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Can I import this car to the USA?

Check eligibility under the 25-year rule, EPA, and NHTSA. See the current US car import duty including Section 232 and IEEPA layers. Get a verified result in 30 seconds.

The US car import process has three gates: the 25-year rule (which exempts vehicles 25+ years old from EPA and NHTSA compliance), current US import duties (base 2.5% plus any Section 232 or IEEPA tariff layers), and destination-state DMV requirements. Use the tool below to check your specific car. If you'd rather skip the math, our import specialists handle the entire process through our warehouses in California, Florida, and New Jersey.

 

How US car import works

Four steps, end-to-end, from the seller's driveway overseas to yours in the US.

1

Get eligibility + quote

Importing a car to the USA takes four steps: confirm eligibility, collect the car overseas, ship it to a US port, and clear customs.

2

We collect the car overseas

Our agents arrange pickup at origin and clear export documentation through the local customs authority.

3

Container or air to a WCS warehouse

Vehicle arrives in Oakland, Miami, or Newark. Our team unloads, photographs, and prepares the CBP paperwork.

4

Customs clearance and delivery

Documentation cleared, duties paid on your behalf, vehicle trucked to your door anywhere in the US.

US Car Import Law Tracker

Below is a running log of every US regulation, tariff, and state DMV change affecting vehicle importers, with the official source for each.

Last update: Jul 13, 2026
Jul 13, 2026 Tariffs Major · Expires Jul 24, 2026, 12:01 a.m. EDT

Section 122 10% import surcharge expires July 24

The 10% global import surcharge in effect since Feb 24, 2026 sunsets by operation of law on Jul 24. Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 caps a balance-of-payments surcharge at 150 days unless Congress extends it, and Congress has not. Duties already collected remain tied to the government's appeal in Oregon v. United States.
What this means for our customers: Classic vehicles over 25 years old sit outside Section 232, so they have been paying the full 10% surcharge. Entries filed on or after Jul 24 should clear without that layer, based on current law. Refunds on earlier entries are not automatic. Keep your entry summaries in case the appeal opens a claim window.
Source: Federal Register notice 2026-03824 ↗
Jul 13, 2026 Country-specific Informational · Talks begin week of Jul 20, 2026

USMCA review: third negotiating round set for Mexico City

US, Mexican and Canadian negotiators meet the week of Jul 20 for a third round of the USMCA joint review. The US is pressing to raise the regional value content requirement for autos from 75% to 82% and to add a 50% US-specific content requirement. Whether USMCA-qualifying vehicles would stay exempt from any new Section 301 action remains unresolved.
Source: AS/COA — Tracking the USMCA review ↗
Jun 2, 2026 Tariffs Major · Proposed; USTR decision expected on or after Jul 24, 2026

USTR proposes 10-12.5% Section 301 tariffs covering 60 economies

USTR issued findings in 60 Section 301 investigations and proposed responsive tariffs of 10% on one tier of trading partners (including the UK, EU, Canada and Mexico) and 12.5% on another (including Japan, South Korea and Australia). Autos and auto parts are in scope, but goods already covered by Section 232, which includes most modern passenger vehicles, and USMCA-qualifying goods are proposed exempt. Public hearings began Jul 7.
What this means for our customers: The proposed Section 232 exemption does not reach vehicles more than 25 years old, which sit outside Section 232. If adopted as written, a 10% (UK/EU) or 12.5% (Japan) layer could apply to classic imports. Quotes for fall arrivals should budget for it until the final determination lands.
Source: USTR press release, Jun 2, 2026 ↗
May 7, 2026 Tariffs Major · On appeal; collection continues through Jul 23, 2026

Trade court strikes down the Section 122 surcharge; collection continues during appeal

A two-judge majority of the Court of International Trade held that the 10% surcharge exceeded the President's authority under Section 122 in Oregon v. United States. The government appealed on May 8, and the Federal Circuit stayed the ruling on May 12, so CBP continues to collect the duty at entry.
What this means for our customers: No action needed now. The duty still applies at entry until the Jul 24 sunset. If the appeal upholds the trade court's ruling, amounts paid since Feb 24 could become refundable; we are logging every affected entry we clear.
Source: Skadden — Oregon v. United States analysis ↗
Mar 4, 2026 Tariffs Major · Refunds processing; protest deadlines apply

Court orders CBP to process IEEPA tariff refunds

Following the Supreme Court's Feb 20 decision striking down the IEEPA tariffs, the Court of International Trade ordered CBP to liquidate entries made between Feb 4, 2025 and Feb 24, 2026 without regard to IEEPA duties, and to reliquidate certain already-liquidated entries. No blanket refund program was announced; refunds run through the normal liquidation cycle.
What this means for our customers: If your vehicle entered the US between Feb 4, 2025 and Feb 24, 2026 and paid an IEEPA layer, the refund should arrive through liquidation. Importers have 180 days from liquidation to protest if it does not. We are filing for vehicles cleared through our own broker; customers who used outside brokers should contact us to coordinate documentation.
Source: Stinson LLP — IEEPA refund developments ↗
Showing 5 of 5 entries

US Car Import FAQ

The questions importers ask us most often, organized by topic.

