BOXY TRUCKS
Importing · the 25-year rule · updated October 2026

How to import a boxy 4x4 into the US

The diesel 70 Series, the HZJ105, the Td5 Defender, the right-hand-drive Safari Patrol: many of the best boxy trucks were never sold here. Once they’re 25 years old they can come in. Here’s how the rules work, what it costs, and which trucks qualify.

Short version: a vehicle at least 25 years old, counted from its date of manufacture, can be imported without meeting US federal safety standards. One at least 21 years old in original configuration is exempt from EPA emissions rules. The hard part is usually your state, not the federal government.

The federal rules

Safety (NHTSA). A vehicle that is at least 25 years old can be imported without meeting the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (49 CFR 591.5(i)). The clock runs from the date of manufacture on the build plate, not the model year or first registration, so a truck built in March becomes eligible in March. You declare it on DOT form HS-7, Box 1. Anything younger has to be on NHTSA’s list of eligible vehicles and go through a Registered Importer, which for most of the trucks on this site isn’t possible.

Emissions (EPA). On EPA form 3520-1, exemption code E covers vehicles at least 21 years old in their original configuration. Swapped engines are the catch: a truck with a non-original engine can’t use the exemption unless the replacement is the same engine model or an EPA-certified one.

Paperwork at the port. Customs wants the original bill of lading, the bill of sale, the foreign title or registration, the HS-7 and the 3520-1. Most people use a customs broker and a shipper who handles vehicles; many will collect the truck abroad, ship it in a container or by roll-on/roll-off, and clear it for you.

What it costs in duty

Base duty is 2.5% of the purchase price for passenger vehicles, which is how wagons and SUVs are normally classed, and 25% for trucks: pickups, cab-chassis and utes, the “chicken tax”. A Troop Carrier or a Land Cruiser pickup may be classed as a truck, so ask your broker before you buy.

The 2025 auto tariffs don’t apply to classics. The Section 232 tariffs on imported cars and light trucks exclude vehicles made at least 25 years before the year they enter (tariff heading 9903.94.04). For trucks entering in 2026, that means 2001 and older.

But the 2026 country duties can. Since 24 July 2026, Section 301 duties of 10% or 12.5% apply to goods from 60 economies, including Japan, the EU, the UK and Australia, when Section 232 doesn’t. As brokers read it in late September 2026, a 25-year-old passenger vehicle pays about 12.5% in total from Japan and about 10% from the EU, where the new duty tops up the base rate, but the 2.5% base plus 10% (about 12.5%) from the UK and the 2.5% base plus 12.5% (about 15%) from Australia. These rates have changed several times in two years: get a current quote from a licensed customs broker before you commit.

Your state is the hard part

Federal clearance doesn’t guarantee registration. California is the toughest: petrol vehicles from the 1975 model year and older are exempt from smog checks, but a later truck that was never certified for California is supposed to pass a CARB laboratory test for a Certificate of Conformance before it can be registered. Land Rover owners importing a 1978 Series III were told it would need modifying and testing to 1978 California standards, and Land Cruiser specialist Corsetti Cruisers warns California may refuse an import without a 50-state-compliant emissions system. Diesel and right-hand-drive trucks raise their own questions in some states. Call your DMV with the VIN or chassis number before you buy, not after the truck lands.

Before you buy abroad

  • Get a photo of the build plate and confirm the manufacture date: it decides eligibility, not the model year.
  • Check the engine number matches the original engine model, or the EPA exemption may not apply.
  • Budget for shipping, port and broker fees, duty, inland transport, and the first round of rubber, fluids and rust repair.
  • Rust is the big unknown on Japanese and UK trucks: ask for underside photos of the frame, floors and body mounts.
  • Right-hand drive is legal to register in most states, but think about drive-through windows, toll booths and passing on two-lane roads.

Which trucks qualify

The import notes from every guide that has them: what was never sold here, and when it becomes eligible. In 2026, anything built before October 2001 clears NHTSA’s 25-year line.

