Every country runs its own clock, and most of the confusion comes from one detail: the age is measured from the month the vehicle was built, not the model year it is advertised as. Here is how the three main markets we export to actually work.
🇺🇸 United States
25 years, counted by build monthA vehicle becomes exempt from FMVSS and EPA standards once it is 25 years old, and customs counts from the month of manufacture, not the model year on the brochure. A truck built in November 2001 is not eligible in January 2026, but it is eligible from November 2026. Always check the build plate, because Japanese model years and build dates rarely line up.
- ·Eligibility date = build month + 25 years
- ·The build plate and export certificate are what customs reads
- ·State registration rules vary widely and are handled by you
- ·Some states title kei trucks fully, others restrict them to low-speed or off-road use
🇨🇦 Canada
15 years, also by build monthTransport Canada exempts vehicles 15 years and older from the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, again measured from the month of manufacture. That opens up a whole decade of JDM metal that US buyers still have to wait on, and provincial safety inspection is the step to plan for after arrival.
- ·Eligibility date = build month + 15 years
- ·Provincial inspection and registration are completed by you
- ·Right-hand drive is accepted across the country
- ·Popular for sports keis and vehicles still too new for the US
🇬🇧 United Kingdom & Ireland
10 years, then MOT and registrationThere is no long federal waiting period. Vehicles over 10 years old avoid most type-approval friction and are imported through the standard used-import route, then put through an MOT and registered with the DVLA. Duty and VAT apply on arrival, and Ireland runs its own VRT process through Revenue.
- ·Over 10 years old keeps the paperwork simple
- ·MOT before registration, DVLA handles the plate
- ·Import duty and VAT are payable on arrival
- ·Ireland adds VRT, assessed after inspection
Rules change, and local registration is always the part that varies most. Wherever your vehicle lands, you are the importer of record and you complete registration yourself. We are happy to research your state, province, or country with you before you commit to anything, so there are no surprises after the ship arrives.
Have a specific car in mind?
Send us the model and the chassis code, or just a photo of the build plate. We will tell you the exact month it becomes eligible for your country, no obligation.
