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Import cost calculator

Calculate your import costs

Vehicle purchase price (FOB Japan)

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.

Destination country

State / province (optional — adds local tax & guidance)

Adds your state or provincial sales/use tax and registration to the estimate, plus kei-truck legality and the matching import guide where we have one.

Vehicle type

Kei trucks and cargo vans are charged the US light-truck duty rate (25%, HTSUS 8704). Kei cars, passenger kei vans and other cars of 1,000 cc or less (HTSUS 8703.21.01): 15% at any age, where the steel-derivative conditions apply (HTS 9903.82.10). Larger passenger cars: 12.5% for a Japan-built car made at least 25 years before the year of entry, 15% for a newer one. A duty rate is not permission to import.

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

$37,283CA$52,073£27,675A$53,226€33,178¥5,904,724

21% above purchase price — midpoint estimate · All costs converted from USD at current rate

Import cost breakdown for United States
Cost component	Amount	Basis
Vehicle price (FOB Japan)	$30,740CA$42,935£22,819A$43,886€27,356¥4,868,537	Your input
Shipping (Japan → United States)	$1,700CA$2,374£1,262A$2,427€1,513¥269,242	Range: $1,200–$2,200 USD · midpoint shown
CIF value (goods + freight)	$32,440CA$45,310£24,081A$46,313€28,869¥5,137,779	FOB + shipping
Import duty (12.5%)	$3,843CA$5,367£2,852A$5,486€3,419¥608,567	12.5% (2.5% base rate plus 10% additional on Japan-origin goods), absent another exception — of FOB
GST / VAT	—	No federal VAT (US); state tax at registration
Port / terminal handling	$350CA$489£260A$500€311¥55,432	Estimate — varies by port
Customs broker / agent fees	$650CA$908£483A$928€578¥102,946	Range: $400–$900 USD · midpoint
Total estimated landed cost	$37,283CA$52,073£27,675A$53,226€33,178¥5,904,724

United States import notes

For NHTSA purposes, a vehicle at least 25 years old may use the FMVSS exemption in 49 CFR 591.5(i)(1); confirm the individual manufacture date. EPA requirements are separate and depend on the vehicle's original configuration. State-level registration requirements and smog checks also apply separately. Duty on a Japan-built passenger car made at least 25 years before the year of entry: 12.5% (the 2.5% base rate plus an additional duty on Japan-origin goods), absent another exception; a newer Japan-built car: 15%; a car of 1,000 cc or less, such as a kei car: 15% at any age where the steel-derivative conditions apply (HTS 9903.82.10); kei trucks: 25%. A duty rate is not permission to import: a car under 25 years old generally cannot be imported permanently unless NHTSA has determined it eligible. Confirm the rate with a customs broker.

Includes import duty: 12.5% (2.5% base rate plus 10% additional on Japan-origin goods), absent another exception, for a Japan-built car over 1,000 cc made at least 25 years before the year of entry (HTS 9903.94.04 and 9903.05.49) (age counted from the listing's year; the tariff counts the year the car was made). 15% for a car of 1,000 cc or less (HTSUS 8703.21.01, which includes kei cars and passenger kei vans), whatever its age, where steel is at least 15% of the car's weight and less than 85% of that steel was melted and poured in the United States, entered from 8 June 2026 to 31 December 2027 (Section 232 steel-derivative rate, HTS 9903.82.10). Duty rates are estimates: confirm the rate for your car with a licensed customs broker.

