Everything You Need to Know About Importing a Car Into the United States

If you’re a car collector who loves foreign makes and models, there’s a good chance that you’ve wanted to import a car to the USA. Although importing vehicles from Europe, Asia, or even Canada takes more work than buying a collector car locally, it’s a worthwhile endeavor if it means you’ll finally get your hands on the car of your dreams.

To give you a better understanding of how to import a foreign car, we have outlined some of the top import laws, rules and regulations so you can decide if importing a car is worth it for you.

Importing a Vehicle to the United States in 3 Easy Steps

When you are starting the importation process for a vehicle entering the United States, there are a few steps you need to follow first to ensure your car meets all of the eligibility requirements. These steps can be simply outlined as:

  • Ensure your vehicle meets U.S. standards for vehicle importation
  • Obtain required vehicle documentation
  • Thoroughly clean the car prior to shipment

These steps will allow you to seamlessly import your car from outside of the United States, while ensuring your vehicle is compliant with all of the local regulations. Additionally, the vehicle shipper should be able to provide more detailed information and assist you through the process.

Step 1: Ensure the Vehicle Meets U.S. Standards for Vehicle Importation

There are some other laws regarding EPA requirements, Department of Transportation’s (DOT) safety standards, emission requirements and more. The laws your vehicle needs to fall into compliance with include:

  • Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (1972)
  • Motor Vehicle Safety Act (1966)
  • Importing Vehicle Safety Compliance Act (1988)
  • Clean Air Act (1990)

These laws are in place to ensure that Americans are getting quality cars that meet the USA’s safety standards and Environmental Protection Agency’s emissions standards. Additionally, you’ll need to use one of the EPA’s registered importers. However, there is a law that allows for a few exemptions for cars under 25 years old called the “Show or Display Rule.”

Step 2: Obtain the Required Documentation for Importing a Vehicle

While entering the United States with a new car may seem overwhelming, it is actually a fairly straightforward process as long as you have the right paperwork. Before entering the United States, you’ll need to ensure you have the following documents:

  • Foreign registration/Vehicle registration
  • Bill of sale
  • Proof of insurance
  • Original bill of lading
  • EPA Form 3520-1 (completed)
  • DOT Form HS-7 (completed)

Step 3: Thoroughly Clean the Vehicle Before Shipment

In order to enter the United States with a foreign vehicle, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that the undercarriage of a vehicle is deeply cleaned to avoid brining in foreign soil. Foreign soil may bring along dangerous pests and invasive species, so the USDA would like to avoid that as much as possible.

Import Laws & Restrictions for Classic Cars in the United States

For decades, the US has maintained strict regulatory standards when it comes to importing vehicles from abroad. According to US car import laws, vehicles that are 25 years old or less must comply with the various rules set forth by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). 

Otherwise known as the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act, the “25-year import law” is a US regulation that prohibits individuals from buying and importing new foreign vehicles without first going through stringent testing. The law is designed to keep American drivers safe from potentially hazardous or unreliable vehicles. 

Additionally, cars may be required to meet certain standards for fuel economy. While an automobile may not be turned away for its fuel economy, the owner may face the gas guzzler tax, which is imposed on imported vehicles that does not meet the United States’ standards.

Show or Display Rule 

The “Show or Display Rule” is an amendment to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. It exempts certain makes and models from the 25-year import ban if they are deemed “historically or technologically significant.” Since they don’t have to meet the 25-year rule, many tend to be high-performance sports cars and exotic vehicles. 

However, this also excludes you from using your vehicle as a daily driver for personal use. Vehicles that fall under the Show or Display Law can only be driven up to 2,500 miles per calendar year. 

Importing Vehicles from Various Nations

When it comes to importing a car to the United States, you don’t just have to worry about the regulations set by the government and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency. You also need to follow the import laws from your vehicle’s country of origin. 

Most commonly, people are importing vehicles from the following countries:

  • Various EU Countries 
  • Japan
  • Canada
  • Australia
  • Mexico

So, we want to provide you with additional information on the importing process from these countries.

