The US lets you import a car that was never sold here new once it is 25 years old, with no crash-test or emissions conversion. That's the "25-year rule", and it's why Chasers, Soarers, Aristos and Hilux Surfs now show up legally on American roads. We hold over a thousand Japanese cars that already qualify.
Which cars qualify in 2026
A car qualifies when it is 25 years old from its date of manufacture, counted by month and year, not model year. In 2026, that's cars built in 2001 or earlier, with late-2001 builds becoming eligible through the year. We read the build date from the chassis plate before you pay. Our USA list below only shows cars that qualify.
The JDM cars Americans want
- Toyota Chaser, Mark II and Cresta (JZX90/JZX100): 1JZ-GTE turbo sedans, the drift icons. See our Chaser and Mark II guide.
- Toyota Soarer and Aristo: 1JZ/2JZ grand tourers. See Soarer and Aristo and Altezza.
- Toyota MR2 SW20 and Celica GT-Four: mid-engine and rally-bred turbo cars. See MR2 and Celica.
- Toyota Hilux Surf: the JDM 4Runner, often with the 1KZ diesel the US never got. See Hilux Surf.
- Toyota Celsior: the Japanese-market Lexus LS400.
- Classic Rover Mini and 1990s Porsche 911. See Mini to the USA.
The paperwork
- DOT HS-7: declare box 1 (25 years or older).
- EPA 3520-1: code E (21 years or older for EPA purposes).
- CBP entry (7501): your customs broker files it.
- Duty: 2.5% of the car's value for passenger cars (25% for light trucks under the "chicken tax", which can affect some Hilux pickups, so check with your broker).
Right-hand drive is legal in all 50 states. Some states add their own inspection or emissions rules (California especially), so check your state before buying.
Shipping
Cars ship RoRo or in containers to Los Angeles (about 2–3 weeks), Houston or New Jersey. We don't publish a fixed US freight rate yet, so ask us for a quote on the car you choose.
How buying works
- Pick a car from the list below (all 25+ years old).
- We confirm the build date and send photos, the auction sheet and export certificate.
- Pay; we ship; your broker clears it; you title and register it in your state.
WhatsApp us with the car you're after. We source from Japanese auctions daily.
