Importing a Suzuki Jimny (kei) to the USA: 2026 costs
Tiny, cheap and hugely in demand — kei trucks and SUVs are the budget import story of the decade.
A Suzuki Jimny kei costs about $15,590 all-in to import on the Japan → USA route in 2026 — a $9,000 purchase plus roughly $6,590 in shipping, 2.5% duty, compliance and registration.
- Route
- Japan → USA
- Est. all-in cost
- ~$15,590
- Duty & tax
- 2.5% duty
- On a purchase of
- $9,000
25-year-old kei vehicles are cheap to buy and cheap to ship, so fixed fees dominate the bill.
Some US states restrict kei vehicles from highways or registration — check your state before buying.
How much does it cost to import a Suzuki Jimny kei?
Every line below is a researched 2026 estimate in USD. We start from the $9,000 purchase price, add marine insurance at about 1.5% and ocean freight, then 2.5% US duty on the declared value, and the broker, compliance and registration fees. Change the purchase price and everything else scales only modestly.
| Vehicle (purchase price) | $9,000 |
| Export agent & auction fees | $1,200 |
| Ocean freight | $2,400 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $135 |
| 2.5% US duty | $225 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork | $300 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $15,590 |
Into USA the duty is light, just $225, so tax is the small part of the bill. It is shipping (about $2,400), compliance and registration that make up most of the roughly $6,590 you add on top of the $9,000 purchase price — around 73% before you turn a wheel.
How to import a Suzuki Jimny kei, step by step
- Agree the purchase and secure the title/export paperwork in Japan (an export agent or auction house usually handles de-registration).
- Book ocean freight — roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) is cheapest, a sole-use container is safest for a high-value car.
- Confirm eligibility from the build month — the US 25-year DOT exemption is calculated month by month, not by model year.
- Clear US customs and pay the 2.5% duty, then file EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 at entry.
- Arrange inland transport, then title and register in your state — a few states add emissions or kei-vehicle checks.
Is a Suzuki Jimny kei legal to import? Rules & compliance
Federal import is fine at 25 years, but state registration is the real hurdle: a handful of states limit or ban kei road use.
Frequently asked questions
Are kei cars street-legal in the US?+
Federally yes at 25 years, but some states restrict registration — verify locally.
Cheapest import?+
Among the cheapest, since the car itself is inexpensive.
What is the total estimated cost to import a Suzuki Jimny kei?+
About $15,590 all-in for a $9,000 example — the purchase price plus roughly $6,590 in freight, insurance, duty, compliance and registration. Your figure shifts with the exact price, route and exchange rate.
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