25-Year Rule & Show-or-Display

What is the 25-year import rule, and how is it calculated?
A vehicle becomes exempt from EPA and NHTSA compliance 25 years after the date of its manufacture (not the model year). We calculate eligibility by production month, since some 2001 cars built in late 2000 enter the window earlier than others.
Which 1999, 2000 and 2001 cars are now eligible?
Anything with a build date prior to 25 years before today's date. As of mid-2026, that includes most of model year 2001 and earlier. Use the tool above to confirm a specific car.
What is "show or display" and which vehicles qualify?
A NHTSA exemption for vehicles of technological or historical significance. The car must be on the official list, used fewer than 2,500 miles per year, and may not require US emissions compliance separately.
Can I import a Skyline GT-R R34 to the US?
Yes — R34 GT-Rs built in 2000 or earlier are now admissible under the 25-year rule. Specific build months from 2001 are entering the window throughout 2026.

Duties, Tariffs & Current Law

What is the current US import duty on a passenger car?
The base HTS duty rate for passenger vehicles is 2.5%. Light trucks are 25%. Section 232 and IEEPA layers may apply depending on the origin and HTS code — the tool above calculates the current total.
How do Section 232 tariffs apply to my import?
Section 232 auto and auto-parts tariffs apply to specific HTS codes published by the Department of Commerce. Vehicles 25 years or older are exempt. Check the tracker above for the latest schedule revisions.
Am I eligible for an IEEPA tariff refund?
Possibly. CBP opens refund windows after policy changes. We file claims in-house for any vehicle we cleared. If you used an outside broker, contact us to coordinate the documentation.
How is duty calculated — on purchase price or appraised value?
Duty is calculated on the transaction value: the price actually paid, plus certain assists. CBP can challenge under-valuation, so the invoice should reflect the genuine purchase amount.

EPA, NHTSA & DOT Compliance

Does my car need EPA and NHTSA compliance to be imported?
If the vehicle is under 25 years old, yes. Either it was originally certified for the US market, or it must be converted by a Registered Importer (RI) for NHTSA and an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) for EPA. Vehicles 25+ years old are exempt from both.
What is an HS-7 / EPA 3520-1 form?
HS-7 is the NHTSA declaration filed with CBP at entry; EPA 3520-1 is the equivalent for emissions. We file both on your behalf as part of every import we clear.
Can a non-compliant car ever be imported?
Yes, under specific paths: 25-year rule, show-or-display, racing-use-only, or RI/ICI conversion. Each path has its own documentation. The tool above will tell you which applies to your car.

Documentation & Paperwork

What documents do I need from the seller overseas?
Original title or registration, bill of sale, and the export declaration from the origin country. For 25-year cars, we also need clear photos of the VIN plate and build date.
How do you handle the title transfer at the destination DMV?
We deliver the CBP 7501 entry summary, HS-7, EPA 3520-1, and the foreign title or its translation. Most state DMVs accept this package directly; some require a separate VIN inspection.
What if the car has no title in the origin country?
Some European countries issue a registration document rather than a title; both are accepted. For cars without any documentation, we can guide you through a state-by-state titling process — Vermont and Maine are common paths.

Shipping Logistics

Ocean vs. air — which makes sense for my car?
Ocean is the default: 30–35 days door-to-door from most European ports, $1,500–$3,500 for container consolidation. Air freight runs 7–14 days but documentation clearance can extend that. Air typically makes sense only for time-critical event vehicles.
How long does shipping take from Germany, the UK, or Japan?
Hamburg to Newark: about 28 days transit. Felixstowe to Oakland: about 35 days. Yokohama to Oakland: about 18 days. Add 7–14 days for documentation clearance and inland delivery.
Can I ship parts with the car?
Yes. Loose parts can be loaded inside the vehicle or alongside it in a consolidated container. They must appear on the packing list with their own HTS classification.
What happens if the car is damaged in transit?
Every vehicle is photographed at origin and at our US warehouse. Damage claims are filed against the carrier and, where applicable, the cargo damage protection policy. We handle the claim on your behalf.