Getting your JDM import onto the road in the US is the last step — and a straightforward one once the car has cleared customs. Here's how titling and registration works, and the couple of things that catch people out.
First: customs clearance
Registration only happens after the car is legally imported. When it lands, your US customs broker files the NHTSA HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 forms, pays the import charges (currently 2.5% duty plus a 10% tariff on the car's price, a rate your broker confirms before shipment), and clears the car — which is only possible because it qualifies under the 25-year rule. You'll receive the stamped clearance documents; those are what your DMV needs.
Titling in your state
You take the clearance paperwork, the original foreign title, the export certificate, the bill of lading and a bill of sale to your state DMV to apply for a title and registration. Registration fees and sales or use tax are assessed here and vary by state.
The right-hand-drive question
RHD is legal to register federally for 25-year imports — states title these cars as classic imports every day. It doesn't block registration; occasionally a state asks for a safety inspection, which an original, well-sorted car passes without drama.
It varies by state
The one real variable is your state. Florida and Texas are among the simplest; California and a few Northeast states layer on emissions or inspection steps. Our state import guides cover the local detail, and we flag your state's requirements before the car ships so nothing is a surprise.
New to the whole process? Start with how to import a JDM car to the USA and what it costs.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register an imported JDM car in the USA?
After the car clears US customs (your broker files NHTSA HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 and pays the import charges — currently 2.5% duty plus a 10% tariff on the car's price, a rate your broker confirms before shipment), you title and register it in your state. To get a title you present the sales contract and the New Zealand registration document to your local DMV, along with the customs clearance paperwork. Exact steps and fees vary by state DMV.
Can I register a right-hand-drive car in the US?
Yes. Right-hand drive is legal to import and register federally for vehicles 25 years or older, and states register them as classic imports. A handful of states may ask for an inspection, but RHD itself is not a barrier to registration.
What documents do I need to title an imported JDM car?
Typically: the CBP entry/clearance documents, the completed HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 forms, the original foreign title and de-registration/export certificate, the bill of lading, and a bill of sale. We supply the full New Zealand document pack so your broker and DMV have everything.
Do all states register imported cars the same way?
No — titling and any inspection requirement is set state by state. States like Florida and Texas are straightforward; a few (e.g. California, some Northeast states) add emissions or inspection steps. We flag your state's requirements at the brief stage.
