How to Import a Vehicle That Is at Least 25 Years Old Into the United States

What does the 25-year vehicle import rule allow?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old may be lawfully imported without regard to whether it complies with applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

This matters primarily for older foreign-market vehicles that were not originally manufactured and certified for the U.S. market. A nonconforming vehicle younger than 25 years generally faces a different NHTSA process, which can require an import-eligibility determination and a Registered Importer.

The age exemption is federal and concerns NHTSA safety requirements. It does not eliminate EPA emissions requirements, CBP customs entry requirements or state title and registration rules.

When is a vehicle officially 25 years old?

The critical date is the vehicle's actual date of manufacture. NHTSA expressly states that the 25-year period runs from the date the vehicle was manufactured.

That means a model-year label alone should not be treated as proof that every vehicle of that model year is already eligible. For example, when the exact 25th anniversary matters, verify the month and date of manufacture before arranging shipment.

What documents can prove the manufacture date?

First check for a date-of-manufacture label permanently affixed by the original manufacturer. If that label does not identify the manufacture date, NHTSA says other documentation can be used to establish age.

Examples identified by NHTSA include:

• an invoice showing when the vehicle was first sold;
• a registration document showing that the vehicle was registered at least 25 years ago; or
• if those records are unavailable, a statement from a recognized vehicle historical society identifying the vehicle's age.

Have the age evidence available when the vehicle enters the United States rather than assuming the VIN alone will establish eligibility. NHTSA explains that it cannot determine from a VIN by itself whether a vehicle was originally manufactured to comply with the FMVSS.

Which box do you check on Form HS-7?

At importation, the vehicle must be declared on the Department of Transportation/NHTSA Declaration Form HS-7. For a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old, NHTSA directs the importer to Box 1.

This is the declaration category for the age-based safety exemption. You do not need a separate NHTSA exemption approval simply because the vehicle lacks U.S. FMVSS certification when it genuinely meets the 25-year rule.

Does the 25-year rule also satisfy EPA requirements?

No. NHTSA and the Environmental Protection Agency administer different federal requirements. The 25-year NHTSA safety exemption does not replace the EPA emissions analysis.

EPA states that a non-U.S.-version vehicle that is at least 21 original-production years old may qualify under its age-based provision when it remains in its original unmodified configuration. EPA calculates original-production years by subtracting the calendar year in which the vehicle was manufactured from the calendar year in which it is imported.

EPA specifically warns that vehicles at least 21 years old with replacement engines do not qualify for that age provision unless the replacement is an equivalent engine or a newer EPA-certified engine with the appropriate emission-control system. If the vehicle has been modified or has a different engine, determine its EPA status before shipping it.

For passenger vehicles, highway motorcycles and their corresponding engines, EPA currently uses Standard Form 3520-1. EPA's age-based vehicle category is declared using code E.

What paperwork should you prepare before the vehicle arrives?

Prepare the import file before the vehicle reaches a U.S. port. The applicable documents include:

• proof of ownership, such as the original certificate of title or a certified copy where applicable;
• purchase documentation, such as a bill of sale;
• evidence establishing the vehicle's manufacture date when the manufacturer's label is unavailable or insufficient;
• Form HS-7 with the correct declaration;
• EPA Form 3520-1 when applicable; and
• the customs entry documentation required by CBP.

CBP advises importers to be prepared to file the vehicle entry when it first enters the United States. After processing, CBP Form 7501 serves as evidence of the customs import transaction and may be important when you later seek a state title or registration.

Do you pay import duty on a 25-year-old vehicle?

Age does not automatically make a classic or antique vehicle duty-free. CBP states that classic and antique vehicles are subject to customs duty based on their value, although origin and tariff treatment can affect the result.

There is no single reliable duty percentage that applies to every 25-year-old vehicle. Classification can differ between passenger vehicles, trucks and motorcycles, and current tariff measures can depend on the vehicle's country of origin and other factors. Determine the applicable Harmonized Tariff Schedule classification and current tariff treatment for the specific vehicle at the time of entry.

What if the engine has been replaced or the vehicle is modified?

This is an important distinction between the NHTSA and EPA rules. Reaching 25 years can satisfy NHTSA's FMVSS age exemption, but EPA's separate age provision requires the vehicle to meet its emissions-related conditions.

EPA states that the vehicle must be in its original unmodified configuration for its 21-year age-based provision. A replacement engine can change the vehicle's EPA eligibility unless it meets EPA's requirements for an equivalent or newer certified replacement.

If the engine, emissions equipment or configuration has been changed, confirm the applicable EPA route before arranging shipment. EPA warns that improperly imported nonconforming vehicles can face enforcement, including export or seizure.

What if the vehicle comes from Canada?

A vehicle that genuinely meets the 25-year rule can use the age-based NHTSA route regardless of whether it was originally certified to U.S. FMVSS. A younger Canadian-certified vehicle involves different conformity rules. For that situation, see the separate Helpydo procedure on importing a Canadian-certified vehicle.

Do not use the Canadian conformity route merely because a 25-year-old vehicle happens to be shipped from Canada. Determine the correct declaration from the vehicle's actual certification status and age.

What happens after the vehicle clears CBP?

Keep your HS-7, EPA declaration, ownership records and CBP entry documentation. Federal import clearance and state vehicle registration are separate processes.

Your state motor vehicle agency decides what it requires to issue a title, registration and license plates. Requirements can include proof of ownership, customs entry records, VIN inspection, taxes or fees, insurance, emissions testing or other state-specific conditions.

If you recently established residence in another state and the vehicle is already lawfully imported, the Helpydo guide to registering a car after moving to another state covers that separate process.

Check for safety recalls before driving

The 25-year exemption concerns whether the vehicle may be imported without FMVSS conformity; it does not mean an older vehicle is free from safety defects or recalls. If the vehicle has a VIN that can be searched through NHTSA's recall system, you can also check the VIN for open safety recalls.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Do not assume the model year proves the vehicle is 25 years old. NHTSA measures the period from the actual manufacture date.
• Do not ship the vehicle without documentation supporting its age if the manufacturer's label does not establish the manufacture date.
• Do not confuse NHTSA's 25-year FMVSS exemption with EPA's separate emissions requirements.
• Do not assume a replacement engine or emissions modification is irrelevant merely because the chassis is more than 25 years old.
• Do not forget Form HS-7. NHTSA requires the import basis to be declared to Customs at entry.
• Do not assume an antique vehicle is automatically free of customs duty.
• Do not discard the CBP entry documents after clearance; they can be needed for state title and registration.
• Do not assume federal import eligibility guarantees state registration. State road-use and titling requirements remain separate.