# What are the import rules for cars into the USA? Importing a car into the USA involves at least three agencies: the EPA sets emissions requirements with declaration forms such as 3520-1 and 3520-21, NHTSA under the Department of Transportation covers vehicle safety standards, and Customs and Border Protection handles entry. Age exemptions exist but differ between agencies, so your specific vehicle's eligibility must be checked against current official rules. Bringing a car into the United States is not a single-rule question. The US Environmental Protection Agency is explicit that importers must also consider the requirements of the US Department of Transportation and US Customs and Border Protection, alongside EPA's own emissions rules. That means an import plan needs three separate checks, not one. References: [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines). ## The EPA emissions side The EPA regulates emissions for imported motor vehicles and engines, and it provides declaration forms and publications to guide importers. Two named forms are EPA forms 3520-1 and 3520-21, which are import declaration forms. The agency also publishes detailed procedures, including specific guidance for Canadian vehicles and for Independent Commercial Importers, who handle compliance work for vehicles that need it. If you are importing anything beyond a straightforward case, the EPA's own importing pages are the place to start, because the requirements differ by vehicle type. References: [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines). ## The other two agencies The EPA points importers to the Department of Transportation for its requirements and to Customs and Border Protection for both US-resident and trade-related entry rules. In practice, CBP is the agency at the port that processes the entry, while the DOT-side requirements concern whether the vehicle meets US safety standards, administered by NHTSA. Each agency publishes its own current requirements, and none of them delegates the final word to the others. References: [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines), [https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs](https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs). ## Age exemptions: two different clocks The age exemptions people mention are real, but they are two separate rules and they do not cancel each other out. On the safety side, NHTSA says a motor vehicle at least 25 years old can be imported without meeting all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, using Box 1 of form HS-7, with the 25 years measured from the actual manufacture date. On the emissions side, the EPA has its own provision for vehicles over 21 years old, and its guidance says the engine-equivalence requirement means the same engine model and configuration as originally installed. The EPA warns directly: do not treat the NHTSA 25-year safety exemption as eliminating EPA requirements. A 26-year-old car with a different engine may clear one hurdle and fail the other. References: [https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs](https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs), [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines). For vehicles that do not qualify for an exemption, there are compliance routes. NHTSA says a younger nonconforming vehicle generally needs an eligibility determination and a Registered Importer route, while the EPA says nonconforming vehicles can require an Independent Commercial Importer for modification, testing and certification, or the appropriate EPA exemption. Both agencies encourage contact before shipping: NHTSA requires supporting age documentation if the manufacturer's label does not show the date, and the EPA strongly encourages importers using the 21-year provision to contact the EPA Imports Hotline before importation. References: [https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs](https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs), [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines). ## A concrete comparison: short visit versus extended stay Here is a practical contrast drawn directly from the EPA's guidance. A short-term traveller to the US from Canada or Mexico may operate their own personal vehicle during their visit, and such vehicles are not subject to EPA emission standards and other requirements. But a resident of Canada, Mexico or any other country who wants to bring a vehicle in for an extended period falls under a different path: the EPA directs them to its temporary vehicle import procedures for nonresidents. Same vehicle, same border, completely different paperwork. This is why matching your exact situation, not just the car, matters. References: [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines). ## What a general overview cannot tell you One thing worth being blunt about: no general overview, including this one, can tell you whether a specific car is eligible. NHTSA itself notes that its rules are separate from EPA emissions, Customs and state registration requirements, and that age alone is not a promise of complete import or road-use eligibility. Eligibility depends on the vehicle's identity, model year, origin and destination, and those details need to be checked against current official import, registration and document requirements. Trade statistics and country-level context are useful background, but they are separate from an individual vehicle's eligibility. References: [https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs](https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs), [https://vehicleimportfacts.com/](https://vehicleimportfacts.com/). - Identify the vehicle precisely: origin country, model year and actual manufacture date. - Decide the import type: temporary visit, extended nonresident stay, or permanent import, since the EPA treats these differently. - Check EPA emissions requirements and the relevant declaration form, such as 3520-1 or 3520-21; if using the over-21 provision, confirm the engine matches the original model and configuration. - Check NHTSA safety requirements separately, including form HS-7 and age documentation. - Check Customs and Border Protection entry requirements for your situation. - Record the date you checked each source, since requirements change. References: [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines), [https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs](https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs), [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines). A sensible next step: before committing to any purchase or shipment, write down your vehicle's details and your import scenario, then read the current EPA importing guidance and the NHTSA and CBP pages that apply to that scenario. If anything is unclear, the EPA invites direct questions about importing vehicles and engines, so ask rather than guess. References: [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines). ## Sources - [https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs](https://www.nhtsa.gov/importing-vehicle/importation-and-certification-faqs) — accessed 2026-10-18 - [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/learn-about-importing-vehicles-and-engines) — accessed 2026-10-18 - [https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines](https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines) — accessed 2026-10-18 - [https://vehicleimportfacts.com/](https://vehicleimportfacts.com/) — accessed 2026-10-18 Published 2026-10-18. Vehicle Import Facts editorial; AI-assisted preparation. ## Next step - [Start a search on vehicleimportfacts.com](https://vehicleimportfacts.com/)