Question 1

How much does it cost to import a JDM car?

Accepted Answer

Total landed cost depends on the vehicle, destination, shipping method, tariff classification, and applicable taxes. Import duty, GST or VAT where applicable, shipping, customs processing, and registration can all affect the result. Use the calculator above for a planning estimate from your purchase price, then have a licensed customs broker confirm tariff classification and current rates before you transact.

Question 2

How accurate is this calculator?

Accepted Answer

The calculator produces planning-level estimates. Import duty rates are sourced from government customs tariff schedules as of 2026-05-12. Shipping and broker costs are midpoint estimates from industry ranges and will vary by carrier, port, and broker. Use the output as a starting point; verify with a licensed customs broker before purchasing.

Question 3

Does the 25-year rule apply to all US imports?

Accepted Answer

NHTSA's 25-year exemption, at 49 CFR 591.5(i)(1), applies to vehicles manufactured at least 25 years before import and removes the FMVSS requirement. EPA emissions requirements are separate; its older-vehicle route has original-configuration conditions. Vehicles under 25 years may need a different DOT/EPA route. These rules do not reduce import duty.

Question 4

Why does the calculator charge kei trucks a higher import duty?

Accepted Answer

USITC lists a 25% base duty under HTSUS 8704.31.01, within heading 8704, for spark-ignition goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight no more than 5 metric tons. The calculator uses this rate for the “Kei truck / cargo van” option. Have a licensed customs broker confirm whether that classification fits the vehicle and which additional tariffs apply.

Question 5

Can I register an imported kei vehicle in any US state?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. Clearing US federal customs does not guarantee on-road registration — that is decided by each state. As of 2026, several states do not register kei vehicles for general road use, others restrict them to lower-speed roads or off-road/farm use, and several have recently passed laws allowing them. The rules are changing quickly. Confirm your state's current kei vehicle policy with your DMV before purchasing.

Question 6

Have US import tariffs on Japanese vehicles changed recently?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A 25% Section 232 tariff on imported vehicles took effect in April 2025, and a US–Japan trade agreement set a 15% rate on Japanese vehicles in September 2025. Vehicles manufactured 25 or more years before the year of import are documented as exempt from the Section 232 tariff (HTS 9903.94.04), so this calculator applies the 2.5% base passenger-car rate for eligible classic imports. The effective rate for newer vehicles is higher, and additional surcharge rules have been subject to ongoing legal challenge. Verify the applicable tariff codes with a licensed customs broker before importing.

Question 7

What is Canada's 15-year rule?

Accepted Answer

Vehicles 15 or more years old at the time of import are exempt from Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) under Transport Canada's Vehicle Importation Program. This makes many 2010 and older JDM vehicles eligible for straightforward import without full compliance modification.

Question 8

Why is New Zealand duty listed as 0%?

Accepted Answer

New Zealand applies a 0% import tariff on passenger vehicles from Japan under the NZ–Japan Free Trade Agreement (NZFTA), confirmed via NZ Customs. GST of 15% still applies on the customs value plus international freight and insurance (plus any duty).

Question 9

Why is UK duty listed as 0%?

Accepted Answer

Under the UK–Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), passenger cars manufactured in Japan qualify for a 0% preferential customs duty — the tariff-elimination schedule completed in 2026. The preferential rate is not automatic: the exporter must supply a statement on origin. Without it, the standard non-preferential rate (10%) applies. VAT at 20% applies on (CIF + duty), with one exception: a car made 30+ years ago, kept in historically correct condition (not modified or modernised), and of a model no longer in production may be declared as a historic vehicle (commodity code 9705 10 00 45) at 0% duty, with VAT charged at 20% on 25% of the value - an effective 5%. The importer or broker has to declare it; it is not automatic.

Question 10

Does this calculator include state sales tax or provincial tax?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when you select your US state or Canadian province. The calculator adds that jurisdiction's vehicle sales, use, or excise tax and a typical title-plus-registration estimate to the landed total, each figure sourced from an official state or provincial government page (linked in the breakdown). These taxes are billed at registration in your home jurisdiction, not at the border. The figure shown is the state or provincial base rate; county and local add-ons, weight- or value-based registration surcharges, and trade-in credits vary and are not included. Canada's 5% federal GST is shown separately as the federal line, so the provincial figure is the provincial portion only — the two never double-count.

Question 11

Which US states allow kei trucks on the road?

Accepted Answer

The guide's selected-state table uses the labels “Full road use”, “Restricted” and “Prohibited”. These summarize the cited rules for each listed state; road and vehicle restrictions still need checking. Select your state in the calculator or open the kei-truck legality guide to read the relevant entry, then confirm the current policy with that state's DMV before purchasing.

Question 12

What fees does this calculator not include?

Accepted Answer

Beyond the state or provincial tax and registration shown when you select your region, it excludes county and local sales-tax add-ons, weight- or value-based registration surcharges, vehicle inspection fees, compliance modification costs (e.g. headlight conversion, bumper modifications for UK IVA), auction fees if purchasing at Japanese auction (typically 3–5%), and currency exchange risk on JPY-denominated prices.

Country	Import duty	Duty basis	GST / VAT	Age exemption	Shipping (USD)
United States	2.5%	FOB	—	25 years	$1,200–$2,200
Canada	6.1%	FOB	5%	15 years	$1,400–$2,500
United Kingdom	0% (CEPA)	CIF	20% 5% historic (30+ yrs)	None	$3,000–$5,000
Australia	0% (NZFTA)	FOB	10%	None	$1,800–$3,200
New Zealand	0% (NZFTA)	FOB	15%	None	$1,600–$2,800
Mexico	10.0%	CIF	16%	None	$2,000–$3,500

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