How to Import a JDM Car to the USA (Step by Step, 2026)

Importing a JDM car to the United States is more straightforward than most first-time buyers expect — as long as the steps happen in the right order. Here is the whole process from start to finish, the way we run it when we source a car from New Zealand for a US buyer.

Step 1 — Check eligibility (the 25-year rule)

Before anything else, confirm the car is 25 or more years old by month of manufacture. That is the federal exemption that makes a right-hand-drive JDM car legal to import and register. If you are not sure how it works, start with what the 25-year import rule is. We verify the exact build date on every car before you commit.

Step 2 — Source and inspect the car

Pick a car from our live New Zealand inventory or brief us on the exact spec you want. New Zealand's pool of clean, RHD, English-documented JDM cars is one of the deepest outside Japan, and — unlike a Japanese auction — the car can be physically inspected and driven before you buy. An independent pre-purchase inspection is an option we recommend: you receive a written condition and history report. Deeper checks like a compression test or a full diagnostic scan are further options you can add if you want them.

Step 3 — Reserve with a deposit

Once you are happy with the car, a transparent online deposit reserves it. That deposit holds the car — you are not paying in full up front; the balance and a full invoice come later, once the car leaves us for export. Ask us for a price breakdown any time and we'll tell you exactly what the figure covers — for example whether a US$44,000 price includes freight, or is US$44,000 plus freight. Importify's margin is in the car price; we do not add a separate US-side brokerage or service fee.

Step 4 — Export and ship

We handle New Zealand export paperwork, biosecurity prep (a mandatory wash and clean so the car clears US agricultural inspection) and the freight booking. Two options:

• RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) — the car is driven onto a vehicle carrier. Cost-effective and reliable, the usual choice.
• Container — sealed in a container, more expensive and a little slower, but the best protection. We recommend it for high-value cars.

Total logistics time from New Zealand to a US port is typically 2–3 months.

Step 5 — Import paperwork & US customs clearance

Don't leave the paperwork to arrival. The NHTSA HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 forms are best filed before the car leaves New Zealand where possible, or within the first week — the EPA form especially — and our agents help you get it lined up. When the car lands, your US customs broker clears it at the port, where the import charges are currently 2.5% import duty plus a 10% tariff on the car's price (the 10% tariff is current US policy and can change; we confirm the live rate before you commit). We supply the full document pack — original NZ ownership history, export certificate, bill of lading and the pre-shipment photo record.

Step 6 — Title and register in your state

With the car cleared, you title and register it in your state as a classic import. To get a title, you present the sales contract and your car's New Zealand registration document to your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles), along with the customs clearance paperwork. Registration fees and sales or use tax apply and vary by state — our state import guides cover the local process. If your state has extra requirements, we flag them at the brief stage so nothing is a surprise at the end.

Where we fit

We handle every step between "yes, I want this car" and the moment your broker clears it in the US — sourcing, inspection, NZ paperwork, biosecurity prep and freight. See the full cost breakdown, run your own numbers in the import cost calculator, or read our detailed source–inspect–ship walkthrough. Buying in a specific state? Start with Florida, Texas or your state.