What the rule does
A motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old, measured from its month of manufacture, may be imported into the United States without conforming to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. A related exemption at 21 years covers EPA emissions requirements for the original engine. This is what makes a right-hand-drive Japanese kei truck importable without modification.
It is measured by month, not year
Eligibility rolls forward continuously. A truck built in March 2001 becomes eligible in March 2026, not on 1 January. Build month is recorded on the Japanese documentation, and it is worth confirming before you buy something close to the boundary.
The federal forms
At entry your broker files DOT form HS-7, claiming the 25-year exemption, and EPA form 3520-1 for the emissions exemption, alongside the Japanese export certificate with translation, the bill of lading and the invoice.
Federal import is not state registration
This is the most important distinction on this page. Clearing federal import means the vehicle may lawfully enter the country. Whether you can title, register and drive it on public roads is decided by your state, and states do not agree with each other.
State rules differ and have been changing
Some states title and register imported kei trucks like any other used import. Others restrict them to farm use, to off-road use, or to roads below a stated speed limit, and several have revised their position in recent years. Check your own state's current requirements with your DMV before purchase. We will put what we find for your state in writing, but your DMV is the authority, not us.
Other countries do not use this rule
The 25-year rule is specific to the United States. Canada uses a 15-year threshold. Australia and New Zealand operate separate schemes with their own compliance requirements. Do not apply US guidance to a non-US import.
This is general information, not legal or customs advice. Import eligibility and road registration are decided by the authorities in your country, state or province, and rules change. Confirm your own position with your customs broker and vehicle registry before committing to a purchase.