EU vs UK Classic Car Import Duty: Why a Porsche Pays 10% and a Jaguar Pays 12.5% (2026)
By Alex Naumov on September 24, 2026 at 10:37 AM
Short answer A passenger car 25 years or older pays a 2.5% base duty. The Section 301 duty that started July 24, 2026 treats that 2.5% differently for the EU and the UK: EU-built: 10% combined. The 2.5% is counted inside the 10%. Total 10%. UK-built: 10% additional. The 10% is added o …
Chain of Custody in US Car Imports: 2026 Document Guide
By Felix Cater, Alex Naumov on September 17, 2026 at 9:20 AM
What "Chain of Custody" Means When Importing a Car to the United States US Customs asks for one transfer document per ownership handoff, no matter how many hands a car has passed through. Chain of custody is that paper trail: every documented ownership transfer a vehicle has been thro …
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 …
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% …
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 …
Trump's 50% Tariff on Canadian-Built Cars
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on July 21, 2026 at 10:12 AM
President Trump signed three proclamations on July 20, 2026 imposing an additional 50% tariff on Canadian-built motor vehicles, dairy, and alcohol. The duties take effect August 19. Here is what the new Canada tariffs actually cover, how they stack with existing US auto tariffs, and w …
What Duties Do I Pay Today To Import Race Cars To The USA?
By Dmitriy Shibarshin, Alex Naumov on June 5, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Race Car and Track-Only Car Import Duties Today: What Section 122 Means for Your Build | 2026 Guide After months of shifting guidance on Section 232, reciprocal tariffs, and classic‑car exemptions, many importers are asking a simple question: “If my car clears US customs today, what d …
Show and Display Law Explained: Which Cars Qualify | 2026
By Dmitriy Shibarshin on June 3, 2026 at 7:00 AM
In 1999, one impounded Porsche rewrote the rules for US car import. Bill Gates and Paul Allen had each bought a Porsche 959, a car US regulators refused to admit because it was never crash-tested or emissions-certified for our roads. The cars sat in a customs warehouse for 13 years. T …