USITC HTS, heading 8703 (2.5%: read 2026-11-05) · USITC HTS chapter 99, U.S. notes 52(f) and 52(k) (12.5%: read 2026-11-05) · USITC HTS chapter 99, U.S. note 16 and heading 9903.82.10 (15%: read 2026-11-05)

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. A car manufactured 25 or more years before the year of import is outside the Section 232 tariff (HTS 9903.94.04), but a Japan-built one is charged 12.5% in total: the 2.5% base passenger-car rate (HTSUS 8703) plus an additional duty on Japan-origin goods (HTS 9903.05.49), absent another exception. This calculator uses 12.5% for those cars and 15% for newer Japan-built cars, by the car's year as given (the tariff counts the year the car was made). A car of 1,000 cc or less, kei cars included (HTSUS 8703.21.01), is outside the vehicle tariff and is charged 15% at any age under the steel-derivative heading (HTS 9903.82.10) where its conditions apply. A duty rate is not permission to import: a car under 25 years old generally cannot be imported permanently unless NHTSA has determined it eligible, and EPA rules apply separately. These are estimates: confirm the 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

Cars you can import now

Listed in Japan, model year 2001 or older — past the 25-year import age rule. Confirm the manufacture date before you buy.

See more cars in Japan →

Import duty rates by country

JDM vehicle import duty and tax rates by destination country
Country	Import duty	Duty basis	GST / VAT	Age exemption	Shipping (USD)
United States	12.5%	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% (JAEPA)	FOB	10%	None	$1,800–$3,200
New Zealand	0%	FOB	15%	None	$1,600–$2,800
Mexico	Not confirmed	CIF	16%	None	$2,000–$3,500

Rates are for a Japan-built passenger car over 1,000 cc made at least 25 years before the year of entry. They are estimates: confirm the rate for your car with a licensed customs broker before importing.

United States: 12.5% (2.5% base rate plus 10% additional on Japan-origin goods), absent another exception, for a Japan-built car over 1,000 cc made at least 25 years before the year of entry (HTS 9903.94.04 and 9903.05.49). 15% for a Japan-built car over 1,000 cc made fewer than 25 years before the year of entry (US-Japan rate, HTS 9903.94.41). 15% for a car of 1,000 cc or less (HTSUS 8703.21.01, which includes kei cars and passenger kei vans), whatever its age, where steel is at least 15% of the car's weight and less than 85% of that steel was melted and poured in the United States, entered from 8 June 2026 to 31 December 2027 (Section 232 steel-derivative rate, HTS 9903.82.10). A duty rate is not permission to import: a car under 25 years old generally cannot be imported permanently unless NHTSA has determined it eligible and it is brought into compliance, and EPA rules apply separately. Kei trucks and cargo vans: 25% (HTSUS 8704). Source: USITC HTS, heading 8703 (2.5%: read 2026-11-05); USITC HTS chapter 99, U.S. notes 52(f) and 52(k) (12.5%: read 2026-11-05); Federal Register 2025-17908 (US-Japan rate) (15%: read 2026-11-05); USITC HTS chapter 99, U.S. note 16 and heading 9903.82.10 (15%: read 2026-11-05)
Canada: 6.1% most-favoured-nation rate. Free under the CPTPP (CPTPT) rate for a car that qualifies as originating in Japan (a car bought in Japan for personal use can qualify without a certificate of origin under CBSA's casual-goods rules; a car imported for sale or business use needs proof of origin). Source: CBSA Customs Tariff 2026 (6.1%: read 2026-11-05); CBSA Customs Tariff 2026, chapter 87 (0%: read 2026-11-05)
United Kingdom: 0% UK-Japan CEPA rate, for a statement on origin from the exporter. 10% without a statement on origin (standard non-preferential rate). Source: UK Trade Tariff, heading 8703 (0%: read 2026-11-05; 10%: read 2026-11-05)
Australia: 0% JAEPA rate, for a Japanese originating car, with origin documentation from the exporter. 5% without origin documentation (general rate on a used car up to 1,000 cc or over 1,500 cc). Free at the general rate, with or without origin documentation, for a used petrol car over 1,000 cc up to 1,500 cc (tariff 8703.22.11). Source: ABF Customs Tariff, Schedule 11 (Japanese originating goods) (0%: read 2026-11-05); ABF Customs Tariff, Schedule 3 (5%: read 2026-11-05); ABF Customs Tariff, Schedule 3, chapter 87 (0%: read 2026-11-05)
New Zealand: 0% New Zealand rate on cars. Source: New Zealand Customs, Duty and allowances (0%: read 2026-11-05)
Mexico: not confirmed. Mexico's used-vehicle decree sets 10% only for vehicles built in Mexico, the United States or Canada that are 8 to 9 model years old. We could not confirm the rate, or whether the car can be imported, for a Japan-built car. Source: DOF: Decreto por el que se regula la importación definitiva de vehículos usados (10%: read 2026-11-05)

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to import a JDM car?

