How to Import a Car from Japan — Complete Process Guide

This guide covers the end-to-end process of importing a Japanese domestic market (JDM) vehicle from Japan to a destination country — principally the United States, Canada, and Australia. The regulatory frameworks differ by destination, and each step has specific documentation requirements. Buyers who have not done this before are advised to use a licensed customs broker, particularly for their first import, as errors in entry documentation result in storage charges, penalties, or outright rejection of the vehicle.

Most JDM imports originate from Japanese automobile auction networks (USS, TAA, JU, ZIP, Aucnet) or from Japan-based export dealers. Auction purchases require a licensed domestic agent because overseas buyers cannot bid directly at major Japanese auctions. Export dealers based in Japan purchase vehicles independently and list them for direct overseas sale; this is how most private buyers access the market without an auction agent. When buying through a dealer, confirm the vehicle's Japanese title (shakken) status and confirm that the dealer holds a valid export license. Request the export certificate (Yushutsu Shomeisho) and the de-registration notice (Jidosha Tsuroku Shomei) — both are required at the destination-country customs entry.

Japanese export regulations require that vehicles older than approximately 5 years and/or with odometer readings above a threshold are inspected by MOLIT (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) before export. The exporter lodges an export declaration with Japanese Customs and obtains an export customs clearance certificate. The vehicle is then transported to the port of departure (Nagoya, Yokohama, Osaka, Moji, and Kobe are the principal JDM export ports) and loaded onto a vessel. The exporter or their freight forwarder provides the Bill of Lading (B/L), the de-registration notice, the export certificate, and an invoice as the core shipping documents.

Two primary shipping methods are used for JDM vehicle imports. Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) means the vehicle drives aboard a vehicle carrier vessel and is parked in the hold for the voyage. It is the lower-cost option (typically $800–$1,500 for Japan-to-US West Coast) but offers no protection from salt air, minor cosmetic damage from the voyage environment, or theft of items left in the vehicle. Container shipping places the vehicle in a 20ft or 40ft shipping container — either sole-use or shared (FCL/LCL). Containers cost $1,500–$3,500 for Japan-to-US depending on size, origin port, and carrier. For high-value vehicles or those with modifications already installed, container shipping is the standard recommendation. Transit time is typically 2–4 weeks to West Coast US, 3–5 weeks to East Coast.

Upon arrival at a US port, the vehicle must be entered through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Vehicles 25 years old or older are exempt from EPA and NHTSA conformance requirements under 49 CFR 571.7 and 19 CFR 591. Vehicles younger than 25 years require either compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) or qualification under one of the limited exemptions (show-or-display, racing vehicle, etc.). Most privately imported JDM vehicles entering the US are exempt on the 25-year rule. Duties on passenger vehicles are 2.5% of appraised value (CBP Form 7501). A licensed customs broker is strongly recommended — their fee ($250–$500) typically saves time and reduces error risk on entry documentation.

After CBP clearance, the vehicle requires a state title and registration. Procedures vary by state. California (CARB) has the most stringent requirements; many states require a VIN inspection and emissions test. The federal 25-year exemption from EPA emissions conformance does not override state-level emissions testing, though most states that use OBD testing exempt pre-OBD vehicles. Buyers should confirm their state's requirements before purchase; importing a vehicle that cannot be registered in the buyer's state is a documented source of costly problems.