From the border to the title
EPA requirements for vehicles from China
A China-sourced vehicle needs a fact-specific federal import review before any U.S. registration plan. Emissions rules have their own declarations and exemptions.
Your situation
Start with the facts.
We identify manufacture date, certification evidence, importer, customs status, and title documents.
U.S. import compliance, customs release, state titling, and registration are separate checkpoints. We can help map the documents; a qualified importer or agency may need to resolve federal compliance questions.
What we review together
- We check which EPA pathway the importer used and whether the declaration is complete.
- How the ownership record, actual use, and any deadlines fit together.
- Which document or person can move the next step forward.
A practical first step
Here is where to begin.
Share the VIN, build date, and import paperwork. Share EPA Form 3520-1 or your importer’s filing.
If you have only part of that information, share what you have. We will help identify who holds the rest and the order in which to request it. The right answer depends on your specific vehicle and transaction.
Related questions
Federal import eligibility
Whether a car may enter permanently depends on its age, original certification, and available import route.
Explore this guideThe 25-year vehicle rule
NHTSA’s age-based exception is measured from the vehicle’s manufacture date.
Explore this guideNHTSA declaration
A DOT HS-7 declaration records the federal safety import basis.
Explore this guideLet’s look at your facts.
Tell us what you have and what you are trying to do. We’ll guide you toward a concrete next step.