Issue #13 · 21, 2026
The 25 Year Rule
Published September 21, 2026
Japanese Auto News
Export activity remains strong with over 413,000 units shipped globally through March, though routing and regulatory shifts are affecting logistics planning for importers.
The 15% tariff rate on Japanese automobiles and auto parts takes effect September 16, 2025, following the US-Japan framework agreement. Vehicles 25 years or older remain exempt under existing rules.
Major Japanese auction house Arai announced revised terms effective September 1, 2026, affecting bidding procedures and buyer obligations across all venues.
Yen Snapshot
¥1 JPY =
$0.0064
USD · as of Sep 21, 2026
Live rate as of Sep 21, 2026. Don't forget to factor the 27.5% import duty into your landed cost — use the calculator for your exact numbers.
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Landed cost estimates include shipping (~$1,500), US customs duty (27.5%), broker fees, and port handling. Actual costs vary. Use the calculator for your exact numbers →
2001 Model Year: Why Build Date Decides Everything
Every week, someone asks whether their '2001' is eligible. The answer depends on a single line stamped on a door jamb—not the model year listed on an auction sheet. The 25-year clock runs from month of manufacture, which means late-2001 builds won't clear until late 2026. Here's what's already legal, what's still waiting, and why this distinction costs people real money.
Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec II (BNR34) (BNR34)
RB26DETT twin-turbo inline-six with ATTESA E-TS Pro AWD. Late-production V-Spec II models built in early 2001 are crossing the threshold now; later examples follow month-by-month through 2027. The most sought-after R34 variant.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A) (CT9A)
First Evo with the refined 4G63T and Active Center Differential. The VII GT-A brought a 5-speed automatic option; the GSR remained the driver's choice. Rally pedigree, affordable entry point, still undervalued compared to R34s.
Honda Civic Type R (EP3) (EP3)
K20A high-revving 2.0L VTEC making 215 hp in JDM spec, close-ratio 6-speed, and that electric blue Recaro interior. The first hatchback Type R, and one of the cleanest FWD platforms Honda ever built.
How to Verify Manufacture Date Before You Bid
The door jamb compliance plate lists month and year of manufacture—that's the date that controls 25-year eligibility, not the model year on the auction sheet or title. Many 2001 models were built in late 2000 (already eligible), while others were built mid- to late-2001 (not eligible until mid- to late-2026).
- →Ask your exporter to photograph the door jamb plate before bidding—it's stamped in the format MM/YY
- →Japanese Export Certificate also lists manufacture date; request translation if buying privately
- →A car listed as '2001 model' built in December 2000 became eligible in December 2025—but one built in October 2001 isn't legal until October 2026
- →Customs will verify manufacture date at entry; getting this wrong means refusal or re-export at your expense
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