Tariffs Don’t Apply To Classic Imported Cars

While plenty of people are making it sounds like the new reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Trump will end all free trade, we have good news for everyone looking to import old hobby cars to the US. If the vehicle you’re bringing in meets the 25-year rule, like a Nissan Skyline GT-R R34, for example, you won’t have to pay a dime on tariffs.

Just don’t expect to import this car, ever.

That’s right, that nasty 25 percent tariff everyone seems to be panicking about won’t be your problem. Instead, you’ll just have to pay the 2.5 percent duty when your car arrives at port, and you’re good.

We’ve heard some enthusiasts try to say the tariffs apply to old cars, not just new ones, and that’s absolutely not true. Because the classics are exempt, we wonder if some people will opt to buy that JDM or Euro car from the 90s instead of purchasing some fancy new crossover.

If so, these tariffs could be a huge boon for the car collector hobby. People would also begin to understand why we love driving without an infotainment touchscreen, no sensors squawking, all while enjoying the tactile feel of a manual transmission. It’s pure heaven on wheels.

It’s true that for a bit it wasn’t clear if classic cars imported to the US would be subject to the new tariffs. But the White House clarified that and other points on April 2.

To escape the tariffs, the car has to be at least 25 years old when you bring it into the country. People who like shopping in foreign markets for “forbidden fruit” models which weren’t originally sold in the US at all are quite familiar with this rule.

So if you’ve been on the fence about buying such a vehicle, whether it’s a JDM Toyota from Japan, a Holden from Australia, or a special Euro-spec Mercedes from Germany, this might be reason enough to go for it.

Image via HertLIfe/YouTube