This page is a dated log of the federal and state rules that change what it costs, or whether it is possible, to import a European car that is 25 years old or older into the United States. Each entry is checked against an official source and listed newest first.
Last checked: October 23, 2026.
Rates in force today
Customs duty on a vehicle manufactured at least 25 years before the year of entry, plus the two federal fees charged on every formal entry by sea.
- Passenger car, EU-built (HTS 8703): 10% total. The 2.5% general rate is topped up to 10% by Section 301 heading 9903.05.39.
- Passenger car, UK-built (HTS 8703): 12.5% total. 2.5% general rate plus 10% under Section 301 heading 9903.05.81.
- Pickup or van, EU-built (HTS 8704): 25%. The general rate is already above 10%, so heading 9903.05.38 adds nothing.
- Pickup or van, UK-built (HTS 8704): 35%. 25% general rate plus 10% under heading 9903.05.81.
- Passenger car, Russian-built (HTS 8703): 47.5%. 35% under heading 9903.90.08 plus 12.5% under Section 301 heading 9903.05.66. The 500% duty in the 2026 Russia sanctions act is waived.
- Section 232 auto tariff (25%): does not apply to vehicles manufactured at least 25 years before the year of entry (heading 9903.94.04).
- Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF): 0.3464% of value, minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 (from October 1, 2026).
- Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF): 0.125% of value.
Rates apply to the customs value. State sales tax, title and registration fees are separate.
Dated log of rule changes
October 16, 2026: Russia sanctions act duties waived by Executive Order 14436
Executive Order 14436 implements the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. Section 2(a) raises the duty on goods from Russia by 500% ad valorem. Section 4(a) waives the application of those duties, and the waiver stays in effect until the President or the Secretary of State decides further action is appropriate. For now, a Russian-built classic pays the rates shown above, not the extra 500%.
Source: Federal Register, Executive Order 14436, 91 FR 66627 (published October 21, 2026)
October 9, 2026: HTS 2026 Revision 21 confirms the 25% rate on pickups and vans
The current Harmonized Tariff Schedule lists a 25% general rate for goods vehicles under heading 8704, such as pickups and panel vans. This is often called the “chicken tax”. Passenger cars under heading 8703 stay at 2.5% before any Section 301 duty. Check how a vehicle is classified before you buy: a van-bodied or pickup version of a European model can fall under 8704.
October 1, 2026: New MPF minimum and maximum for fiscal year 2027
The MPF rate stays at 0.3464% of value. The minimum rises to $34.58 and the maximum to $670.86 per formal entry. On a classic car worth more than about $193,700, the fee is capped at $670.86.
September 18, 2026: Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 signed
The act provides for higher duties on goods imported from Russia, among other sanctions. It also lets the President waive those duties after a certification to Congress. That waiver was issued on October 16, 2026 (see above).
Source: Federal Register, Executive Order 14436, Section 1 (signing date of the act)
July 24, 2026: Section 301 tariffs on EU, UK and Russian goods take effect
The U.S. Trade Representative imposed Section 301 tariffs on goods from a list of economies. For EU goods with a general rate under 10%, the general rate plus the Section 301 duty equals 10% (heading 9903.05.39). An EU-built passenger car therefore pays 10% total. UK goods pay an extra 10% on top of the general rate (heading 9903.05.81), so a UK-built car pays 12.5% and a UK-built pickup or van pays 35%. Russian goods pay an extra 12.5% (heading 9903.05.66).
The notice exempts passenger vehicles that pay the Section 232 auto tariff. A car 25 years old or older does not pay Section 232, so this exemption does not cover it. Goods loaded on a vessel before July 24, 2026 and entered before July 28, 2026 were exempt.
April 3, 2025: Section 232 auto tariff starts, with a 25-year exclusion
Proclamation 10908 added a 25% tariff on imported passenger vehicles and light trucks from April 3, 2025. The tariff schedule sends vehicles “manufactured in a year at least 25 years prior to the year of the date of entry” to heading 9903.94.04, which carries no extra duty. A 25-year-old European car pays its normal duty, without the 25% Section 232 surcharge.
Source: Federal Register, Proclamation 10908, 90 FR 14705 and U.S. International Trade Commission, HTS Chapter 99, U.S. note 33(e) and heading 9903.94.04
March 17, 2025: Connected-vehicle rule takes effect, with no effect on classics
The Bureau of Industry and Security rule restricts connected-vehicle software and hardware linked to China or Russia. Its restrictions do not apply to completed vehicles manufactured before model year 2027. A car built 25 or more years ago is outside its scope.
October 24, 2024: California DMV direct-import rules (last page update)
California DMV sends direct-import cars of model year 1968 or newer that do not meet U.S. emission rules to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The manual states that CARB has no program to convert diesel-powered vehicles to California emission standards. Vehicles that cannot be converted cannot be registered. California registration not guaranteed for vehicles built after 1967. A diesel built 1968 or later has no CARB conversion route.
Source: California DMV, Vehicle Industry Registration Procedures Manual, 12.050 Direct Import Vehicles
2023: Georgia refuses titles for vehicles imported under HS-7 box 1
Georgia Policy Bulletin MVD-2023-05 is mainly about Japanese kei vehicles and minitrucks. Its wording is broader: “Box 1 is for vehicles 25 or more years old. If the importer checks that box, he is representing the vehicle in question is not FMVSS compliant. Because the vehicle is not FMVSS compliant, it cannot be titled and registered in Georgia.” The bulletin has no printed issue date. If the car will be registered in Georgia, check with the county tag office before you buy.
July 27, 2022: Duty on most Russian goods, including cars, raised to 35%
Proclamation 10420 raised the column 2 rate on listed Russian goods to 35% ad valorem through heading 9903.90.08. Passenger cars under 8703 are on that list. The change applied to goods entered 30 days after the June 27, 2022 signing.
Source: Federal Register, Proclamation 10420, 87 FR 38875
April 9, 2022: Russian goods move to column 2 rates
The Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act, signed April 8, 2022, ended normal trade relations with Russia from April 9, 2022. Russian goods have paid the higher column 2 rates since that date. The 35% rate above was built on this act.
Source: Federal Register, Proclamation 10420, paragraph 1