Reference guide
How Much Does It Cost to Import a Car From Japan to Florida?
Reviewed and updated August 23, 2026.
The short answer
There is no honest single landed total for importing a car from Japan to Florida until the specific vehicle, the seller or exporter, the shipping route and method, the current customs treatment of that entry, the port and terminal charges, and the final delivery leg are all known. Each of those is set by a different independent party at a different point in the timeline.
The workable approach is to plan by category rather than chase one number. Price each cost category below separately, keep a contingency for charges that only appear at entry and release, and confirm customs treatment with a licensed customs broker before you commit.
Cost categories to plan for
| Cost category | Typically paid to | What it covers / what moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle purchase price | Seller / exporter in Japan | The agreed price of the vehicle itself. Varies entirely by model, year, condition, and mileage. |
| Japan auction or exporter fees | Auction house / exporter | Bidding, service, documentation, deregistration, and export-handling charges set by the Japan-side party. |
| Japan inland transport | Japan-side transport provider | Moving the vehicle from the seller or auction yard to the export port. |
| Ocean freight | Shipping line / booking agent | RoRo or container shipping to a U.S. port. Depends on route, method, sailing schedule, and vehicle size. |
| Customs duties and government fees | U.S. government (via your broker's entry) | Duty and applicable federal charges based on the entry's classification and current trade measures at the time of entry. |
| Licensed customs broker fee | Licensed customs broker | The broker's own fee for preparing and filing the customs entry and related filings. |
| Port, terminal, release, exam, and storage | Port / terminal operator | Terminal handling and release charges, plus any exam or storage charges if the vehicle is held. |
| U.S. final-mile delivery | Motor carrier / transporter | Transport from the arrival port to your Florida address. Depends on distance, equipment, and availability. |
| Florida title, registration, and tax | FLHSMV / county tax collector | Title and registration fees plus applicable Florida sales or use tax, per state requirements. |
| Nexus coordination fee | Nexus JDM Imports | Coordination only, by selected service: Full Import min($2,500, $1,250 + 4% of vehicle price); Vehicle Finder $500; Customs Coordination $350; Delivery Coordination $300. $500 deposit credited toward this total, not added on top. |
Nexus does not set or control third-party pricing in any category other than its own coordination fee.
Why customs duty cannot be represented by one permanent percentage
CBP publishes general duty guidance for imported vehicles, but the amount actually owed depends on how the specific vehicle is classified on the entry and on whatever trade measures are in effect on the date of entry. Classification and additional measures, including Chapter 99 provisions, can change.
For that reason this page does not publish a single permanent duty percentage, and the Nexus cost calculator is a planning tool only. The licensed customs broker who files your entry confirms the current entry treatment, and that confirmation controls.
Florida title documents to plan for
Florida’s title procedure for out-of-country vehicles (FLHSMV TL-10) identifies items including:
- Proof of ownership from out of country for the imported vehicle.
- A certified translation when an ownership document is not in English.
- VIN verification as required by the Florida title procedure.
- CBP Form 7501 (entry summary) from the customs entry.
- HS-7 declaration form.
Review the current TL-10 procedure directly, since state requirements can be updated.
Who pays whom
You pay the seller or exporter, the licensed customs broker, the shipping line or booking agent, the port or terminal, and the final-mile transporter directly. You approve and contract with each of those parties yourself. You pay Nexus only the Nexus coordination fee for the service you select.
Nexus is not a dealer, exporter, licensed customs broker, freight forwarder, ocean carrier, motor carrier, port operator, or Importer of Record. Nexus coordinates stages, facilitates communication and handoffs among the parties, and helps you track what has been provided.
Before you buy
- Confirm the exact date of manufacture, not just the model year — the 25-year period runs from the manufacture date.
- Ask the seller or exporter which ownership and export documents they will provide, and in what form.
- Decide your destination port and final Florida delivery address before pricing shipping and delivery.
- Ask specific questions about running condition, known faults, and recent service.
- Confirm shipping availability and method (RoRo or container) for that vehicle and route.
- Talk to a licensed customs broker before you buy when classification or current trade measures could affect the entry.
- Hold a contingency amount for charges that are unknown until entry and release, such as exams, storage, or schedule changes.
Plan your numbers next
Start with the cost calculator for a category-based planning estimate, then request an import plan so the stages and handoffs are mapped to your specific vehicle and destination.
Official sources
- NHTSA — Importation and certification FAQsThe 25-year period runs from the vehicle's date of manufacture.
- EPA — Learn about importing vehicles and enginesEPA emissions requirements are separate from NHTSA requirements.
- EPA — Publications and forms for importing vehicles and enginesForm 3520-1 is the current EPA declaration form for passenger vehicles.
- CBP — Importing a carCBP publishes general duty and entry guidance for imported vehicles.
- FLHSMV — Procedure TL-10Florida title procedure for vehicles imported from out of country.