Every month of 2026, European cars built in the same month of 2001 become legal to import into the United States under the 25-year rule. The rule counts from the month of manufacture on the car’s build plate, not the model year: a car built in March 2001 is eligible from March 2026, one built in December 2001 only from December 2026. This page lists notable European cars that cross that line this year, with a link to our buying guide where we have one.
How the 2026 cut-off works
Federal law lets a motor vehicle at least 25 years old enter the US without meeting the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (49 CFR 591.5(i), declared on form HS-7). That 25-year clock runs from the date of manufacture, month for month. The EPA exemption is separate: vehicles at least 21 years old in original configuration, declared on form 3520-1. The age has to be documented, usually by the manufacturer’s build plate or a factory certificate, otherwise by documents such as the original registration or first bill of sale; if it cannot be proven, the car is not eligible. A car one month too young is not a gray area: it can be refused entry, exported or seized.
- Built January–October 2001: eligible during 2026, in the month it was built.
- Built November–December 2001: eligible in November–December 2026. Buy now, ship the month it turns 25.
- Built 2002: eligible in 2027, month for month (see European cars that turn 25 in 2027). We can reserve a car in Europe today and ship it the month it becomes legal.
European cars turning 25 in 2026
| Model | Built | Why Americans want it | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Defender 90 / 110 Td5 | 1998–2007 (2001 builds now) | The Td5 diesel Defender was never sold in the US | Defender Td5 |
| Mercedes-Benz G-Class W460 / W461 / W463 | 2001 and earlier builds | Euro-spec G-Wagens, including diesels never offered here | G-Class |
| Porsche 911 GT3 (996.1) | 1999–2001 | The first GT3 was never offered in the US | 996 GT3 |
| Lotus Elise S1 | 1996–2001 | The original lightweight Elise; the US only got the later S2 | Elise S1 |
| Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport (Phase 1) | 2001–2003 (2001 builds now) | Mid-engine V6 hatchback, never sold in the US | Clio V6 |
| Mercedes-Benz E 55 AMG Estate (S210) | 1998–2002 (2001 builds now) | The S210 E 55 AMG Estate was not offered in the US | E 55 AMG Estate |
| Maserati 3200 GT | 1998–2002 (2001 builds now) | Never sold in the US | 3200 GT |
| Lada Niva 4×4 | 2001 and earlier builds | Sold in Canada, never in the US | Niva |
| Audi RS4 B5 Avant | 2000–2001 | The first RS4, a wagon only; the US got an RS4 years later | Ask us to find one |
| Lotus Exige S1 | 2000–2001 | Never sold in the US | Ask us to find one |
| Alfa Romeo GTV / Spider 916 3.0 V6 | 2001 and earlier builds | Busso V6 coupe and roadster, never sold in the US | Ask us to find one |
| Peugeot 306 GTi-6 / S16 / Rallye | 2001 and earlier builds | French hot hatch, never sold in the US | Ask us to find one |
| Volkswagen T4 Multivan / California Syncro | 2001 and earlier builds | The all-wheel-drive T4 camper was never offered here | Ask us to find one |
Pick-up and van bodies (for example a Defender 130 double cab or a Citroën Berlingo panel van) can be classified as trucks at customs (HTS 8704) and pay the 25% truck duty instead of the passenger-car rate, plus any additional tariffs in force on the entry date. We check the classification with a licensed customs broker before you commit.
Before you buy a 2001 car
- Read the build plate. The month on the plate decides the shipping date. Ask for a clear photo of it before you commit.
- Check your state. Some states are easy, some are not. California, Georgia and Maine are high-risk. See our state-by-state registration guide.
- Know the full landed cost. Freight, customs broker, port fees and duty at the rate in force on the entry date. See shipping and the 25-year rule explained.
Reserve a car that turns 25 later this year
Tell us the model and the build months you want. We find the car in Europe, have it inspected, and ship it the month it becomes legal, landed at a US port with a US title. Start a custom search or set an inventory alert.