What Duties Do I Pay Today on Classic Car Imports?

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 do I actually pay?” For classic and race cars, the answer has changed again with a new 10% Section 122 law that took effect today, replacing the old reciprocal‑tariff framework covered in our earlier guides like the piece on classic car duty structures and HS codes.

This article explains, in plain language, what classic and race‑car importers can expect to pay right now, what happened to the reciprocal duties, and how this update connects to the broader context in the SCOTUS tariff case and car imports overview. It is a logistics‑only summary and not legal or customs advice.

1. What Happened to the Reciprocal Duties?

Reciprocal Duties Are Cancelled, But Refunds Are Unclear

The reciprocal duties that previously pushed many classic car imports to 15% total (or 12.5% from the UK) have now been formally cancelled. That means:

• New entries no longer include the reciprocal tariff line that was tied to country‑of‑origin retaliation rates.

• The headline 15% total for many EU and Japan classics described in earlier articles like the global car import tax guide is no longer valid for new clearances.

• Classic cars once again sit outside Section 232, but they are now captured under Section 122, which functions as a different 10% layer.

However, for shipments that already paid reciprocal duties before today, the key concern is refunds:

• Refund mechanisms and timelines have not yet been published by CBP or the Treasury.

• Importers who already paid 15% under the old reciprocal regime will likely have to wait for official guidance on whether, when, and how refunds or re‑ratings might occur.

• The situation closely mirrors what West Coast Shipping described in earlier decision‑point coverage, such as the Supreme Court tariff and refund risk analysis.

Until formal procedures are announced, any refund expectations are speculative. Importers should treat potential refunds as a possible upside, not a guaranteed outcome.

2. Duties Today for Classic and Race Cars Arriving Now

The Short Answer for Classics and Race Cars

If you import a classic or race car arriving today, current guidance indicates you should expect to pay:

• 2.5% base customs duty, the long‑standing passenger‑car rate.

• 10% Section 122 duty on top of that.

Total duty today for classic and race cars: 12.5%.

This 12.5% total is structurally similar to the old UK rate described in our earlier articles but now applies broadly to classic and race cars that fall into the Section 122 framework.

Why Section 122 Now Applies to Classic and Race Cars

To understand the logic, it helps to recap how different layers interact, using earlier guidance from articles like importing vehicles under updated US policy:

• Section 232 is the national‑security tariff that historically sat at 25%, but classic (25+ year) and race cars have been treated as exempt under specific HTS codes (for example, 9903.94.04 for many classics).

• The new Section 122 law introduces a 10% duty layer aimed at cars that are not being hit by Section 232.

• The law generally excludes “auto vehicles” from Section 122 on the assumption that Section 232 would apply instead.

However, for classic and race cars:

• Because they are exempt from Section 232, they no longer bring any Section 232 duty.

• That opens the door for Section 122 to apply at 10%, on top of the baseline 2.5% customs duty.

Result: classics and race cars that previously paid 15% under reciprocal tariffs are now positioned at 12.5% total (10% Section 122 + 2.5% base).

The underlying HS‑code logic is similar to what we explained in the earlier HTS classic‑car duty guide, but with Section 122 replacing the old reciprocal layer.

3. How Today’s Duties Compare to the Previous Regime

Before Today: Reciprocal Tariffs in Effect

Under the previous structure, summarized in resources like the global import taxes and duty‑free options guide and the Section 232 and reciprocal tariff policy guide:

• EU and Japan classics typically paid 15% total, inclusive of the 2.5% base duty.

• UK classics generally paid 12.5% total (10% reciprocal + 2.5% base).

• USMCA (Canada/Mexico) classics often remained at 2.5% base due to trade‑agreement treatment.

Those rates were tied to country‑specific reciprocal schedules layered onto the base customs duty once classic cars were exempted from Section 232 but still subject to retaliation.

Today: Section 122 Replaces Reciprocal Duties

With reciprocal tariffs cancelled and Section 122 in force:

• Classic and race cars that qualify as exempt from Section 232 are now subject to 10% Section 122 + 2.5% base = 12.5% total.