Toyota 4RunnerToyota 4Runner 1st GenJapan's version was the Hilux Surf (N60), offered with a 2.0 3Y petrol or 2.4 2L diesel and later the 2L-T turbo-diesel, none of them sold in the US. Every one is now well past the US 25-year exemption from federal safety standards, so diesel and right-hand-drive Surfs can come in, but state...Importing notes →Toyota 4RunnerToyota 4Runner 2nd GenJapan's Hilux Surf (N120/N130) came with diesels the US never got: the 2L-TE, 3L and, from August 1993, the 3.0 1KZ-TE turbo-diesel, plus wide-body trims. All are now older than 25 years, so they can be imported without meeting US federal safety standards, but they are right-hand drive and state...Importing notes →Toyota 4RunnerToyota 4Runner 3rd GenJapan's Hilux Surf (N185) came with diesels never sold in the US: the 3.0 1KZ-TE turbo-diesel (1995–2000) and the common-rail 1KD-FTV (2000–02). Once a Surf is 25 years old it can be imported without meeting US federal safety standards. Per BE FORWARD, the first 2001 models crossed that line in...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz G-Class W460Mercedes never sold the W460 new in the US. Grey-market specialists federalised some in the 1980s, until the 1988 Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act made that much harder. Every W460 is now more than 25 years old, and NHTSA lets any vehicle that old be imported, counted from its date of...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz G-Class W461The W461 was never sold new in the US, so every American example is a private import. NHTSA allows any vehicle at least 25 years old to be imported, counted from its date of manufacture and declared under Box 1 of the HS-7 form. In late 2026 that means trucks built up to late 2001: Wolfs, 230...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz G-Class W463Mercedes-Benz USA didn't sell the W463 until the 2002 model year. Before that, Europa International of New Mexico federalised and sold them from 1993. Diesels, short-wheelbase trucks and most Cabriolets were never sold new in the US. NHTSA allows any vehicle at least 25 years old to be imported,...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz 500 GE V8The 500 GE was never sold new in the US, and it isn't part of the Europa International story. US examples are private imports; German Cars For Sale Blog documents one that went through Wallace test labs in 2005 and is California-registered. NHTSA allows any vehicle at least 25 years old to be...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz Europa International GsA Europa G doesn't need to be imported: Europa International certified these trucks to US safety and emissions standards when they were new. That's the difference from gray-market W463s brought in privately, one at a time, and it's why Europa paperwork matters when you buy.Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz G 500Mercedes only sold the G 500 in the US from the 2002 model year. Earlier trucks either came through Europa International, which federalised them and issued US VINs, or arrived later as grey imports. NHTSA lets any vehicle at least 25 years old in, counted from its date of manufacture, so a...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz G-ClassMercedes-Benz G 63 AMG 6×6Mercedes never sold the G 63 AMG 6×6 in the United States, and MotorTrend said so at launch. Trucks in the US were imported and modified for EPA compliance by G&K Automotive Conversion of Santa Ana, California, and run under NHTSA's Show or Display exemption.Importing notes →Isuzu TrooperIsuzu Trooper (first generation)Every first-generation Bighorn, Jackaroo and export Trooper is now well past 25 years old, so it can be imported to the US under the 25-year exemption from federal safety and emissions standards. That's the route to the 2.8-liter 4JB1 diesels and the Japanese special editions the US never got....Importing notes →Isuzu TrooperIsuzu Trooper (second generation)The UBS diesels (the 3.1-liter 4JG2 and, from 1998, the 3.0-liter 4JX1) were never sold in the US, nor were the Holden, Opel, Vauxhall, Honda and Subaru versions. Trucks built at least 25 years ago can be imported under the US 25-year exemption, so in 2026 that covers UBS production from 2001...Importing notes →JeepJeep Cherokee XJXJs were US-built, so the 25-year rule rarely matters, but right-hand-drive trucks are a special case. Jeep built RHD Cherokees for the US Postal Service and for export to the UK, Ireland and Japan, and Japan's strict shaken inspections pushed many used Japanese-market trucks back to the US for...Importing notes →Lada NivaLada Niva (VAZ-2121 / 4x4 Legend)Ladas were never sold new in the US; Wikipedia says trade sanctions kept them out. NHTSA's exemption covers vehicles at least 25 years old, counted from each vehicle's date of manufacture, so as of October 2026 any Niva built before late 2001 can be imported. That covers every carbureted 1.6 and...