. A 660cc truck on an 80 mph interstate is a judgment call.
- Montana plates do not override another state's rules if you live elsewhere.
Insurance and RHD
Montana has no rule against right-hand drive. Collector insurers write agreed-value policies on Japanese imports; a standard policy may pay only a generic book value. Get a quote before you buy, not after the car lands.
Price the landed car.
The auction price is only the first line. Ask for written estimates and keep a contingency for storage, inspection, and document corrections.
Duty and fees, in dollars.
Approximate figures for October 2026. Rates change, so get a written entry estimate from your customs broker before the car ships.
Import duty
- Passenger cars: 2.5% base rate
- Since July 24, 2026, a Section 301 tariff brings many Japanese goods to 12.5% combined. Passenger vehicles have an exemption, but brokers disagree on whether it covers 25-year-old cars. Plan for 12.5% until your broker confirms otherwise.
- Trucks, including kei trucks: 25%. CBP has classified mini trucks as goods-transport vehicles (ruling HQ H299177).
Federal fees
- Merchandise Processing Fee: 0.3464% of value, minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 (fiscal 2027, from October 1, 2026)
- Harbor Maintenance Fee: 0.125% of value on ocean shipments
- Customs broker: roughly $400–$800. Bond: roughly $150–$500.
Freight, Japan to West Coast
- Roll-on/roll-off: roughly $800–$1,400
- Dedicated 20-foot container: roughly $1,500–$2,800
- Transit: about 2–3 weeks to the West Coast
- Plus Japan inland transport, marine insurance, and port-to-door delivery
At 2.5%, duty is $200. At 12.5%, it is $1,000. The MPF hits its $34.58 minimum and the HMF adds $10. The duty question alone is an $800 swing, which is why the broker's written estimate matters.
Import FAQ.
The questions that come up most before the first bid.
Does the 25-year rule go by model year?
No. NHTSA counts 25 years from the month the car was built. Check the build plate before you buy.
What is the duty on a car from Japan?
The base rate is 2.5% for passenger cars and 25% for trucks, including kei trucks. A Section 301 tariff since July 2026 may bring Japanese cars to 12.5% combined. Get a written broker estimate.
Do I need a customs broker?
Not legally, but most first-time importers use one to file the entry, post the bond, and handle the port.
Can I register a right-hand-drive car in Montana?
Yes. Montana has no right-hand-drive restriction. Title it with the export certificate, customs release, HS-7, and a VIN inspection.
Are kei trucks street legal in Montana?
Montana has no kei-specific law, so a road-capable kei truck titles as a light truck. Normal traffic laws apply, including the rule against driving slow enough to block traffic.
How long does importing take?
Ocean transit to the West Coast is about 2–3 weeks. Add time for purchase, export paperwork, port clearance, and titling, and plan on several weeks from purchase to plates.
Use primary sources.
Forms and procedures change. Download fresh forms shortly before filing and confirm port-specific instructions with CBP or your broker.
Educational field guide only; not legal, tax, brokerage, or title advice. This page focuses on the common permanent-import path for age-eligible enthusiast vehicles. Newer, modified, commercial, show-or-display, racing, off-road, and temporary imports follow different rules.