How long does shipping take?

It depends on where you are and the sailing: to the UK it typically takes 10 to 14 weeks. For other countries we give the time with your delivered quote.

What does Autoselecta do?

We buy cars at Japanese auctions for customers in the UK and abroad. We translate the auction sheet, bid for you at the auction up to the maximum you set, then arrange export from Japan, shipping and the import paperwork. Your deposit is held on your card (or paid by bank transfer over £30,000) and only kept if you win.

Cars eligible for US import

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Browse vehicles from Japan that meet the age requirement for the US 25 year federal import exemption. Enter your ZIP code on any vehicle to check state specific considerations and estimated delivery costs.

Eligibility is confirmed against the vehicle’s manufacture date and documentation before bidding. The same 25 year age makes them eligible for Australia’s concessional RAV entry.

Questions

What is the US 25 year rule?

The United States lets a car that does not meet its Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards be imported once it is 25 years old. The age is counted from the month the car was built, not its model year, so a car built in March 2001 qualifies in March 2026, not on 1 January. The emissions exemption comes earlier, at 21 years, so 25 years is the rule that decides.

How do you know when a car was built?

We use the build date from the auction listing, or the date of first registration where that is all the listing gives. A car is registered at or after it is built, so this never makes a car look older than it is. A car with no date at all, or a year we cannot believe, is never shown as eligible for the USA or Australia.

Is a federally eligible car legal in every state?

Federal import and state registration are separate. Most states title a properly imported 25 year old car with its customs papers, but California needs CARB emissions certification for anything built from 1968, and several states refuse or limit kei cars and trucks. Enter your ZIP code on any car to see your state’s rules.

What duty does a 25 year old car pay?

Since July 2026 a passenger car built in Japan pays 12.5%, a car built in the EU 10%, and pickups, kei trucks and vans 25% (35% if built in the UK). Duty goes by where the car was built, not where it was auctioned. Our US customs broker confirms it before you bid.

What about the EPA?

The EPA exempts cars over 21 years old that keep their original engine model and configuration. A car registered as modified in Japan, or with a swapped engine, is checked before we offer it to you.

Can you ship a car to the United States?

Yes. We bid, ship, clear US customs through our broker and send you the papers you need to title the car: the stamped CBP 7501, HS-7, EPA 3520-1 and the translated Japanese export certificate. Enter your ZIP code on any car for a delivered estimate.

How do I bid on a car?

Choose a car, set the most you want to pay, and we bid for you at the auction in Japan. Bids close at 9pm UK time the evening before the auction. The deposit is £2,000 for a maximum bid up to £30,000, or 10% of the maximum above that.