IMPORT TARIFFS - LATEST NEWS & UPDATES
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Importing a car, or any other vehicle, to the United States is a heavily regulated and complicated process, making it a difficult task for personal and commercial importers alike. We’ll draw on our experience as Licensed Customs Brokers to provide you with all the information you need to make importing vehicles as easy as possible.
Key Takeaways
Before you buy a vehicle from overseas, make sure you know all the rules and regulations surrounding US car imports. Learn how to navigate vehicle import laws using our guide below.
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One of the reasons that importing vehicles into the US is often such an ordeal is because of one simple fact: vehicles that weren’t manufactured for the North American market don’t meet our country’s emissions and safety standards.
If a car manufactured abroad conforms to US safety, bumper, and emission standards, it’s probably already for sale as a US market product. Simply put, that means that any vehicle you’d import from outside the US would be unlikely to meet all relevant standards. There are exceptions of course, such as vehicles marketed in European countries with stricter emissions and safety standards than our own.
The vast majority of the regulations impacting US car standards come from the following laws:
Fortunately, we’re here to help. Learn how to successfully import a car using the following steps.
In order for a vehicle to be imported into the US, you’ll need to ensure it complies with a wide and ranging set of US safety and emissions standards. Let’s break them all down.
Vehicles imported into the US are subject to federal emission standards, which vary depending on the type of vehicle and when it was originally manufactured. For example, vehicles that were originally manufactured after the date listed in the table below must comply with EPA emission standards.
Additionally, cars must be certified to US federal emission standards by their manufacturers for sale in the US. If they do not, the vehicle is considered non-conforming.
In order to import a vehicle that does not conform to EPA standards, you’ll need to make arrangements with an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI) to perform the import on their behalf. However, ICIs authorized by the EPA can only be found in the US. These importers will insure that the car complies with all federal emission standards if it can be modified to do so.
It’s also worth noting that emission standards can vary throughout the country. While a vehicle may pass federal emission standards, it’s possible that it does not comply with the emission standards of the destination state. California, for example, has emission standards that surpass those of the EPA.
Any car less than 25 years old must comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in order to be allowed entry into the US.
Cars meeting these standards will include a certification label placed by the original manufacturer near the driver's side door. If you buy a vehicle abroad certified to US standards, you can streamline the import process by ensuring the sales contract mentions this and notifying CBP.
However, if a vehicle lacks the certification label, it must be imported as nonconforming vehicle. In such cases, the importer needs to contact a DOT-registered importer (RI) to modify the vehicle and certify compliance with applicable FMVSS.
Additionally, a DOT bond, equivalent to one and a half times the car's dutiable value, must be posted. This is separate from a single entry or continuous bond. Only registered importers can apply for a DOT bond, so you’ll need to contract with one to import a non-conforming vehicle.
It’s worth noting that if a vehicle hasn't been previously determined eligible for importation, your RI must initiate a petition process to determine if it’s able to be modified for compliance. However, if the car under petition differs significantly from those sold in the US, the compliance process can become quite intricate and costly.
The 25 Year Vehicle Import Rule, often referred to as the "25-year rule," is a regulation that states a foreign-made car that is at least 25 years old can be legally imported into the USwithout having to comply with FMVSS.
A similar rule exists for engines that are 21 years of age or older, so you can technically import a vehicle in the 21 to 25 year window if it conforms to FMVSS even if it doesn’t meet emissions standards. However, for simplicity’s sake, importers usually default to the 25 year standard when taking advantage of this ruling.
It's important to note that the 25-year rule applies to the date of manufacture of the vehicle, not its model year. Once a car reaches the age of 25 years, it is generally eligible for importation without having to undergo extensive modifications to meet current standards.
Importers should still comply with other customs and importation requirements, and it's advisable to verify the specific regulations and paperwork needed to import a vehicle under the 25-year rule. Additionally, state-specific regulations may apply, so it's recommended to check with local authorities for any additional requirements.
Also known as the "Substantially Similar Rule," this provision states that a vehicle that is substantially similar to a model already certified for sale in the US may be eligible for importation without having to undergo the same extensive testing and certification process as a completely new model.
This provision streamlines the importation process for cars that share a high degree of similarity with models that have already met US safety and emissions standards. For instance, Canadian market vehicles usually meet or exceed EPA and FMVSS requirements.
However, it's important to note that the definition of "substantially similar" is subject to interpretation and may vary. The NHTSA and EPA assess whether a foreign-made vehicle is substantially similar to a US-certified model by considering various factors, including safety and emissions standards, as well as other relevant specifications.
One of the most common questions car importers have is “How much does it cost to import a vehicle to the US?” While there is no one-size-fits-all price, vehicles are subject to an array of fees, including standard import duties, federal taxes for certain gas mileages, and specific import bonds. Knowing how to calculate these fees for your shipment will help you accurately estimate the overall cost of bringing your vehicle into the country.
The column 1 import duty on foreign vehicles varies by vehicle type. Duty rates are as follows:
The applicable duty rates are determined based on the price paid for the vehicles, and are required whether the vehicle is used or new, or a personal or commercial import.
