Imported Vehicle Titling: From Customs Papers to US Plates
We take imported vehicles from customs paperwork to a US title and plates for a flat $899 service fee. That covers the import-age eligibility check, review of your CBP entry documents (the 7501 and the HS-7 declaration), and the state titling path that follows.
The 25-year rule is the gate: vehicles 25 years or older from their manufacture date can enter and title without meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards. Under 25 years, a vehicle needs FMVSS conformity through a registered importer, or it cannot be legally titled, and we will tell you that before you buy, not after.
Published price
$899
Typical turnaround: 4-10 weeks
Plus exact government fees, itemized before you pay. Full list on the pricing page.
Get my exact quoteThe documents that make or break an import title
Three papers rule everything: the CBP Form 7501 entry summary proving the vehicle cleared customs, the HS-7 or EPA 3520-1 declarations filed at entry, and the foreign registration or export certificate establishing ownership. Miss one and most DMVs will not open the file. Our first step is a document audit; if something is missing we chase it with the broker or port before any state filing.
JDM imports, Kei trucks, and state quirks
Kei trucks and vans title fine federally under the 25-year rule but a handful of states restrict or refuse them at registration (and the list shifts year to year). Some states also route imports through enhanced VIN inspections. We track this state by state, and your quote reflects your state's current stance rather than a generic promise.
Questions people ask us
Can you title a car imported under the 25-year rule?
Yes, that is the core of this service. With clean customs paperwork, a 25-year-plus vehicle titles in most states with a VIN verification and our standard filing. The whole path typically runs 4 to 10 weeks.
My import is under 25 years old. What are my options?
It must go through a registered importer for FMVSS conformity, which is expensive and only available for certain models, or wait out the calendar. We will confirm eligibility honestly before you spend money; there is no paperwork trick around the federal rule, and anyone selling one is selling a seizure risk.
Which states are hardest on imports?
California adds CARB emissions requirements that stop most direct imports under 25 years and complicate some over. A few states single out Kei-class vehicles. Our state guides carry the current details, and your quote is state-specific.