From the border to the title
Foreign title and export records for vehicles from Japan
Japanese-market vehicles can follow different federal paths depending on age and specifications. The original ownership chain should connect the overseas seller to the U.S. buyer.
Your situation
Start with the facts.
We check manufacture date, export certificate, EPA and NHTSA declarations, customs release, and ownership.
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 review foreign registration, export certificate, bill of sale, and translations if needed.
- 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 Japanese export documents and U.S. entry file. Share every ownership document you received.
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 guideEPA requirements
Emissions rules have their own declarations and exemptions.
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.