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser J20 / J25 (FJ25)Toyota sold a small number of FJ25s new in the US: one in 1958, then 61 Land Cruisers in 1959 and 162 in 1960, by the IH8MUD registry's count. Most FJ25s sold in the US since then have come in from Latin America, often after restoration in Colombia or Costa Rica.Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser FJ40US FJ40s were all gasoline sixes. Diesel BJ40s, BJ42s and H-engine 40s, and Brazilian Bandeirantes (built to 2001), are gray-market. A vehicle at least 25 years old, measured from its date of manufacture, can be imported into the US without meeting FMVSS, so every J40-family truck now qualifies....Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser FJ45 / FJ55The US got gasoline FJ45s and FJ55s. HJ45, HJ47 and BJ45 diesels, right-hand-drive Troopies and Brazilian Bandeirantes are gray-market. A vehicle at least 25 years old, measured from its date of manufacture, can be imported into the US without meeting FMVSS, so every J40-family truck now...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser FJ60The US got only the gasoline FJ60 (1981–87) and FJ62 (1988–90). BJ60, HJ60 and HJ61 diesels, high-roof wagons and FJ61s are gray-market. Japanese 60 Series production ended in 1990 and Venezuelan production in 1992, so every 60 is now more than 25 years old, which NHTSA measures from the date of...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser FJ62Every US FJ62 is a 1988–90 gasoline automatic. HJ61 turbodiesels, right-hand-drive FJ62G VXs and Venezuelan carbureted FJ62s (built to 1992) are gray-market but now more than 25 years old, measured from the date of manufacture. Corsetti Cruisers warns that California may refuse to register an...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser 70 SeriesToyota never sold the 70 Series new in the United States. Canada got small numbers of BJ70s for the 1985–87 model years, and later trucks only through Toyota Industrial Sales for the mining industry. Every US 70 is a gray import.Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser 80 SeriesThe US only got gasoline 80s (the FJ80 and FZJ80). The HDJ80 turbodiesel and HZJ80 diesel, plus right-hand-drive and part-time-4WD trucks from Japan and Australia, are gray-market. NHTSA lets a vehicle be imported without meeting FMVSS once it is at least 25 years old, measured from its date of...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Mega CruiserToyota sold the Mega Cruiser new only in Japan. Some reached Australia, Russia, Kenya and the Philippines as gray imports. NHTSA's 25-year exemption made the first trucks legal to import into the US from 2020–21, and BaT trucks have carried Florida, New Hampshire, Georgia and Maryland titles.Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser Prado 90Toyota never sold the J90 in the United States; America got its platform twin, the 3rd-gen 4Runner, instead. Every US Prado 90 is a gray import. NHTSA says a vehicle at least 25 years old can be lawfully imported without regard to whether it meets US safety standards, and that the 25 years run...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser 100 SeriesThe solid-axle 105 (FZJ105, HZJ105) and diesel 100s (HDJ100) were never sold in the US. Production started in January 1998, so these trucks are reaching the 25-year NHTSA exemption one build year at a time, and Australian-market 105s are already appearing at US auctions.Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser Prado 120Toyota never sold the Prado 120 in the United States. North America got the same truck as the Lexus GX 470, with a V8. NHTSA allows vehicles at least 25 years old to be imported without meeting US safety standards, and counts the 25 years from the date of manufacture. Production began in...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota FJ CruiserEvery US-market FJ Cruiser (2007–2014) is federally legal. The right-hand-drive Japanese and Australian trucks (sold from late 2010 and 2011) and the FJs built for the Middle East and other markets until 2022 were never certified for the US, so under NHTSA's 25-year rule they can't be imported...Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser Prado 150Toyota never sold the Prado 150 in the US. Americans got the Lexus GX 460 instead. NHTSA lets vehicles at least 25 years old be imported without meeting federal standards, and the first 150s were built in late 2009, so they don't become eligible until late 2034.Importing notes →Toyota Land CruiserToyota Land Cruiser 300 SeriesToyota has never sold the J300 in the United States or Canada, citing slow 200 Series sales and limited production capacity. The Lexus LX is the US version of this platform.Importing notes →Land Rover Series & DefenderLand Rover Series I–IIIFactory sales to North America ended in 1974, so most Series trucks in the US today are private imports. Every Series truck is now well past NHTSA's 25-year line, so FMVSS isn't a barrier. On EPA Form 3520-1, code E exempts vehicles at least 21 years old in original configuration; a truck with a...Importing notes →Land Rover Series & DefenderLand Rover 90 / 110 / DefenderOnly the NAS trucks (1993 110, 1994–97 90) were sold new in the US, so every other classic Defender here is a gray-market import. NHTSA lets a vehicle in without meeting federal safety standards (FMVSS) once it is at least 25 years old, counted from its date of manufacture, declared under Box 1...Importing notes →Land Rover Series & DefenderLand Rover Discovery Series ILand Rover only sold V8 Discoveries in the US (1994–98 model years), so a 200Tdi or 300Tdi Disco 1 is a gray-market import. Every Series I was built by 1998, so all are now past NHTSA's 25-year line (counted from the date of manufacture). EPA Form 3520-1 code E covers vehicles at least 21 years...Importing notes →Land Rover Series & DefenderLand Rover Discovery Series IILand Rover only sold V8 automatics in the US, so a Td5 or a manual Discovery 2 there is a gray-market import. NHTSA lets a vehicle at least 25 years old, counted from its date of manufacture, be imported without meeting FMVSS. Series IIs were built from autumn 1998 to May 2004, so as of October...Importing notes →Land Rover Series & DefenderLand Rover LR4 / Discovery 4Land Rover sold only petrol LR4s in the US, so the TDV6 and SDV6 Discovery 4 diesels are gray-market. NHTSA's 25-year exemption is counted from the date of manufacture, and the first Discovery 4s were built in 2009, so the earliest diesels won't become eligible until 2034. Until then, a...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz UnimogMercedes-Benz Unimog 404Mercedes-Benz never sold the 404 new in the US, so every American truck is a private or specialist import, mostly ex-military: auction listings show trucks retired by the Swiss and Belgian armies and imported in the 2000s. Every 404 is now far past the 25-year mark, which has exempted vehicles...Importing notes →Mercedes-Benz UnimogMercedes-Benz Unimog U1300L (435)Nearly every 435 in the US is a used import, usually ex-Bundeswehr. Military trucks reach the market through German federal surplus sales (VEBEG) and European dealers. One Steel Soldiers member found trucks at VEBEG for around €12,000–15,000, but warned about language, inspection, shipping of...Importing notes →Mitsubishi DelicaMitsubishi Delica Star Wagon (L300 4WD)No 4WD Star Wagon was sold new in the US, so every example here is an import. The federal motor-vehicle exemption applies once a vehicle is 25 years old, counted from its own build date. The last Star Wagons left the Japanese catalogue in October 1999, so as of October 2026 every L300 qualifies....Importing notes →Mitsubishi DelicaMitsubishi Delica Space GearThe Space Gear was never sold new in the US. NHTSA's import exemption covers vehicles at least 25 years old, counted from each vehicle's build date (49 CFR 591.5). As of October 2026 that covers vans built up to about October 2001: every Series 1 and the early Series 2s, but not the post-2002...Importing notes →Mitsubishi Pajero / MonteroMitsubishi Pajero / Montero (First Generation)NHTSA's import exemption covers vehicles at least 25 years old, counted from each vehicle's own manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)). As of October 2026 that includes every first- and second-generation Pajero, so right-hand-drive Japanese-market trucks, the 2.5 and 2.8 turbo-diesels and the Pajero...Importing notes →Mitsubishi Pajero / MonteroMitsubishi Pajero / Montero (Second Generation)NHTSA's import exemption covers vehicles at least 25 years old, counted