HMF, MPF, DTHC & Customs Bonds: Key Fees for US Car Imports Explained (2026)
By Alex Naumov on May 28, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Importing cars to the US involves navigating a maze of fees and compliance requirements. From harbor maintenance charges to customs bonds, understanding these costs is critical for budgeting and avoiding delays. This guide breaks down the four most critical terms: HMF, MPF, DTHC, and …
Most Expensive Muscle Car Ever Sold: 5 Record Sales | 2026
By Felix Cater on May 26, 2025 at 10:28 AM
The most expensive muscle car ever sold is a one-off prototype: the first Shelby Cobra, CSX2000, at $13.75 million at RM Sotheby's Monterey in August 2016. The fourth is a 1968 Mustang GT 390 from a production run in the thousands, at $3.74 million, about $110,000 short of a Corvette …
Shipping a Classic to Thailand or Malaysia: Permits | 2026
By Dan Burkandt on May 22, 2025 at 2:00 AM
A US classic lands at a Southeast Asian port for $2,400 to $3,475 per car in a shared container, depending on the lane. In Thailand and Malaysia the permit and the tax rate decide whether it should go at all, and this guide shows where each one stands in October 2026.
UK Right-Hand Drive Conversions: Compliance for American Muscle
By Dan Burkandt on May 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Importing a Motorcycle to Australia From the USA | 2026
By Dan Burkandt on May 17, 2025 at 10:07 AM
A US motorcycle reaches Sydney from our California warehouse in 30 to 33 days for $950 in a shared container, with asbestos testing included in that rate. In our view the paperwork, not the ocean, decides when you ride: a bike with its original brake pads and no import approval sits a …
Power of Attorney for Car Shipping: Export Rules | 2026
By Dan Burkandt on May 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
A power of attorney for car shipping is one page, and the federal rules ask less of it than most guides claim: no notary, no country stamp, and in most cases no expiry date. The papers that actually hold a car at the port are the title and, when there is a loan, the lienholder's lette …
US-China Tariff War 2025: Context, Trade Deal, and Car Shipping Impact
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on May 13, 2025 at 10:41 AM
The US-China trade war reached new heights in early 2025, sending shockwaves through the global auto industry and international shipping. After months of escalating tariffs, a surprise May 2025 deal has temporarily eased tensions, but for car importers and exporters, the landscape rem …
Import Taxes & Duties for Cars in Georgia | West Coast Shipping
By Felix Cater on May 13, 2025 at 10:24 AM
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Understanding Georgia’s import regulations is critical for cost-effective vehicle shipments. At West Coast Shipping, we’ve streamlined customs clearance for thousands of cars arriving at Poti and Batumi ports. This guide breaks down the latest duties, taxes, and registration requireme …
Ship Cars to Georgia: Rates, Routes & Regulations | 2026
By Felix Cater on May 13, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Shipping cars to Georgia is a strategic move for importers, dealers, and collectors seeking access to a vibrant local market and a key re-export hub for the Caucasus and Central Asia. We ship used, salvage and collector cars door to door to Poti, Georgia’s main port of entry, from our …
The Hellcat Era: Dodge’s Supercharged Revolution
By Dan Burkandt on May 8, 2025 at 7:24 AM
In 2015, Dodge ignited a modern muscle car renaissance with the Challenger SRT Hellcat, a supercharged beast that shattered performance expectations. By 2023, its even more extreme sibling, the Challenger SRT Demon, pushed boundaries further, delivering dragstrip dominance while remai …
Classic & Collector Car Market Trends 2025: Global Demand & Shipping
By Dan Burkandt on May 7, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Classic American muscle cars have transcended their origins as domestic performance icons to become globally coveted collector’s items. Models like the Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda and Dodge Charger now command six- and seven-figure prices at auctions worldwide. Current classic car market tren …
Retro Renaissance: How the 2005 Ford Mustang Revived American Muscle
By Dan Burkandt on May 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM
In 2005, Ford redefined the modern muscle car with the fifth-generation Mustang, blending retro styling cues from its 1960s ancestors with cutting-edge performance. This bold move not only revived interest in American performance vehicles but also pressured rivals like Chevrolet and D …
The Golden Age of American Muscle Cars (1964–1973): Power & Legacy
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on May 7, 2025 at 10:43 AM
The decade spanning 1964 to 1973 marked the undisputed Golden Age of American muscle cars-a period defined by roaring V8 engines, fierce manufacturer rivalries, and a cultural revolution that redefined automotive performance. From the groundbreaking Pontiac GTO to the tire-shredding P …
Philippine Vintage Vehicle Act RA 11698: Import Guide | 2026
By Felix Cater on May 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Forty years from the date of manufacture. That is the line Republic Act No. 11698 draws for a vintage vehicle in the Philippines, and the Act lets "any person or entity" import one. It lapsed into law on April 15, 2022 without the President's signature, and we think it is one of the c …
Japan's Manufacturing Decline: Automotive Buyer Opportunities in 2025
By Dan Burkandt on May 6, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Japan’s industrial production fell 1.1% month-over-month in March 2025, with automotive output plunging 5.9%-the steepest decline since 2020. This downturn, driven by U.S. tariffs and supply chain disruptions, has created unexpected opportunities for savvy importers and collectors. In …
Auto Parts Tariff Impact: Reshaping US-Japan Supply Chains in 2025
By Dan Burkandt on May 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The May 3, 2025 implementation of a 25% tariff on imported auto parts has triggered a seismic shift in global automotive supply chains. While the earlier 25% tariff on imported vehicles disrupted finished car markets, this new policy directly targets the lifeline of automotive manufac …
Classic Car Exemptions Under The US–Japan Trade Deal: The New 15% Tariff
By Dan Burkandt on May 6, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The July 2025 US–Japan trade agreement brought sweeping tariff changes for the auto industry, but classic car shippers still hold a unique advantage—if they understand the latest duty rules. With modern cars facing a 15% US tariff on Japanese imports, collectors and dealers are asking …
Rare Muscle Cars: The 5 Rarest and What They Cost | 2026
By Felix Cater on May 3, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Eleven 1971 Hemi 'Cuda convertibles were built, and one sold for $3.3 million at Mecum Kissimmee in January 2026. Twenty 1967 Corvette L88s were built, and the three offered at Mecum in 2025 and 2026 all went unsold at bids of $2.5 million to $2.7 million. Rarity gets a muscle car int …
1970s Muscle Cars: What the Oil Crisis Really Killed | 2026
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on May 3, 2025 at 9:25 AM
A 1970 Hemi 'Cuda sold for $252,000 in April 2026. A 1977 Trans Am benchmarks at $41,914. The gap between those two cars is the story of how 1970s muscle cars ended, and we think the oil crisis gets more of the blame than it earned: emissions law and a new way of counting horsepower h …
Vintage Motorcycle Import: The US 25-Year Rule | 2026 Guide
By Felix Cater on May 1, 2025 at 6:00 AM
25 years for the safety rules, 21 years for emissions: those are the two numbers that let a vintage motorcycle into the US without federal compliance work. In 2026 that opens the late-1990s superbike generation, from the first Yamaha R1 to the Honda CBR900RR Fireblade. Our view: the a …