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 modern Japanese car pays 15%. On a $35,000 R33 Skyline GT-R that is $4,375 in duty, about $165 in processing fees, and $3,050 in ocean freight from Yokohama to New York. This guide itemizes every line, from the tariff stack to EPA/DOT compliance, right-hand-drive registration, and domestic delivery.
Related: the best 90s JDM cars and what they're worth in 2026.
Three rulings and one expiry rewrote the numbers this year. Any source published before July 24, 2026 is out of date.
What that produces on CBP Form 7501:
Rates are set by executive action and can move with little notice. Your customs broker confirms the rate at entry. For a deeper look at how Section 301 works by origin, see our classic car duty guide.
Two different 25-year tests apply, and they do not use the same clock.
For the Section 232 exemption, CBP looks at the year of manufacture against the year of entry. A car built in 2001 qualifies for all of calendar 2026, whichever month it was built.
For DOT admission under the NHTSA 25-year exemption, the car must be 25 years old to the month of manufacture. An October 2001 build clears DOT from October 2026 onward. EPA uses a separate 21-year test, so any 2001 car already clears that one. Check the build plate, not the model year.
Models that enter the window during 2026:
Classic JDM, $25,000 purchase, 25-year exemption qualified
Modern Japanese performance car, $46,000 purchase, under 25 years
A modern JDM car needs a Registered Importer to bring it into DOT compliance, and the RI can only do that if NHTSA has determined the model is eligible. Most Japan-only models have no such determination, and the practical options are Show or Display or waiting for the 25th year.
Where an RI path exists, indicative costs:
Where no RI path exists, an Independent Commercial Importer can certify the car for EPA, but DOT still requires an eligibility determination. ICI work runs $25,000 to $50,000 for EPA testing, $18,000 to $45,000 for DOT testing when it applies, and $10,000 to $25,000 in administration. Few cars justify a $53,000 to $120,000 bill against waiting a few years.
Classic JDM: 1998 Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 V-Spec
Modern JDM: 2015 Honda Civic Type R FK2, assuming an RI pathway
Strip out the purchase prices and the classic costs $9,240 to land against $25,950 for the modern car. $16,000 of that gap is compliance work the classic never needs.
For a quote on your specific car, port, and delivery address, use our car import calculator.
A 45-day Pacific crossing involves two port handlings, a canal transit, and a rail or truck leg on either end. West Coast Shipping offers optional Cargo Damage Protection covering loss or damage in transit, including loading and unloading, weather events at sea, and handling incidents at the terminal. On a GT-R, Supra, or NSX the premium is a small line next to the replacement cost.
Auction access: we bid on your behalf at USS, JU, and TAA auctions, which list thousands of cars each week.
Auction sheet translation: we translate the inspection sheet, grade, and condition notes before you bid, so the decision is made on the actual condition of the car.
25-year check: we confirm the build date on the chassis plate against both the CBP and NHTSA clocks before purchase, so a 2001 car is not bought a month too early.
Routing: East Coast versus West Coast arrival planned against transit time, ocean cost, and your delivery address.
RHD guidance: state-by-state registration rules for RHD and kei vehicles before the car ships.
Customs entry is filed by a licensed broker. We coordinate the documents and keep you informed of any rate change that affects your entry.
To compare Japan with other origins, see our country-by-country import cost guide.
Ready to begin your JDM import journey? Contact our Japanese import specialists today for a personalized cost breakdown covering the 25-year rule, Pacific routing, RHD registration, and compliance, and discover how simple bringing your dream car home can be.
A 25-year-old JDM classic pays 12.5% duty plus about $165 in CBP fees and $3,050 in ocean freight to New York. A $35,000 1998 Skyline GT-R R33 lands for about $44,240 including collection, brokerage, and US delivery. A modern car pays 15% duty plus $10,600 to $30,000 in Registered Importer compliance work.
Modern Japanese passenger cars pay 15% under Section 232, inclusive of the 2.5% base duty, since September 16, 2025. Classics 25 years and older are exempt from Section 232 under HTS 9903.94.04 and instead pay Section 301, capped at 12.5% combined with the base duty, effective July 24, 2026. Light trucks pay the 25% Chicken Tax.
Cars manufactured in 2001 enter the window during 2026. CBP applies the Section 232 exemption by year of manufacture, so any 2001 build qualifies all year. NHTSA counts 25 years from the month of manufacture, so an October 2001 car clears DOT in October 2026. The R34 GT-R V-Spec II, S2000 AP1, Evo VII, and DC5 Integra Type R all arrive this year.
No. RHD is legal at the federal level and most states register RHD cars routinely. A few states add inspection or insurance steps, and some restrict kei vehicles on public roads. A professional RHD to LHD conversion costs $20,000 to $40,000, and most JDM buyers keep the car as built for originality and value.
Yokohama to New York runs about 45 days by container via the Panama Canal at about $3,050. West Coast ports such as Los Angeles and Oakland are shorter, typically two to three weeks on the water. Transit and cost vary with the port pair, carrier schedule, season, and container availability, and are not guaranteed.