Importing from European Countries

Importing cars from European countries tends to be popular with car collectors, especially for aficionados of old-school, hard-to-find Porches, sporty Italian Alfa-Romeos and more. However, as a car collector who’s importing a classic or antique vehicle from from countries like Germany and Italy, you’ll still have to fill out the required paperwork and abide by US Show and Display laws. 

To import a European car, you’ll likely have to use one of the EPA’s verified Independent Commercial Importers to gain port of entry for your vehicle.

Importing from Japan

We’re often asked: “how much does it cost to import a car from Japan?” Given how far away they are from US soil, Japanese domestic market (JDM) vehicles are notoriously expensive to import and make compliant with FMVSS regulations and consequently, very few newer JDM vehicles are imported within the “25-year import law” period. Often, you can expect to pay between two and five thousand dollars on top of the car’s market value to have the car purchased, cleaned, and shipped overseas to a US port of entry on the west coast. 

If the vehicle is less than 25 years old, you will need to have the bill of lading from the shipping company, as well as the English translation of the Export Certificate, the English version invoice, and the original car title. 

Importing from Canada

If you’re wondering how to import a car from Canada, you must obtain a tag and insurance from whichever Canadian province or territory where your Canadian vehicle is imported from. To import a car from Canada to the United States, you must also obtain a certificate of origin, vehicle identification number (VIN), and the Canadian bill of sale.

Importing from Australia

To import a collector car from Australia, you’ll still need to file form HS-7 and form 3520-1. Classic cars older than 25 years old do not need to conform to EPA and DOT restrictions like newer cars do. 

Importing from Mexico

If you are planning on importing a car from Mexico, the process is fairly simple. While Mexican citizens can drive an imported vehicle in the U.S. for up to a year, U.S. residents will need to go through the full import process as soon as possible.

Your car will need to comply with DOT Safety Standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Standards, and EPA Emissions Standards. You should also ensure that there are no liens on the title, which you can find by running a Vehicle History Report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import a car into the United States duty-free?

Non-residents of the United States may import a car duty-free for up to one year if the vehicle is imported when the owner arrives in the country. For the most part, however, U.S. citizens cannot import a car duty-free.

The most common exception to this rule is when a vehicle is shipped from the United States to a foreign country and then shipped back to the United States. In that case, the owner may request duty exemption.

Is the process for entering the country with new and used vehicles the same?

Entering the United States with a new car is significantly harder than entering with a used car. You can expect to see an increase in paperwork needed and restrictions on what type of new cars qualify for importing.

What fees are associated with importing a car to the USA?

Duty rates and fees apply to any foreign vehicle entering the US. Although importing a car from Canada is free, vehicles from other foreign markets are subject to the following fee structure:

  • Automobiles (2.5%)
  • Trucks (25%)
  • Motorbikes (Up to 2.4%)

The values listed above are the percentage of the value of the vehicle that is applicable upon entry into the US. US citizens can bring their US-registered vehicle back from a trip abroad without incurring any charges from CBP.

Can you import a motorcycle to the United States?

Yes – you can import a motorcycle to the United States. However, they will need to meet the United States and the EPA’s emissions standards before entering.s older than 25 years old do not need to conform to EPA and DOT restrictions like newer cars do. 

Can non-residents import a car to the USA?

Non United States residents are permitted to import a car to the USA, but for only up to a year. 

Insure Your Classic Cars with a Company You Can Trust

With a little know-how, you can import a classic car from Japan, Europe, Australia, or any other foreign market without any headaches or hassles. Once you have your documents collected and your duty fees prepared, importing a foreign vehicle is mostly a waiting game as your vehicle ships to the port of entry. 

Once your vehicle has arrived, get a free quote from American Collectors Insurance and get started protecting your new passion. An imported collector is more than a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. With the right classic car insurance policy, you can ride with confidence and excitement knowing that your imported vehicle is protected.