Issue #4 · 20, 2026
The 25 Year Rule
Published July 20, 2026
Japanese Auto News
The Trump administration is considering changes to USMCA rules that would require vehicle imports to have a minimum amount of U.S. parts, potentially raising tariff costs on imports from Canada and Mexico.
While vehicles 25+ years old remain exempt from Section 232 tariffs, updated CBP guidance confirms reciprocal tariffs still apply to classic imports from Japan and the EU — meaning 15% total duty for most JDM imports, not the 2.5% many importers expected.
June 2026 auction data shows strong demand from top import markets including Tanzania, South Africa, and New Zealand continuing to influence pricing. Popular models like the Prius and CX-5 remain competitive at auction.
Yen Snapshot
¥1 JPY =
$0.0062
USD · as of Jul 20, 2026
Live rate as of Jul 20, 2026. Don't forget to factor the 27.5% import duty into your landed cost — use the calculator for your exact numbers.
Tariff Reality Check: 25-Year Imports Under Reciprocal Duties
— Trade UpdateTariff Reality Check: 25-Year Imports Under Reciprocal Duties
Initial CBP guidance excluded 25+ year vehicles from reciprocal tariffs, but that was quietly revised in May. Classic JDM imports now pay 15% total duty (12.5% reciprocal + 2.5% base) on customs value — not the catastrophic 25% Section 232 rate, but a meaningful jump from the 2.5% many expected. On a $25,000 declared value, that's $3,750 instead of $625. West Coast Shipping and other brokers confirm the change is in effect. The 25-year exemption still saves you $10k–$30k in EPA/DOT compliance costs, so the math still works — but your landed cost spreadsheet just got more expensive.
Featured From the Feed
1993 Toyota Supra
JZA80 · grey · 47000 km · 3000 cc · Grade 4
A 1993 JZA80 Supra with 47,000 km and a grade 4 sheet is the kind of car that moves fast in any market. Grey isn't the hero color, but at this mileage and condition the next owner won't care. Landed at $40,664 before any work.
Auction
¥4,980,000
USD Est.
$33,864
Landed
$40,664
1991 Honda NSX
NA1 · green · 113000 km · 3000 cc
Green NA1 NSX with 113k on the clock. It's a polarizing color, but it's also rare — and $44,200 landed for a mid-mileage NSX is the current cost of entry. Plan for deferred maintenance and enjoy the theater.
Auction
¥5,500,000
USD Est.
$37,400
Landed
$44,200
1999 Toyota Chaser
JZX100 · white · 127000 km · 2500 cc · Grade 3.5
JZX100 Chaser in white, 127k km, grade 3.5 for just over $20k landed. The Chaser doesn't get the hype of the Supra or the Skyline, but the 1JZ-GTE is bulletproof and the sedan body keeps it usable. Underrated daily-driver alternative.
Auction
¥1,980,000
USD Est.
$13,464
Landed
$20,264
1999 Nissan Silvia S15
S15 · white · 83000 km · 2000 cc
A 1999 S15 with 83,000 km. White, no grade listed, $18,020 landed. Early S15s have been eligible for two years now, but cleaner examples still command attention. Expect competition from drift buyers and collectors alike.
Auction
¥1,650,000
USD Est.
$11,220
Landed
$18,020
1992 Mazda RX-7 FD
FD3S · blue · 93000 km · N/A · Grade 3.5
Blue FD3S RX-7, 93k km, grade 3.5. The rotary tax is real, but $21,760 landed for a clean example is roughly market rate in mid-2026. Budget another $5k–$8k for apex seals, cooling, and the inevitable sorting unless the service history is spotless.
Auction
¥2,200,000
USD Est.
$14,960
Landed
$21,760
1989 Toyota Supra
JZA80 · black · 165000 km · 3000 cc · Grade 3.5
1989 JZA80 Supra in black with 165k km at $18,224 landed. The 2JZ-GE naturally aspirated car doesn't carry the twin-turbo premium, but it's also bulletproof and an easier entry point into the platform. A budget build or a clean street car.
Auction
¥1,680,000
USD Est.
$11,424
Landed
$18,224
1999 Nissan Stagea
WC34 · BLACK · 182000 km · 2600 cc · Grade 3.5
1999 Stagea 260RS in black, 182k km, grade 3.5, landed at $10,622. The Stagea is the wagon nobody asked for and everybody loves once they drive it. RB26 heart, usable space, and a price point that leaves room for maintenance.
Auction
¥562,000
USD Est.
$3,822
Landed
$10,622
2000 Toyota Hilux Surf
KZN185 · white · 167000 km · 3000 cc · Grade 3.5
2000 KZN185 Hilux Surf (4Runner) with 167k km for $10,744 landed. Not glamorous, but reliable, capable, and exactly the kind of vehicle that holds value when gas is $6/gallon and every crossover is financed at 8%. Overlooked by most, quietly practical.
Auction
¥580,000
USD Est.
$3,944
Landed
$10,744
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 →
Class of 2001: The Freshly Eligible
As of July 2026, any vehicle manufactured before August 1, 2001 clears the 25-year federal threshold. That opens the door to late-production variants of some of the most sought-after JDM platforms — and a few you may have overlooked. Here are three models now crossing into eligibility that matter to importers.
Nissan Silvia S15 (late production) (S15)
Late-2001 Spec-R and Spec-S models cross into eligibility throughout the second half of 2026. The SR20DET remains one of the most tuneable four-cylinders ever built, and the S15's chassis refinement over the S14 is measurable. Prices have climbed in anticipation, but supply remains steady.
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A)
The Evo VII marked Mitsubishi's shift from raw rally weapon to refined road car without losing the 4G63's fury. The Tommi Mäkinen Edition added Bilstein dampers and a titanium turbo. It's the first Evo with genuine daily-driver manners and the last before the platform got heavy.
Subaru Impreza WRX STI (GDB) (GDB)
The second-generation STI — the 'bug-eye' cars that defined early-2000s rally culture. JDM-spec models ran the EJ207 2.0-liter boxer producing 280 PS through a six-speed manual and driver-controlled center diff. Cleaner than USDM equivalents, lower mileage, and better spec from the factory.
Auction Grade ≠ Condition Report
Japanese auction grades (1–5, with 4 and 4.5 being sweet spots) are helpful, but they're not a substitute for knowing what you're buying. A grade 4 car can still have hidden rust, a rolled odometer, or deferred maintenance the inspector didn't catch.
- →Always request a pre-purchase inspection if buying a high-value car — $300–$600 is cheap insurance
- →Look for symbols next to mileage on the auction sheet: #, *, $, or ? all indicate odometer concerns
- →Interior grade (A/B/C/D) is separate from exterior — check both
- →Auction houses grade based on Japanese domestic standards, not US expectations
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