You've probably heard it said: "You can't own a Nissan Skyline in the United States." It's the single most repeated claim in the JDM world, and it's only half true. The 25-year import law is real, but it comes with a clear calendar, defined exceptions, and a growing list of iconic cars crossing the threshold every year.

This guide covers exactly how NHTSA's 25-year rule works, why it exists, what the EPA's separate 21-year mark covers, and which models become eligible to import in 2025, 2026, and 2027. No legal jargon, no myths. Just the full picture.

Key takeaways

• Under 49 CFR § 591.5(i), any non-U.S.-spec vehicle 25 years old or older is exempt from federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and can be imported legally.
• The EPA's 21-year threshold is a separate emissions exemption. Once a vehicle clears both age marks, it can enter the country without emissions certification.
• Right-hand drive is not illegal in the United States; it is subject to the same age-based rules as everything else.
• Every January 1st, a new model year unlocks: 2001-model JDM cars became importable in 2026.
• A separate Show & Display exemption exists for historically significant vehicles that haven't hit the 25-year mark yet.

The rule in plain terms

If a car was not originally built to meet U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), it generally cannot be imported for road use. The 25-year rule is the clean exit from that restriction. Once a vehicle reaches its 25th birthday, calculated from its manufacture date, it no longer needs to meet FMVSS. NHTSA classifies it as a "vehicle of historical or technological interest," which is what makes private importation possible.

Why the rule exists: the gray market era

The law didn't appear out of nowhere. There was a specific problem it was built to solve.

Through the late 1970s and into the 1980s, a large gray market developed around European luxury vehicles, mostly Mercedes-Benz models. Importers were sourcing European-spec cars at lower prices, making surface-level modifications, and selling them as FMVSS-compliant. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified real safety deficiencies in these conversions: bumper systems that didn't meet U.S. specs, non-compliant lighting, and speedometers reading in kilometers.

Congress responded with the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988, which required vehicles entering the U.S. to carry factory FMVSS certification, or be old enough that the standards no longer applied. Twenty-five years became that cutoff. The regulation now lives in 49 CFR Part 591, at § 591.5(i).

NHTSA's 25-year rule vs. the EPA's 21-year threshold

Most guides focus only on NHTSA. That's incomplete, because two separate federal agencies are involved and both need to be satisfied.

NHTSA handles safety. Under 49 CFR § 591.5(i), a vehicle 25 years or older is exempt from FMVSS compliance. This is the rule most buyers researching how to import JDM cars encounter first.

The EPA handles emissions. Under 40 CFR § 85.1511 and related provisions, vehicles that predate applicable emission standards (generally those 21 years old or older) are excluded from federal emissions certification. That threshold is shorter than NHTSA's. By the time a vehicle clears the 25-year safety mark, the EPA side is already resolved.

So practically speaking: a vehicle that qualifies under the NHTSA rule automatically clears the EPA age threshold as well. No separate emissions certification needed.

What the rule applies to

The 25-year rule covers any motor vehicle not originally manufactured to meet FMVSS. In practice, that includes:

• Japanese domestic market (JDM) cars, trucks, and vans
• European-spec vehicles (sometimes called "grey imports")
• Right-hand drive vehicles of any origin
• Kei cars and kei trucks sold in Japan under domestic specs
• Any model that was never officially sold in the U.S. market

Engine displacement, drivetrain, and body configuration don't affect eligibility. Right-hand drive is not a separate legal issue. It falls under the same compliance framework as everything else.

What the rule does NOT cover

The 25-year exemption clears federal importation. It doesn't automatically solve every hurdle a buyer might face.

State-level registration rules vary widely. Some states apply their own emissions testing regardless of federal exemptions. California is the clearest example: CARB standards can affect vehicle registration even when the federal exemption is in place. Always check your state's DMV requirements before the car ships.

Clearing customs is also not the same as passing a local safety inspection. Depending on where you register the vehicle, you may still need odometer conversion, daytime running light compliance, or other modifications.

Show & Display operates under a completely different framework. For vehicles under 25 years that qualify as historically significant, NHTSA offers a separate Show & Display exemption with strict mileage caps and different eligibility criteria. 

Year-by-year unlock table: popular JDM models

Each January 1st, a new production year crosses the 25-year mark. Here are the notable models that have become eligible, or will soon:

Note: Manufacture date, not model year, determines eligibility. A vehicle stamped "2001" but built in late 2000 may clear the threshold earlier. Always confirm with your importer using the chassis build plate.

Show & Display: the exception for the impatient

If the car you want hasn't reached 25 years yet, there is one federal pathway: the Show & Display exemption. NHTSA grants it to vehicles of "historical or technological significance." Vehicles approved under this program can be imported but are capped at 2,500 miles per year and cannot be modified for street performance.

The R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R was added to the Show & Display list in 2014, well before it hit the 25-year mark. It's probably the best-known case of the program being used as a legal bridge to ownership rather than a workaround.

Common myths, corrected

"Right-hand drive cars are illegal in America."
False. No federal law prohibits RHD vehicles. The U.S. Postal Service runs a fleet of them. Some states have their own inspection requirements, but the steering configuration itself is not a legal issue at the federal level.

"Kei trucks have a special separate import rule."
They don't. Kei trucks follow the same 25-year NHTSA exemption as any other JDM vehicle. Their popularity in the agricultural sector comes down to practicality and cost, not special legal treatment.

"Once it's 25 years old, you can drive it anywhere."
Not quite. Federal importation and state registration are separate processes. A car that clears customs still has to meet your state's requirements to get on the road legally.

"You need to convert it to left-hand drive."
Not at the federal level. Some states have specific rules around this, but there is no nationwide mandate to change the steering configuration of an imported vehicle.

How to import a JDM car to the U.S.: what to do next

Knowing how to import a car from Japan to the USA comes down to three steps. The legal side is straightforward once you know the sequence.

1. Confirm the manufacture date, not just the model year. Get the build record or chassis plate date directly from the seller or exporter. That's the date NHTSA goes by.
2. Check your state's registration requirements before the car ships. California, in particular, has additional requirements that apply even to federally exempt vehicles.
3. Work with a licensed importer who handles the HS-7 declaration with U.S. Customs and EPA Form 3520-1. These filings happen at the port of entry and are not optional.

We're not lawyers, and this is not legal advice. Import regulations change, and state-level rules vary significantly. Verify your specific situation with a licensed customs broker or import specialist.

A rule that's working in your favor

The 25-year import law was built to close a specific loophole: the gray market conversions of the 1980s. It succeeded at that. But it also created something else: a predictable, year-by-year calendar that any buyer can plan around. Every January, more cars become available. The window keeps moving.

With 2001 model-year JDM vehicles now eligible in 2026 (the EP3 Civic Type R, the S15 Silvia, the STI Type RA), the best time to start planning is before the car you want crosses the threshold and prices adjust accordingly.

Ready to find your car? Browse our inventory of import-eligible JDM vehicles and see what's cleared to ship. If you have any doubts or questions, it will be our team’s pleasure to answer your questions. 

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