Yes, right-hand drive cars are legal in the US. A Skyline GT-R or a Defender turns legal on age, not on which side the wheel sits: 25 years for the DOT safety rules and 21 years in original configuration for EPA emissions. In our view the steering wheel is the least of it. The build month, the 2.5% duty and your state's title office decide when you drive, so we would check all three before the bid.
Unique Model Lines – JDM legends and Euro-market diesels never sold stateside.
Collector Value – Limited-run homologation specials appreciate rapidly once eligible.
Adventure Builds – Camper conversions and overland Defenders start life RHD.
Before you fall for a foreign listing, confirm the vehicle’s path to legal U.S. status. Our classic car exemption guide explains the broad framework, but RHD raises extra questions addressed below.
A passenger car pays the 2.5% base duty under HTS 8703, plus the 0.3464% Merchandise Processing Fee and, by ocean, the 0.125% Harbor Maintenance Fee. CBP does not apply the Section 232 auto tariff to cars 25 or more years old. Measures tied to the country of origin change often; our classic car duty guide tracks what applies today. Trucks face the 25 percent “Chicken Tax” covered in our What Is The “Chicken Tax”?.
Vehicles 25 years old or more (to the month of manufacture) enter under Box 1 on the DOT HS-7, skipping the federal safety standards. On the EPA side, code E on form 3520-1 covers cars at least 21 years old in original, unmodified configuration. Our take: this is the only route worth planning an RHD import around.
Rare “historical or technological significance” models under 25 years may qualify for the 2,500-mile limited-use Show & Display program. Learn paperwork basics in our U.S. Show & Display overview.
If your dream RHD car is under 25 years and fails Show & Display criteria, a Registered Importer must modify and certify it to U.S. standards. We would wait for the car to turn 25 instead: on most RHD models the conversion is not worth it.
| Age | Path | Red Flags |
|---|---|---|
| 25+ years | Direct classic exemption | Rust, flood damage, missing emissions label |
| 21–24 years | Show & Display potential | Must meet NHTSA’s rarity list |
| < 21 years | RI conversion only | Airbags, crash beams, OBD compatibility |
Tip: Confirm build month, not just model year, before bidding at auction. A March 2000 Skyline becomes eligible in March 2025.
Verify title chain – Export certificates must match chassis number.
Hire a condition inspector – Dings and corrosion sink resale value later.
Secure lien-free ownership – Banks rarely finance overseas purchases; plan cash or escrow.
Gather documents – Invoice, export certificate with an English translation, and the bill of lading.
| Mode | Transit | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared 40-ft Container | By lane | Per quote | Budget imports, two cars, extra parts |
| Dedicated 20-ft Container | By lane | Per quote | High-value classics, flexible sail date |
| Roll-On/Roll-Off (RoRo) | By lane | Per quote | Running vehicles, minimal extras |
| Air Freight | By lane | Per quote | Urgent concours deadlines |
Price your lane by ocean or air on our import calculator. One opinion from the dock: air is not as fast as it looks. The flight takes days, but a car without its export papers ready can wait up to two weeks for them, so we would only fly a car with a concours date to hit.
Inland pickup – From the seller or auction yard to the port of loading.
Condition photos & VIN audit – Stored in your online portal for dispute protection.
Container loading – Soft-strap tie-downs; custom wheel cradles for low ride heights.
Export filing – Export certificate from the country of sale, plus the bill of lading.
Ocean transit – Shared container, dedicated container or RoRo to an East or West Coast U.S. port, or air when the date matters.
Customs clearance – A licensed customs broker files the entry, with the HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 age exemptions declared.
Final delivery – Door to door, through our own warehouses in California, Florida and New Jersey, which cover all of the US for imports and exports.
Our take: line up the US end before the car leaves the port abroad. A car waits at the terminal for paperwork far more often than paperwork waits for the car.
HS-7 Declaration – Check “Box 1” for 25-year-old vehicles; “Box 10” for Show & Display.
EPA Form 3520-1 – Check “Code E” classic exemption or “Code D” Show & Display.
Customs Entry 7501 – Lists the 2.5% base duty, MPF, HMF and any measure tied to the country of origin.
The Importer Security Filing must reach CBP at least 24 hours before the car is loaded on the ship abroad.
The customs broker pays the duty to CBP with the entry, and the entry summary goes in your title file.
| State | Key Hurdle | Typical Work-Around |
|---|---|---|
| California | CARB emissions & smog | Gasoline cars from 1975 and older are exempt from smog checks; newer ones must pass |
| Florida | Odometer disclosure form | Provide bilingual translation if kilometers |
| Texas | Safety inspection with tinted windows | Apply for classic plates to waive some inspections |
| New York | Title must show weight | Obtain certified scale ticket at inspection |
Always bring: customs release, stamped HS-7, bill of sale, title, and translation.
| Cost Component | USD |
|---|---|
| Vehicle price at auction in Japan | Hammer price plus auction and export fees |
| Inland trucking to the port in Japan | Per quote |
| Ocean or air freight to the US | On our import calculator |
| Port fees and customs broker | Per quote |
| US duty | 2.5% of value (HTS 8703), plus any measure tied to the country of origin |
| MPF and HMF | 0.3464% (min $34.58, max $670.86), plus 0.125% by ocean |
| Delivery from the US port | Door to door, per quote |
| Total landed cost | The sum of the above |
Ship with a friend – Two cars in one 40-ft container split the container and port fees.
Avoid peak sailings – Book the container when you bid, not after the car is paid for.
Bundle spare parts – Parts on the same bill of lading arrive with the car; declare them, because they carry their own duty rates.
Check the smog rule first: California exempts gasoline cars from 1975 and older; a newer RHD import has to pass.
Target weak-yen periods – Currency swings shave thousands off purchase price.
Yes. Federal rules do not say which side the steering wheel sits on. A right-hand drive car is legal when it meets the safety and emissions rules for its age: at 25 years old it clears the DOT safety standards on the HS-7, and at 21 years old in original configuration it clears EPA emissions on form 3520-1, code E.
Yes, if beam pattern dazzles oncoming traffic. Many JDM models offer switchable projectors; otherwise install DOT-approved lenses.
Not federally required, but some states demand MPH-dominant gauges. Electronic dash clusters often reprogram easily.
Yes, but be aware of state-specific road-use restrictions due to low speed ratings.
It depends on the port and on whether CBP or the EPA asks for an exam. A complete file, with the title, bill of sale, HS-7, EPA 3520-1 and the customs entry, is what keeps a car from sitting at the terminal.
A passenger car pays the 2.5% base duty under HTS 8703, plus the 0.3464% Merchandise Processing Fee and, by ocean, the 0.125% Harbor Maintenance Fee. CBP does not apply the Section 232 auto tariff to cars 25 or more years old. Measures tied to the country of origin change often, so check the current rate before you bid.
Our own warehouses in California, Florida and New Jersey, covering all of the US for imports and exports.
Ocean or air: shared container, dedicated container or RoRo, priced per lane on our import calculator.
Door to door, from the port abroad to your driveway.
Photo-verified chain-of-custody stored in your personal portal.
Our own team loads every car and handles every document at our warehouses.
Explore Asian routes at our Japan shipping hub and European lanes on the Ship Cars to Europe page.
Won a Skyline at a Tokyo auction, or found a Defender 110 at a UK sale? We ship it door to door by ocean or air. Price your lane on our import calculator before you bid.
It’s your dream car. Let’s bring her home.