Direct from Japan · Kei trucks to the USA
Find Your Next Car From Japan
Quality vehicles. Transparent service. A better way to buy your next car — sourced from Japanese dealers and auctions, shipped to your port.
Quality vehicles. Transparent service. A better way to buy your next car — sourced from Japanese dealers and auctions, shipped to your port.
Premium dealer sourcing, port handling, export documents, and shipment updates presented like a live automotive desk.
Luxury sedans, executive vans, performance coupes, hybrids, and clean commercial units selected for serious buyers.
Auction, dealer, and private stock sourcing with inspection sheets, photos, FOB/CIF quotes, and shipping coordination.
Japan-side buying support for dealers, importers, and private clients who need verified cars and clean documents.
Stock changes daily. Message us for current photos, auction sheets, chassis details, and landed-cost estimates.
Every export quote can include inspection details, inland transport, port handling, documentation, and shipping options.
Suzuki Carry, Daihatsu Hijet, Honda Acty, Subaru Sambar and Mitsubishi Minicab — sourced from Japanese auctions and dealers, inspected, and shipped to your US port under the 25-year import rule.
Indicative landed USA prices — vehicle, ocean freight, US duty and customs clearance included. Lower figure is collection at a West Coast port; higher figure is a top-grade unit delivered to your door on the East or Gulf Coast. Final price depends on auction grade, mileage, 4WD, transmission and body type.
No hidden margins. Here is every line item between a Japanese auction hall and your driveway, so you can budget before you commit.
| Cost line | What it covers | Typical USD |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle (FOB Japan) | Auction or dealer purchase, our sourcing fee, inspection, photos, auction sheet | $3,100 – $8,000 |
| Inland transport in Japan | Auction hall to export port, de-registration, export certificate | $150 – $400 |
| Ocean freight — US West Coast | Container share to Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma or Seattle | $1,100 – $1,900 |
| Ocean freight — East / Gulf | Houston, Jacksonville, Savannah, Baltimore or NY/NJ | $1,600 – $2,600 |
| Marine insurance (optional) | All-risk cover on the CIF value | ~1.5 – 2% of CIF |
| US customs duty | Light truck rate, HTS heading 8704 — your broker confirms final classification | 25% of value |
| Customs broker, ISF & bond | Entry filing, ISF 10+2, single-entry bond, HS-7 and EPA 3520-1 | $300 – $600 |
| Port, terminal & delivery order | Terminal handling, chassis, container unstuffing, release fees | $250 – $600 |
| US inland trucking | Port to your address, distance dependent | $400 – $1,500 |
| Typical all-in landed cost, USA | $6,500 – $15,000 | |
Ranges are indicative for planning and move with exchange rate, freight market, auction demand and your chosen port. Every quote we send is itemised in USD with the exact vehicle, exact port and exact freight booking — not an estimate.
Before you buy, check your state. The 25-year rule is federal and settles import. On-road registration for kei trucks is decided state by state, and several states have changed their position recently — some allow full road use, some restrict to farm, off-road or low-speed use. Tell us your state and we will confirm the current position with you in writing before you commit to a purchase.
Pick your spec and port for an indicative all-in figure, then send it straight to us on WhatsApp for a firm quote.
Estimate only, not a binding offer. Duty shown at the 25% light-truck rate; final classification is confirmed by your US customs broker at entry.
Importing a JDM car rather than a kei truck? Our USA import guide lists every 25-year-eligible model with current eligibility and indicative FOB pricing — R34 Skyline, Supra, NSX, RX-7, Evo, Silvia and more — plus worked landed-cost examples. Note that passenger cars are dutied at 2.5%, not the 25% that applies to kei trucks.
Straight answers on the 25-year rule, landed cost, state registration and shipping times.
It is decided in two stages. Federally, a kei truck built 25 or more years ago is exempt from FMVSS and EPA certification, so it can be imported legally. On-road registration is then a state matter, and states differ: some allow full road use, some restrict kei trucks to farm, off-road or low-speed use, and several have changed their position in recent years. Tell us your state before you buy and we will confirm its current position with you in writing.
Budget roughly $7,000 to $12,500 all-in to the US West Coast. That typically breaks down as $2,900-$6,500 for the vehicle FOB Japan, $150-$400 inland transport in Japan, $1,100-$1,900 ocean freight, 25% US customs duty at the light-truck rate, $300-$600 for customs broker, ISF and bond, $250-$600 in port and terminal fees, and $400-$1,500 for US inland trucking. East and Gulf coast freight runs higher.
US law exempts motor vehicles 25 or more years old from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and from EPA emissions certification. Eligibility is counted from the month of manufacture, not the model year, so new vehicles become eligible every month. At entry the vehicle is declared on DOT form HS-7 (box 1) and EPA form 3520-1 (code E).
For most US buyers the Suzuki Carry is the default: the widest parts support and simple mechanicals. The Daihatsu Hijet offers the most special bodies, including hydraulic dump beds, scissor lifts and refrigerated boxes. The Honda Acty rides best thanks to its mid-mounted engine and independent rear suspension. The Subaru Sambar is the enthusiast pick and holds value well. The Mitsubishi Minicab is the value entry point.
Plan on six to ten weeks from winning the vehicle at auction to collecting it at your US port. That covers de-registration and export paperwork in Japan, inland transport to port, the ocean crossing, and US customs clearance. Container consolidation can add time but lowers cost, since up to four kei trucks fit in a 40ft container.
Not for normal road use in the USA. Vehicles under 25 years must meet FMVSS and EPA requirements, which almost no JDM-market vehicle does. We do export newer stock worldwide to markets with different rules, so if you are outside the USA tell us your destination and we will quote current inventory.
Commonly Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma and Seattle on the West Coast, and Houston, Jacksonville, Savannah, Baltimore and New York/New Jersey on the Gulf and East Coast. West Coast is usually the cheapest and fastest from Japan. We can arrange trucking from the port to your address.
Import rules and state registration change. We confirm the current position for your state and your exact vehicle in writing before you commit to a purchase.
Tell us the model, year, budget, destination port, and whether you need FOB or CIF pricing. We reply with available stock or sourcing options.
JapanCarLink
Operated by IR Trading Company
Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +81 90 2924 9407
We work with trusted Japan-side dealers, auction channels, logistics providers, and documentation partners for domestic supply and export shipments.