The US 25-Year Car Import Rule: Safety, Emissions, Customs and State Tests

How the age is counted

NHTSA's FAQs say "the 25 year period runs from the date of the vehicle's manufacture." Model year, launch date and sale date are different events, and none of them starts the count.

For example, a vehicle manufactured on 15 December 2000 reaches 25 years on 15 December 2025. A vehicle manufactured in 2001 reaches 25 years on its own manufacture date during 2026. A build year does not become eligible as a whole on 1 January.

The declaration is filed when the vehicle is offered for importation (49 CFR 591.5), so the vehicle must already be 25 years old at that point.

Proving the manufacture date

If the date of manufacture is not on a label permanently affixed to the vehicle by its original manufacturer, NHTSA's FAQs say to have documentation available, such as an invoice showing the date the vehicle was first sold or a registration document showing the vehicle was registered at least 25 years ago.

Absent such information, the FAQs say "a statement from a recognized vehicle historical society identifying the age of the vehicle could be used."

EPA emissions (Form 3520-1, code E)

EPA applies its own age test. EPA Form 3520-1, code E, covers a "vehicle at least 21 years old (calendar year of manufacture subtracted from year of importation) and in original unmodified configuration." The form says Customs may require proof of vehicle age. EPA's explanatory page is headed "Importation of Vehicles Over 21 Years Old"; this page follows the form's "at least 21 years" wording.

The form says vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines are not eligible for this exemption unless the replacement engine is the same model as originally installed, or an engine with any aftertreatment from a certified vehicle no older than the one being imported. EPA's page says it has long read the equivalence requirement as an identical engine, "the same model and configuration as the original engine."

EPA strongly encourages importers to contact its Imports Hotline (imports@epa.gov or 734-214-4100) before importation. EPA says Customs or EPA can seize or export goods that arrive without the appropriate Independent Commercial Importer arrangements or a valid EPA exemption.

Customs entry and bonds

CBP's personal-vehicle page says Customs Form 7501 "will be the official document used for the importation of vehicles", and that this information would be distributed to all state Department of Motor Vehicle offices.

The 25-year provision in 49 CFR 591.5(i) carries no bond condition. The 150% bond belongs to the nonconforming route in paragraph (f), where "the importer has furnished a bond in an amount equal to 150% of the dutiable value of the vehicle." Customs entry bonds are a separate rule: 19 CFR 142.4(a) says merchandise shall not be released without a single entry or continuous bond on Customs Form 301, except as that section and 19 CFR 10.101(d) provide. Whether a customs bond applies depends on the entry. Ask your entry filer to confirm the requirement.

Younger vehicles and other NHTSA routes

According to NHTSA's FAQs, a vehicle under 25 years old that was not manufactured to comply with FMVSS cannot be lawfully imported on a permanent basis unless NHTSA determines it eligible. Those decisions are made on a make, model and model year basis. The importer must be a Registered Importer (RI) or have a contract with one. The FAQs describe a bond of 150 percent of declared value to secure conformity work within 120 days of entry and suggest asking RIs about feasibility and costs.

A vehicle that bears its original manufacturer's permanent FMVSS certification label can be entered as a conforming vehicle under Box 2A.

The FAQs say a vehicle shipped with its engine and power train, even if not installed, is regarded as a motor vehicle for importation purposes.

Show or Display, racing and temporary entry

The FAQs say Show or Display covers vehicles of unusual historical or technological significance. A vehicle imported that way cannot be driven more than 2,500 miles per year. As a general rule, NHTSA will not find a vehicle eligible if more than five hundred vehicles of the same model were produced, if a version was certified for the US, or if it was found eligible based on capability of being modified to conform.

For racing, the FAQs say a vehicle originally manufactured as a racing vehicle can be imported permanently under Box 8 with a letter from its original manufacturer. Any other vehicle can only be imported temporarily under Box 7 with a NHTSA permission letter, and a road vehicle must be in full race configuration. EPA's rule at 40 CFR 85.1511(e) says racing vehicles may not be registered or licensed for use on or operated on public roads and highways.

A nonresident may temporarily import a nonconforming vehicle for personal use for no more than one year, if it is registered in another country, is not sold in the US and is exported by the end of that year (49 CFR 591.5(d)).

State registration

California's DMV says some imported vehicles cannot be registered in California, or in the U.S. It says a direct foreign import not originally manufactured to meet California emissions standards and DOT FMVSS cannot be registered in California unless it is modified and tested under CARB's direct import program. Its title is branded "NON-USA" if it lacks a federal certification label and a U.S. emissions label attached by the manufacturer.

California's Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) says a grey market vehicle cannot qualify as a collector car, and that model-year 1975 and older vehicles do not require a Smog Check. That is a fixed model-year cutoff, not a rolling 25-year one. For grey market vehicles, BAR tells Smog Check inspectors to verify an emissions label from the BAR Referee before inspecting.

• State guides: California, Florida, New York, Texas and Washington.

A different age count for the tariff

Under CBP's April 2025 instructions, heading 9903.94.04 applies to entries "manufactured in a year at least 25 years prior to the year of the date of entry" and carries a "0% additional ad valorem rate of duty" under the Section 232 automobile measure. That test compares calendar years. NHTSA counts from the individual manufacture date, and EPA code E subtracts the manufacture year from the import year and uses 21 years.

For example, a vehicle manufactured in December 2001 and entered in February 2026 meets the tariff heading's year count, but under NHTSA's rule it is not 25 years old until December 2026. The NHTSA declaration still requires the vehicle to be 25 or more years old when offered for importation.

CBP's list of subheadings covered by the automobile measures starts at 8703.22.01 and does not list 8703.21.

Base duty and the July 2026 Section 301 duty

The International Trade Administration's vehicle import reference, checked 12 October 2026, lists a general base duty of "Auto 2.5 %" and "Trucks 25 %". The two rates differ.

CBP guidance CSMS 69326983 describes Section 301 tariffs of 10 percent to 12.5 percent on imports from sixty economies, effective July 24, 2026, with certain exemptions. For articles of Japan, heading 9903.05.49 sets a combined column one and Section 301 rate of 12.5% where the column 1 rate is under 12.5 percent. Heading 9903.05.48 adds no further duty where the column 1 rate is 12.5 percent or more.

Federal Register notice 2026-15181 (28 July 2026) lists, in note 52(f)(2), the passenger-vehicle headings exempt from these duties, including 9903.94.01, 9903.94.03 and 9903.94.60. The older-vehicle heading 9903.94.04 is not on that list.

On those provisions, an ordinary Japan-origin passenger car with a 2.5% base rate that qualifies under 9903.94.04 and has no other exception or measure would face 12.5% combined duty, as of 12 October 2026. That figure excludes fees and state taxes. This page gives no rate for trucks, small-car classifications or other vehicles.