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.

How accurate is this calculator?

The calculator produces planning-level estimates. Import duty rates come from government tariff schedules, and each rate on this page links its source with the date it was read. Mexico's duty for a Japan-built car could not be confirmed, so the Mexico estimate leaves it out. 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?

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.

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

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.

USITC tariff schedule, Chapter 87 · Checked 2026-10-17

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.

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. A car manufactured 25 or more years before the year of import is outside the Section 232 tariff (HTS 9903.94.04), but a Japan-built one is charged 12.5% in total: the 2.5% base passenger-car rate plus an additional duty on Japan-origin goods (HTS 9903.05.49), absent another exception. The calculator uses 12.5% for those cars and 15% for newer Japan-built cars. These are estimates: confirm the tariff codes with a licensed customs broker before importing.

USITC HTS chapter 99, U.S. notes 33(e), 52(f) and 52(k) · Checked 2026-11-05

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 Customs lists a 0% duty rate on a car if no concession applies. GST of 15% still applies on the customs value plus international freight and insurance (plus any duty).

New Zealand Customs, Duty and allowances · Checked 2026-11-05

Why is UK duty listed as 0%?

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.

Does this calculator include state sales tax or provincial tax?

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.

Which US states allow kei trucks on the road?

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.

Kei-truck state guide · Checked 2026-10-12

What fees does this calculator not include?

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.

Import guides

Cost is one part of the import picture. These guides cover the rest of the process.

Importing a JDM car from Japan — end-to-end overview of sourcing, shipping, and clearing customs
The 25-year rule explained — how the exemption works and which vehicles qualify
US import process step by step — DOT/EPA compliance, ISF filing, and port pickup
Kei truck legality by state — federal clearance does not guarantee on-road registration; check your state
RoRo vs container shipping — which method is right for your vehicle and budget
Importing to Canada — the 15-year rule, RIV exemption, duties, and provincial registration
Importing to the UK — CEPA 0% duty, NOVA, IVA or MOT, and DVLA registration
Importing to Australia — ROVER approval, SEVS and RAWS compliance, and JAEPA duty
Importing to New Zealand — entry certification, WoF compliance, and GST
Importing to Ireland — customs duty, import VAT, VRT, and registration

Data sources

United States: Duty: https://hts.usitc.gov/reststop/file?release=currentRelease&filename=Chapter%2099
Canada: Duty: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2026/html/00/ch87-eng.html · GST/VAT: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/businesses/topics/gst-hst-businesses/charge-collect-imports-exports.html
United Kingdom: Duty: https://www.trade-tariff.service.gov.uk/headings/8703 · GST/VAT: https://www.gov.uk/vat-imports-acquisitions-and-purchases-from-abroad
Historic vehicles (30+ years, opt-in): VAT Act 1994 s.21 · HMRC: how to value goods for import VAT · HMRC: classifying vehicles · UK Trade Tariff chapter 97 (Additional Chapter Note 1) · UK Trade Tariff commodity 9705100045 · HMRC: apply for an Advance Tariff Ruling
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
New Zealand: Duty: https://www.customs.govt.nz/sending-and-receiving/duty-and-gst/duty-and-allowances · GST/VAT: https://www.customs.govt.nz/business/import-entry/gst-duty-and-other-levies/
Mexico: Duty: https://sidof.segob.gob.mx/notas/5742285 · 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.

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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