Import Blog
Operational guides for vehicle importers. Auction intelligence, logistics strategy, compliance by country.
7 Common Car Import Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Most import horror stories come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the seven that cost first-time importers the most money and stress — and exactly how to avoid each one.
How Nissan and the GT-R Became Legends
It started as a Prince sedan and became 'Godzilla' — the car that won 29 straight races. The story of how the Nissan Skyline GT-R became the most legendary JDM car of all.
Nissan Silvia (S13/S14/S15): The Drift King
The Nissan Silvia is to drifting what the AE86 is to touge — the light, rear-drive, SR20DET-powered coupe that made the sport accessible. The S13, S14, and the JDM-only S15, and how to import one.
15 Things You Didn't Know About Japanese Cars
From the loom that became Toyota to the inspection law that keeps JDM cars pristine — 15 genuinely surprising facts about Japanese cars, each one true and sourced.
How to Check a Used Car's History Before Importing
A clean photo and a low mileage number prove nothing on their own. Here's how to verify a Japanese car's real history — mileage, accidents, grade — before you commit a single yen.
STI vs Evo: The Greatest Rally Rivalry
Boxer vs inline-four. Subaru vs Mitsubishi. The STI and Evo fought on rally stages and in the street for two decades. The history of the rivalry, how they differ, and which to import.
The Birth of JDM Culture: How Japanese Cars Conquered the World
From late-night runs on Japan's mountain passes to a worldwide obsession — how JDM culture spread through drifting, video games, movies, and a US import law.
Container vs RoRo Shipping: Which to Choose
RoRo is cheaper; container is safer. The choice between the two main ways to ship a car from Japan comes down to your car's value and what you're willing to risk. Here's how to decide.
Honda NSX (NA1): The Everyday Supercar
Honda built a supercar that could embarrass Ferrari on the track and still start every morning. With Ayrton Senna's input and the first all-aluminum body, the NSX changed what a supercar could be.
How to Decode a Japanese Chassis Code (JDM VIN Guide)
A JDM car doesn't have a normal VIN — it has a chassis code, and learning to read it tells you the model, engine, and production number, and helps you spot fraud before you buy.
Why Japan Built Kei Cars: The History of the Tiny-Car Class
Kei cars aren't tiny by accident. They're tiny by law — a 1949 government class designed to put postwar Japan on wheels. How the rules created one of the world's most distinctive car cultures.
Mazda RX-7 (FD3S): The Rotary Icon
The FD RX-7 is the purest rotary sports car Mazda ever built — beautiful, light, and powered by an engine unlike anything else on the road. The story, and the one compression test that decides whether to buy.
How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car from Japan? (2026)
Shipping is only part of it. The real cost of importing a car from Japan stacks purchase, freight, duty, fees, and US-side costs. Here's the full breakdown for 2026, with a worked example.
The Story of Honda: From a Bicycle Engine to Formula 1
Honda started with surplus engines strapped to bicycles in postwar Japan. How a mechanic's obsession with engineering became a company that builds everything from lawnmowers to F1 cars.
Toyota Supra Mk4 (A80): The 2JZ Legend
The Mk4 Supra's 2JZ engine is one of the most over-engineered motors ever put in a production car — built to handle double its power. The story of the A80 legend, and what to know about importing one.
How Toyota Started: From Looms to the World's Biggest Automaker
Toyota didn't start with cars. It started with a loom — and a father-and-son story that turned a textile-machinery business into the largest automaker on earth.
JDM Legends You Can Finally Import in 2026
2001 was a golden era for Japanese performance cars — and in 2026 those legends cross the 25-year line. Here's what becomes eligible, by build month, and what to watch for.
EV Home Charging Setup: Costs and Options for 2026
Home charging is what makes an EV cheap to run. Here's what a setup actually costs in 2026 — Level 1 vs Level 2, hardware, installation, and the tax credit that's about to expire.
How to Buy a Car at a Japanese Auction (Step by Step)
You can't just walk into a Japanese car auction and bid — they're wholesale trade-only. Here's the real step-by-step process for buying through an export agent in 2026.
Best Used EVs to Import in 2026: What to Look For
Importing a used EV adds variables a domestic purchase doesn't have — charging standards, parts support, battery history. Here's the framework for picking one worth importing in 2026.
The 2025 Auto Tariff Explained (and Why Classics Are Exempt)
A 2025 tariff pushed duty on modern imported vehicles to 27.5%. But classics 25 years and older are exempt and still pay the old 2.5%. Here's what that means for what you import.
EV vs Gas: The Real 5-Year Cost Breakdown (2026)
Forget the slogans. Here's the real five-year cost comparison between an EV and a comparable gas car, using 2026 energy prices — and the conditions that decide which one wins.
Why the 25-Year Rule Exists: The Story Behind the Law
The 25-year rule wasn't designed to torment enthusiasts. It came out of a 1980s gray-market gold rush, a flood of unregulated imports, and the lobbying that followed. Here's the real story.
How to Check if a Car Is Legal to Import to Your State
A car can clear federal customs and still be impossible to register where you live. Here's how to check your state's rules before you spend a dollar.
Kei Truck Import Guide: Which US States Allow Them in 2026
Kei truck imports tripled in five years. Which US states actually allow them in 2026, how the 25-year rule applies, and what they really cost to land.
Container Arbitrage 101: How Smart Importers Save Thousands
A 40ft container holds more than one vehicle. The difference between paying full freight and splitting it is $2,000–$6,000 per unit. Here's the math.
How to Import an EV from Japan in 2026 (Complete Step-by-Step)
Japan ships more EVs than any other country. Here's exactly how professionals bring them in — from auction selection to registration in your market.
Japan Auction Sheets Explained: How to Read Grades Like a Pro
The single document that separates confident importers from expensive mistakes. Every grade, every damage code, and every inspector note — decoded.
How to Check a Used EV's Battery Health Before Buying
On a used EV, the battery is the single most valuable — and most uncertain — component. Here's how to check its health before you buy, and what counts as normal in 2026.
The 25-Year Import Rule, Explained (2026)
The 25-year rule is the single most important law in car importing — and the most misunderstood. Here's how it actually works, by month of manufacture, with the EPA and NHTSA thresholds untangled.
How to Read a Japanese Auction Sheet (2026 Guide)
A Japanese auction sheet is the single most honest document in the used-car world — learn to read it and you judge true condition from across the planet.
EV Total Cost of Ownership: The Complete 2026 Guide
Sticker price is the smallest part of what a car costs you. This guide breaks down the full five-year total cost of owning an EV in 2026 — and how it compares to gas.
How to Import a Car from Japan in 2026: The Complete Guide
Importing a car from Japan in 2026: how the auctions work, what landed cost really includes, and how the 25-year rule changes your duty math.