Kei Truck Import Guide 2026: Legal States, 25-Year Rule, Cost & Best Models
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on September 15, 2026 at 1:47 PM
About $7,500 gets a running 2000 Daihatsu Hijet from a Japanese auction to the door of our Richmond, California warehouse, duty paid. That figure surprises most first-time buyers in both directions. The truck itself costs less than they expect. The 25% duty and the state registration …
How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan to the US in 2026?
By Alex Naumov on September 15, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Updated September 15, 2026 to reflect the Section 301 duties that replaced the 10% surcharge on July 24, 2026, the 15% Section 232 rate on modern Japanese cars, and the 2001 model year entering the 25-year window. A 25-year-old JDM classic clears US customs at 12.5% duty in 2026. A mo …
Monterey Car Week Is Misunderstood: 241 Lots Sold Below Estimate
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on September 3, 2026 at 10:55 PM
At Monterey Car Week 2026, held 13–16 August in Monterey, California, 241 of 467 verifiable lots sold below their low pre-sale estimate across Gooding Christie’s, Broad Arrow, Bonhams and Mecum. 148 of them cost under $150,000.
The 50% Canada Tariff and Your Classic Car: What You Actually Pay | 2026 Guide
By Dmitriy Shibarshin, Alex Naumov on August 24, 2026 at 11:40 AM
A 50% tariff on Canadian goods went live at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on August 22, 2026, covering more than 500 tariff lines. Passenger cars are on none of them. We pulled the actual covered-article list, and the short version is that a collector car coming out of Canada pays the same 2.5% …
The McMurtry Spéirling PURE at Monterey: What Is It, What It Costs, and How It Gets Into the US | 2026
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on August 11, 2026 at 7:24 PM
McMurtry brought the production Spéirling PURE to California this week, and we got to stand next to one at Canepa two days before the public does. It is 40 inches tall, weighs 2,980 lbs, makes 1,000 hp through one rear axle, and generates 4,400 lbs of downforce while sitting perfectly …
US Car Export Customs: Verifying Vehicle Values Before Shipping | 2026 Guide
By Alex Naumov on July 27, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Every car exported from the US goes through an export validation check before it's cleared for shipping overseas. CBP officers review the title, any applicable lienholder release, the seller and buyer details, and the declared value on every single vehicle leaving the country. From a …
What Duties Do I Pay Today on Classic Car Imports?
By Alex Naumov on July 24, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Updated August 6, 2026. The Section 122 surcharge expired on July 24 and new Section 301 duties took effect. This article reflects CBP's implementation notice, CSMS #69326983.
Where to Buy Classic Cars in Europe in 2026
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 24, 2026 at 4:55 AM
The math on importing a classic car from Europe just changed again, and this time it moved in the buyer's favor. On July 24, 2026, the Section 122 global surcharge expired. The new Section 301 framework that replaces it leaves European classics at a combined 12.5% duty and drops UK cl …
Where to Buy Classic Cars in the UK in 2026: Auctions, Dealers & the New Tariff Math for US Importers
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 24, 2026 at 4:54 AM
If you have been waiting on the sidelines while US tariff policy sorted itself out, this is the moment to start shopping again. As of July 24, 2026, the temporary 10% global import surcharge under Section 122 has expired, and new country-specific rates under Section 301 have taken its …