HIGHROAD / SHIPPING KNOWLEDGE

Importing a Car Into the U.S.: Requirements Before Shipping

Highroad Auto Transport · Sources checked October 11, 2026

The clear answer

Check U.S. import eligibility before buying or shipping the vehicle. CBP entry, NHTSA safety requirements, EPA emissions requirements, and state registration are separate questions. Acceptance by an ocean carrier or ownership of a foreign title does not establish that the car may be permanently imported and driven in the United States.

Scope: General planning for U.S. vehicle imports; permanent, temporary, returning, and special-category imports follow different paths.

Define the import you are planning

Record the manufacture date, model, VIN, original market, certification labels, engine configuration, and modification history. Identify whether the movement is permanent or falls into a specific temporary or returning-vehicle category. Explain the intended use and the importer’s circumstances to the professionals reviewing eligibility.

Do not assume that a similar-looking model sold in the United States has the same certification. Obtain manufacturer evidence when needed and retain clear photographs of relevant labels and identification.

Check safety and emissions independently

NHTSA explains that a nonconforming vehicle under 25 years old generally needs an eligible import pathway; Registered Importer involvement may be required. EPA has its own requirements and may require an Independent Commercial Importer or an applicable exemption. Those are different roles and approvals.

Ask each responsible party to identify the basis that applies to this vehicle before arranging shipment. An assurance that “customs will sort it out” is not a substitute for resolving eligibility.

Plan the entry documents and costs

CBP's vehicle-import guidance identifies the DOT HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 declarations. Your actual entry can require additional ownership, shipping, identity, value, and supporting eligibility records. Have a qualified customs professional confirm the complete file, deadlines, and any applicable advance filing for the transport mode.

Obtain a current cost estimate covering duties, applicable tariffs and fees, handling, inspections, storage, and professional services. These depend on the vehicle and entry circumstances; do not rely on a generic percentage copied from an old article.

Arrange release and onward movement

Confirm who receives arrival notices, who responds to document requests, and who authorizes collection after release. Give the inland carrier a pickup date that reflects actual release rather than vessel arrival alone. Identify responsibility for storage if the vehicle cannot be collected promptly.

Check the destination state's titling, registration, inspection, insurance, and road-use rules separately. Federal entry paperwork does not itself supply plates or authorize every imported vehicle to be driven from the terminal.

Common questions

Does the 25-year safety provision eliminate EPA requirements?

No. Review the emissions basis separately.

Can a nonconforming vehicle always be modified after it arrives?

Do not assume so. Required arrangements and eligibility must be established before shipment.

Does a shipping quote include customs clearance?

Only if the written scope identifies that service and responsible provider. Confirm it explicitly.

Coordinate the next step

Confirm export, import, or coverage questions with the responsible carrier, agency, insurer, or qualified trade professional. For a U.S. inland transport inquiry, request a callback with the route and vehicle details. This inquiry does not arrange customs clearance, establish eligibility, book transportation, or take payment.

Related guides

Browse all car shipping guides.

Sources and further reading

Sources checked October 11, 2026. Confirm current requirements for your shipment. This is general information, not an individual legal, insurance, or eligibility determination. Reference links do not imply endorsement of Highroad.