There are some situations in which a foreign car may be entered duty-free, such as:
In April 2025, the US applied a 25% tariff on all foreign made vehicles and auto parts. Since then, deals have been struck with partners such as the UK and South Korea to bring a limited amount of vehicles and parts into the US at a 15% rate, but most countries are still subject to the 25% sectoral tariff. This is a cost you'll need to consider before importing. However, you can mitigate this cost if your auto parts and vehicles are USMCA compliant.
A DOT bond is equivalent to one and a half times the vehicle's dutiable value and is separate from the standard customs entry bond. When posted, this bond must be attached to the HS-7 form and the RI contract. This only applies to non-conforming vehicle imports.
Some cars are subject to the gas guzzler tax imposed by section 4064 of the Internal Revenue Code.
This tax is based on the combined urban/highway fuel-economy (miles per gallon) rating assigned by the EPA for gas-guzzler tax purposes. And it’s important to note that the EPA rating may be different from fuel-economy ratings listed by the manufacturer.
As the name implies, though, this tax only impacts vehicles with poor MPG ratings. If a car has a combined fuel-economy rating of at least 22.5 miles per gallon, it will not be subject to the gas guzzler tax.
Not detailed are costs like customs bonds, shipping fees, customs brokerage charges, and freight insurance; however, these are still costs worth mentioning.
There are a number of documents that are required on all imports to the US, such as a bill of lading, Pro Forma Invoice and an Importer Security Filing (if shipping by sea). For a full list, check out our article on the documents needed for import and export.
As for vehicle imports, we’ll break down some of the specific paperwork that applies, including:
Let’s take a closer look at each document in the following sections.
The Bill of Sale with the VIN helps verify the vehicle's ownership and authenticity, ensuring that the VIN matches the details provided in other importation documents.
Foreign registration is used to describe the vehicle's registration in its country of origin or the country where it was previously registered.
The EPA Form 3520-1 is a declaration form that’s required for the importation of passenger vehicles, highway motorcycles, and corresponding engines.
The EPA Form 3520-21 is a declaration form that’s required for the importation of heavy-duty highway engines and nonroad engines (gas, diesel, marine, stationary), including engines already installed in vehicles or equipment.
DOT Form HS-7, also known as the "Declaration of Importation of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment Subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards," is administered by the NHTSA and used to declare that the imported motor vehicle or equipment complies with or is exempt from FMVSS, bumper standards, and theft prevention standards.
A Certificate of Conformity (COC) is issued to the car manufacturer by the EPA and certifies that the vehicle complies with the applicable emissions standards, and is valid for only one model year of production.
If a vehicle has been subject to a recall, the manufacturer may issue a letter notifying owners or importers of the recall. This letter typically provides information about the recall, the specific issue, and how it has been corrected.
As you might expect, a vehicle will be thoroughly inspected when it enters the US to ensure that it meets all of the safety and emissions standards specified in the import documentation.
However, one sometimes overlooked aspect of the inspection process involves ensuring the car, and specifically the tires and undercarriage, are free of dirt and debris. This is done to prevent the accidental import of any foreign soil or pests into the country.
CBP recommends having your vehicle steam-sprayed or cleaned thoroughly before shipping.
In order to actually get your vehicle into the US, you’ll need to make shipping arrangements.The shipment will be cleared at the first port of entry, so you’ll need to decide what transportation method works best for your situation.
The best method ultimately comes down to the country of origin of your vehicle and how much you’re willing to spend.
US car importers will need to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in their state of residence to arrange temporary license plates and clarification on any state-level import requirements. Once done, your vehicle will be able to be officially registered.
What if you only need to import your vehicle for a short amount of time? There are some situations in which cars are allowed entry into the US without being brought into compliance with safety and emissions standards.
You’ll need to analyze your unique situation carefully to ensure you qualify for a temporary import.
As of the International Trade Administration's most recent data from 2021, the countries from which the US imported the most vehicles from included:
We’ve provided a table that shows the volume of cars the US imports from each country.
Due to the US’s tariff regime that it’s implemented, you’ll want to check the current rates on vehicles from your import's country of origin and any modifiers to those rates such as free trade agreements. Consulting with a licensed customs broker before starting the process will set you up for a trouble-free importing experience with correct documentation and accurate estimations of customs fees.
Need help importing a vehicle into the US? The experts at USA Customs Clearance are here to help.
The rules, regulations, and laws surrounding cars and other motor vehicles are complicated and confusing, especially for the first time importer. Failing to achieve compliance can result in serious fines, if not complete seizure and refusal of entry of your vehicle. That’s where our helpful staff comes in.
Our CBP-Licensed Customs Brokers are experts in all things importing and customs clearance. Schedule a personalized, 1-on-1 consultation and get all of your questions answered. We can provide custom tailored guidance for importing your specific vehicle into the US. Still have questions? Give us a call at (855) 912-0406 or fill out our contact form to learn more.
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