How To Import Cars Into The USA | A-1 Auto Transport

A-1 Guide To Importing Cars Into The USA

There are two important consideration when importing a car into the U.S.: emission standards and vehicle conformity (“safety” might be a better way to describe conformity for these purposes).

Emission standards are dictated by the Environmental Protection Agency and conformity is overseen by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation. Here’s a little more about each of them as it pertains to importing a vehicle.

Emission Standards

If a car is brought into the U.S. for permanent usage, you will need to get a certification from the E.P.A. that it complies with emission standards. Most cars manufactured outside of the USA do not have a label of compliance, which indicates that it meets EPA standards (some may—check around the driver side door or contact the manufacturer).

If you are importing a car into the US for permanent usage, you will have to fix any issues regarding emissions, safety, or functionality of the vehicle before getting clearance. Generally, the period given in which to make the necessary repairs is one month.

Department of Transportation Standards

Just like imported cars must passed muster with the E.P.A. in regard to hazardous emissions, they also need to meet standards established by the Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This test looks at basic components of the vehicle, checking that seat belts, wipers, head lights and other necessary safety measures are in place and working.

Country Specific Import Restrictions

Cars and other goods may not be imported from certain countries, such as Iran and Cuba, so make sure to check with the Office of Foreign Assets Control to see which countries are currently prohibited (see below under resources for more information).

Any vehicle imported into the U.S. must have a clean title and pay a duty, which is generally around 2.5% of the value of the vehicle, though there are some exceptions.

Call us today at the number at the top of the page if you’re planning or considering shipping a car to the U.S. from another country! Our international shipping and import staff are on hand to answer your questions and offer advice 24 hours a day! Contact us today to learn more, or if you’d like a FREE cost estimate!

USA Vehicle Import Resources

NHTSA Vehicle Import Certification - Information about which types of vehicles may be imported, as well as import certification guidelines. This is a great place to look if you need to know more about meeting U.S. standards for vehicles.

Sanction Programs By Country - A current listing of the countries that the U.S. has sanctions against, many of which prohibit the import of goods, which includes vehicles. Vehicles from countries with sanctions against them may also not be brought into the country through a third party or another country.