• The previous 15% total that applied to many EU and Japan classics no longer applies for new entries.

• UK classic car duty effectively remains at the same total level (12.5%), but the legal basis shifts from reciprocal tariffs to Section 122 plus base duty.

Modern (non‑classic) vehicles and trade‑agreement scenarios can follow different rules, still covered in broader duty guides like how much it costs to import a car to the US and best countries to import a car to the US. This article focuses on classics and race cars because they are where Section 122 and prior exemptions collide most clearly.

4. Practical Takeaways for Importers Booking Shipments Now

Budgeting for Cars Already on the Water

If your classic or race car is already en route to a US port:

• Budget 12.5% total duty on the customs value unless your customs broker advises otherwise based on a specific HTS code or trade‑agreement treatment.

• Treat any reference you see to 15% classic‑car duties (from older articles or third‑party sites) as outdated unless explicitly updated to reflect the Section 122 change.

• Keep documentation of entry dates, booking confirmations, and any previous tariff classifications in case future refund programs distinguish between pre‑ and post‑law shipments.

Cross‑check your assumptions with up‑to‑date references like the tariffs topic hub and the SCOTUS tariff‑case article, which provides the higher‑level policy context.

Coordinating With Customs Brokers and Advisors

Given the number of moving pieces:

• Ask your customs broker which HTS codes and special tariff lines they plan to use for your specific vehicle.

• Request a duty estimate in writing that reflects both the 2.5% base and the 10% Section 122 component.

• For high‑value cars, consider whether it makes sense to pause, reroute, or stage shipments while guidance on Section 122 implementation settles.

Our country‑by‑country cost guide and related tariff articles are useful tools for baseline numbers, but only a licensed customs broker can tell you how the rules apply to your car on your entry date.

Important Disclaimer and Information Limits

This article is a logistics‑focused summary based on West Coast Shipping’s understanding of current public information and internal policy tracking as of June 2026. It is intended for general informational and promotional purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, customs, regulatory, financial, or investment advice.

Please keep in mind:

• Duties and tariff structures can change quickly. Laws, implementing regulations, and CBP guidance may be updated, suspended, or clarified without prior notice. Articles like the SCOTUS tariff‑case overview and the tariffs topic hub provide context but may be superseded by new developments.

• No guarantee of eligibility, rates, or refunds. Any duty percentages mentioned here (including the 12.5% total for classics and race cars) are general indications, not guarantees. Whether a specific vehicle qualifies for a given rate or refund depends on its classification, documentation, origin, and the decisions of customs authorities at the time of entry.

• Professional consultation is mandatory.

  • Always confirm duty rates and tariff treatments directly with a licensed customs broker before purchasing or shipping a vehicle.

  • For complex or high‑value imports, consider obtaining written legal or tax advice based on your exact circumstances.

  • Do not make major financial decisions based solely on blog summaries, examples, or media coverage.

West Coast Shipping provides logistics services—vehicle pickup, export and import coordination, container loading, ocean transport, and communication with your chosen brokers and advisors. We do not interpret or apply laws, represent clients before customs, or provide legal, tax, or financial advice. You remain solely responsible for your own due diligence and for obtaining qualified professional guidance.

For a broader overview of how court decisions and policy shifts interact with real‑world shipping, see our article on the SCOTUS tariff case and car imports and the related deep‑dive on Supreme Court tariff rulings and import duties.

Use West Coast Shipping’s Calculator to Plan Your Import

Use West Coast Shipping’s calculator and tools to:

• Build a shipping‑cost baseline (freight, handling, port fees) that sits alongside your broker’s 12.5% duty estimate for classics and race cars.

• Compare routes and ports highlighted in our guides—such as top US import ports and country‑by‑country import cost breakdowns.

• Share a clear, consolidated cost picture with your customs broker and advisors so that duty, freight, and compliance decisions are made on a unified, up‑to‑date plan.

Get a Duty‑Aware Shipping Quote for Your Classic Car

Knowing your likely duty rate is only one piece of planning a successful import project. Freight, port handling, domestic transport, and local taxes all need to be aligned with whatever structure Section 122 and base duties create for your car.