If you have looked at importing a Nissan Skyline, a Mk4 Supra or an RX-7 into the United States, you have run into the same three words: the 25-year rule. It is the single most important thing to understand before you buy, because it decides whether the car you want is legal to bring in at all. Here is the plain-English version.
What the 25-year rule actually is
Most Japanese performance cars were never sold new in the United States and were never built to US safety standards, so they cannot normally be imported. The 25-year rule is the exemption that changes that: once a vehicle is 25 years or older, it is exempt from the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) administered by the NHTSA. A separate EPA exemption applies to vehicles 21 years and older in original configuration — so in practice the 25-year mark is the point at which both boxes are comfortably ticked.
That exemption is what lets a right-hand-drive JDM car be imported, cleared and registered in the US like any other classic.
It is measured by month of manufacture
The clock runs from the month the car was built, not its model year and not January of that year. A GT-R built in September 1999 becomes eligible in September 2024; one built in April 2000 has to wait until April 2025. This is why eligibility for a model like the R34 arrives gradually across its production run rather than all at once — and why the build date on the actual car matters more than the brochure years. We verify month of manufacture on every vehicle before you commit.
Which JDM heroes are eligible now
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R32 (1989–1994) and R33 (1995–1998) — fully eligible today. See our R34 GT-R import guide for the next chapter.
- Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 (1999–2002) — rolling into eligibility month by month through 2027.
- Toyota Supra Mk4 (1993–2002) — most of the run is eligible; the final years unlock through 2027. See the Supra import guide.
- Mazda RX-7 FD (1992–2002) — most of the run is eligible. See the RX-7 import guide.
- Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I–IX — eligible by build date, with the later generations following on the same 25-year clock.
What the rule does not do
The 25-year rule waives safety compliance — it does not waive tax or paperwork. When the car lands, your customs broker files the NHTSA HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 forms, and the import charges — currently 2.5% duty plus a 10% tariff on the car's price (a rate that can change; your broker confirms it before shipment) — are collected. You then title and register it in your state, where registration fees and sales or use tax apply. Right-hand drive is legal federally for 25-year imports; titling is handled at the state level.
How we bring one in
New Zealand is one of the best places in the world to source an eligible JDM car: the cars are right-hand drive from new, the ownership and service history is in English, and you can have the actual car inspected before you buy — none of which a Japanese auction grade sheet gives you. Once you have found the right car, we handle export, biosecurity prep and shipping to your nearest US port, and coordinate with your customs broker on arrival.
Next steps: how to import a JDM car to the USA, step by step and how much it costs. Buying in a specific state? See our import guides for Florida, California, Texas and every other state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 25-year import rule?
The 25-year rule is a US federal exemption: once a vehicle is 25 or more years old, measured from its month of manufacture, it can be imported without meeting the current Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). That is what makes right-hand-drive Japanese cars — never sold new in the US — legal to import and register.
How is the 25 years measured?
From the month and year the car was built, not the model year. A Skyline built in March 2000 becomes eligible in March 2025. Because it is measured to the month, eligibility for a given model rolls in gradually across its production run.
Which JDM cars are eligible under the 25-year rule right now?
The R32 (1989–1994) and R33 (1995–1998) Skyline GT-R are fully eligible. The R34 GT-R (1999–2002) is rolling in month by month through 2027. The Mk4 Toyota Supra (1993–2002), FD Mazda RX-7 (1992–2002) and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I–IX are eligible by build date. We confirm the exact month of manufacture on every car we source.
Do I still pay import duty on a 25-year-old car?
Yes. The 25-year rule waives the FMVSS safety compliance, not the tax. US import charges are currently 2.5% duty plus a 10% tariff on the car's price, collected by your customs broker at entry (the 10% tariff is current US policy and can change). State registration taxes and fees apply separately when you title the car.
