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Import cost calculator

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FOB (Free on Board) = the price you pay for the car in Japan, before shipping. Non-USD amounts are converted to USD for calculation using daily exchange rates.

Kei trucks and cargo vans are charged the US light-truck duty rate (25%, HTSUS 8704). Kei cars and passenger cars use the 2.5% rate.

Estimate the total landed cost to import a JDM vehicle from Japan to your country. Duty rates sourced from official customs authorities.

Estimated costs — Japan to United States

Estimated total landed cost
$18,066CA$24,987£13,451A$25,308€15,532¥2,881,050
21% above purchase price — midpoint estimate · All costs converted from USD at current rate
Import cost breakdown for United States
Cost component Amount
Vehicle price (FOB Japan) $14,950CA$20,677£11,131A$20,943€12,853¥2,384,098
Shipping (Japan → United States) $1,700CA$2,351£1,266A$2,381€1,462¥271,101
CIF value (customs basis) $16,650CA$23,028£12,397A$23,324€14,315¥2,655,199
Import duty (2.5%) $416CA$576£310A$583€358¥66,380
GST / VAT —
Port / terminal handling $350CA$484£261A$490€301¥55,815
Customs broker / agent fees $650CA$899£484A$911€559¥103,656
Total estimated landed cost $18,066CA$24,987£13,451A$25,308€15,532¥2,881,050

United States import notes

Vehicles must be 25+ years old to be exempt from FMVSS and EPA emissions standards (49 CFR 571.7 + 49 CFR Part 591 for the FMVSS/CBP exemption; 40 CFR §85.1511 for the EPA emissions exemption). Vehicles under 25 years require formal conformance or "show or display" exemption (extremely limited, <5 cars/year). EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 required at entry. State-level registration requirements and smog checks apply separately.

Age exemption: Vehicles 25+ years old may qualify for a simplified import pathway.

Duty source: hts.usitc.gov

US import tariffs changed in 2025

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 (HTSUS 8703) for eligible classic imports. Vehicles newer than 25 years are charged a higher effective rate, and additional surcharge rules have been subject to ongoing legal challenge. Verify the applicable tariff codes with a licensed customs broker before importing.

What this estimate does not include

  • Vehicle inspection and compliance modification costs (headlights, bumpers, emissions systems)
  • State, province, or territorial registration and licensing fees
  • RoRo vs container shipping choice (~$300–$800 difference depending on port)
  • Japanese auction purchase fees if buying at auction (typically 3–5% of hammer price)
  • Currency exchange risk on JPY-denominated purchase price
  • Insurance during transit (recommended; typically 1–1.5% of vehicle value)

Next steps

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Import duty rates by country

JDM vehicle import duty and tax rates by destination country
Country Import duty GST / VAT
United States 2.5% —
Canada 6.1% 5%
United Kingdom 6.5% 20%
Australia 5.0% 10%
New Zealand 0% (NZFTA) 15%
Mexico 10.0% 16%

Duty rates sourced from official customs tariff schedules. The United States row shows the 2.5% base passenger-car rate (HTSUS 8703); kei trucks and cargo vans are charged 25% (HTSUS 8704), and US vehicle tariffs changed in 2025 — select United States above for details. US section reviewed 2026-05-21; other countries current as of 2026-05-12. Verify with a licensed broker before importing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to import a JDM car?
Total landed cost for a JDM passenger car typically runs 15% to 55% above the vehicle's FOB Japan purchase price, depending on destination country and vehicle value. Import duty is the largest variable: 0% in New Zealand (NZFTA), 2.5% on US passenger cars 25+ years old (HTSUS 8703 with Section 232 exemption HTS 9903.94.04), 5% in Australia, 6.1% in Canada, 6.5% in the United Kingdom, an effective 10% in Mexico (Japan-origin vehicles do not qualify for USMCA preferential rate), and 25% on US kei trucks and light-cargo vans (HTSUS 8704, the long-standing “chicken tax”). GST or VAT stacks on top of CIF + duty in every destination except the US, where state sales tax is collected separately at registration. Shipping from Japanese ports (Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya) ranges roughly $1,200 to $5,000 USD depending on destination and the RoRo-vs-container choice. Use the calculator above for an itemized estimate from your specific purchase price; figures are planning-level and a licensed customs broker should confirm tariff classification and current rates before you transact.
How accurate is this calculator?
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.
Does the 25-year rule apply to all US imports?
The 25-year exemption (49 CFR 571.7 and 49 CFR Part 591 for the FMVSS/CBP side; 40 CFR §85.1511 for the EPA emissions side) applies to vehicles that were manufactured 25 or more years before the date of import, exempting them from FMVSS and EPA emissions standards. Vehicles under 25 years require formal DOT/EPA conformance, which is expensive and rarely feasible for private imports. The exemption covers safety and emissions compliance only — it does not reduce import duty.
Why does the calculator charge kei trucks a higher import duty?
Kei trucks and kei cargo vans are classified as light trucks under US tariff schedule heading 8704, which carries a 25% import duty — the long-standing “chicken tax” in place since 1964. Kei passenger cars and kei vans in passenger configuration fall under heading 8703 at the 2.5% car rate, the same as any other JDM passenger car. The 25-year rule does not reduce this duty. Select “Kei truck / cargo van” as the vehicle type to apply the 25% rate.
Can I register an imported kei vehicle in any US state?
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. Kei vehicles are not approved for interstate-highway use in any state.
Have US import tariffs on Japanese vehicles changed recently?
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.
What is Canada's 15-year rule?
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.
Why is New Zealand duty listed as 0%?
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 (CIF).
What fees does this calculator not include?
Registration and licensing fees (vary by state/province/territory), 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.

Data sources

United States
Duty: https://hts.usitc.gov/ (Chapter 87, heading 8703)
Canada
Duty: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2024/01/t2024-01-84-88-e.html · GST/VAT: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/b-027.html
United Kingdom
Duty: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/8703 · GST/VAT: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-vat-on-imports-and-exports
Australia
Duty: https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/tariff-classification/current-tariff/schedule-3 · GST/VAT: https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/gst/in-detail/rules-for-specific-transactions/cars-and-other-vehicles
New Zealand
Duty: https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/tariff/ · GST/VAT: https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import-entry/gst-duty-and-other-levies/
Mexico
Duty: https://www.sat.gob.mx/tramites/17164/importacion-de-vehiculos · GST/VAT: https://www.sat.gob.mx/consultas/17145/iva
Shipping cost ranges
Industry broker averages (not government-sourced). Japan RoRo export ports: Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya. Ranges as of 2026 Q1. Verify current rates with your freight forwarder.

Last verified: 2026-05-12. Customs regulations change. This calculator is provided for planning purposes only; it does not constitute customs or legal advice. Consult a licensed customs broker in your country before importing.

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