from each vehicle's own manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)). As of October 2026 that includes every first- and second-generation Pajero, so right-hand-drive Japanese-market trucks, the 2.5 and 2.8 turbo-diesels and the Pajero...Importing notes →Mitsubishi Pajero / MonteroMitsubishi Pajero / Montero (Third Generation)Only the long-wheelbase V6 Montero was sold new in the US. Short-wheelbase three-doors, the 3.0 V6, the 3.5 GDI and the 3.2 DI-D diesel are gray-market trucks. NHTSA's exemption covers vehicles at least 25 years old by their own manufacture date (49 CFR 591.5(i)), so as of October 2026 trucks...Importing notes →Nissan PatrolNissan Patrol 60 SeriesNissan sold the 60 new in the US only from 1962 to 1969, so many trucks for sale today are imports, especially from Colombia. Every 60 is well past the 25-year mark, so NHTSA's exemption from federal safety standards applies, counted from the date of manufacture.Importing notes →Nissan PatrolNissan Patrol 160 / MQNissan never sold the 160 Patrol new in the US. US examples are gray imports: right-hand-drive Japanese Safaris (often ex-fire trucks), Australian MQs and MKs, South African trucks, and left-hand-drive examples from Spain and Latin America.Importing notes →Nissan PatrolNissan Patrol Y60 (GQ)Nissan never sold the Patrol new in the United States; the closest relatives sold there are the much later Y62-based Infiniti QX56/QX80 and Armada. Every US Y60 is a gray import: right-hand-drive Japanese Safaris, Australian GQs, left-hand-drive Spanish-built European Patrol GRs and Gulf trucks.Importing notes →Nissan PatrolNissan Patrol Y61 (GU)Nissan never sold the Y61 new in the US. Its successor platform reached Americans only as the Infiniti QX56/QX80 and, from 2017, the Armada. Every US Y61 is a gray import.Importing notes →Nissan PatrolNissan Patrol Y62 / ArmadaThe Y62 Patrol was never sold in the US. Its US version is the 2017–2024 Nissan Armada (and the Infiniti QX56/QX80). NHTSA's 25-year exemption counts from the date of manufacture, so the earliest 2010 Patrols become eligible around 2035, and a non-US Patrol can't be imported before then unless...Importing notes →Steyr-Puch PinzgauerSteyr-Puch Pinzgauer 710 / 712Steyr never sold the 710/712 new in the US, so every American truck is a used import, almost always ex-military. Most are ex-Swiss Army, with some ex-Austrian. Every 710 and 712 is now more than 40 years old, comfortably past the 25-year line that lets an older vehicle into the US without...Importing notes →Steyr-Puch PinzgauerSteyr-Puch Pinzgauer 716 / 718Steyr-Daimler-Puch never sold the Turbo D new in the US. The only domestic trucks are the roughly 20 718Ms the US Army bought for special operations, some of which were sold as surplus around 2011. Every other 716 and 718 here is an import, usually ex-military from the UK or elsewhere in Europe.Importing notes →Land Rover Range RoverLand Rover Range Rover ClassicLand Rover didn't sell the Range Rover in the US until 16 March 1987, and then only as a four-door. In the early 1980s Americans bought grey-market trucks converted to US rules by Los Angeles-area dealers and, from 1984, by Aston Martin's US division. Two-doors, diesels (VM, 200Tdi, 300Tdi) and...Importing notes →Land Rover Range RoverLand Rover Range Rover P38AUS trucks were petrol V8s only. The BMW 2.5 turbo-diesel and the R380 manual were sold elsewhere, as were right-hand-drive trucks. P38 production ran from September 1994 to 2001, so any example built 25 or more years ago can now be imported under NHTSA's 25-year exemption from FMVSS. The 25...Importing notes →Suzuki Samurai & JimnySuzuki Jimny JB23 / JB43Suzuki never sold the third-generation Jimny new in the United States, and it stopped selling cars here altogether in 2012. Every US example is a private import. Under NHTSA's rule (49 CFR 591.5(i)), a vehicle that is 25 or more years old can be imported without meeting the federal safety...Importing notes →Suzuki Samurai & JimnySuzuki Jimny JB74 / JB64The fourth-generation Jimny has never been sold in the United States, and Suzuki hasn't sold cars here since American Suzuki's 2012 bankruptcy. It isn't certified to US safety or emissions standards, so it can't be imported as a new or late-model car.Importing notes →

Sources

This is general information, not legal or customs advice. Rules and duty rates change; confirm with NHTSA, the EPA, a licensed customs broker and your state DMV before you buy.

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