Kai Lot sources, inspects, and ships the finest Japanese vehicles worldwide — from iconic JDM sports cars to luxury sedans and rugged SUVs. Transparent, personal, and built on trust.
Getting your dream Japanese vehicle is straightforward. We guide you every step — from sourcing to your driveway.
Submit an inquiry with the make, model, spec, and budget you have in mind. We'll get back to you quickly to confirm details.
Kai Lot taps into Japan's auction network and dealer connections to find exactly the right vehicle. You approve before anything moves.
From export documentation to ocean freight, we manage the entire logistics chain. Wherever you are, we get your car there.
We walk you through compliance, customs, and registration support so your new ride is road-ready without the headache.
The 25-year rule, real costs, timelines, and every step explained — everything you need to know before importing your dream JDM car to the USA.
Real vehicles we've sourced, inspected, and delivered to clients worldwide. From JDM legends to luxury and off-road — this is the caliber of what we deliver.
Ready to source your dream car? Book a quick 15-minute call with Abe to talk through exactly what you're looking for.
Prefer we reach out instead? Start an inquiry →
We're not a platform. We're people who care — and it shows in every deal we do.
You're not a ticket number here. Kai Lot works with you directly — no hidden fees, no surprises, no runaround. Just straight talk from someone who genuinely wants to get you the right car.
Every vehicle is sourced with your priorities in mind — we evaluate condition, history, and value before we ever bring an option to you.
Auction reports, inspection photos, and shipping updates are shared throughout the process. You always know exactly where things stand.
Questions don't sit unanswered. We move quickly and communicate clearly, because we know how important this purchase is to you.
Get a quick estimate of what it'll cost to import your desired vehicle to your destination. Final pricing confirmed during your consultation.
New to importing from Japan? Here are answers to the most common questions we get.
Real people. Real cars. Real results.
"Kai Lot found my exact spec GT-R in Midnight Purple within two weeks. The inspection report was incredibly detailed and I felt confident the whole way through. Car arrived exactly as described. Would absolutely use them again."
"I had no idea how complicated importing a car could be. Kai Lot handled absolutely everything — the auction, the inspection, all the paperwork, customs, and delivery. I just picked my car from the driveway. Unreal experience."
"The S15 market in the US is incredibly thin right now. Kai Lot sourced a Spec R in Sonic Blue within a month — stock, clean, exactly what I wanted. Communication was excellent the entire way. This is how it should be done."
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll get back to you personally — no forms that disappear into the void, just a real conversation about getting you the right vehicle.
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Submitted June 3, 2026
Received June 3, 2026
Confirmed June 4, 2026
Active search in Japan auction lanes
2022 GT-R found at Aucnet — awaiting your approval
Third-party inspection pending
Awaiting inspection results
RoRo booking to Houston, TX
Your car arrives!
We found a 2022 GT-R R35 Premium in Pearl White with 14,200 km. Auction Grade 4.5. Priced at ¥7,200,000 (~$48,500 USD). Would you like us to proceed?
Kai Lot Notes: This is a strong example. Minor stone chips on the front bumper — nothing structural. Full service history with Nissan Japan. All electronics functional. VR38DETT engine sounds clean, no smoke or leaks. We recommend proceeding.
ID, proof of address, payment confirmations, or any other supporting documents
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Get a rough estimate of your total import cost. All figures are estimates — final pricing is confirmed during your consultation.
RoRo (Roll-on/Roll-off) is more affordable. Container offers more protection.
Everything you need to know to legally import your dream JDM vehicle in 2026 — the 25-year rule, real costs, timelines, and exactly how Kai Lot handles it for you.
The reason you can own a Nissan Skyline GT-R in America comes down to one federal exemption. Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, any vehicle that is at least 25 years old is exempt from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) — the modern crash, lighting, and equipment rules that non-US-spec cars can't meet. The EPA has a parallel exemption for emissions on vehicles 21+ years old.
Put simply: once a Japanese car crosses 25 years of age, it can be imported to the US without any modifications — no crash testing, no emissions retrofit, no expensive compliance work.
As of 2026, any vehicle manufactured on or before January 1, 2001 qualifies under the 25-year exemption. Every January, a fresh wave of iconic models crosses the threshold.
Sought-after models now eligible or becoming eligible include:
The sticker price in Japan is only part of the story. Here's an honest breakdown of what goes into the landed cost of a JDM import to the US:
From first conversation to keys in hand, budget roughly 3–5 months. Here's how it breaks down:
Importing legally means filing the right forms at the port of entry. For a 25-year-exempt vehicle, the essentials are:
A licensed customs broker handles these filings — and getting them right is exactly where inexperienced importers get tripped up. We manage this end to end.
Clearing federal customs doesn't automatically mean your state will register the car. Requirements vary widely:
We'll walk you through your specific state's rules before you buy, so there are no surprises at the DMV.
Everything above — the sourcing, the inspection, the auction bidding, the export paperwork, the shipping, the customs filings, the state guidance — is what we handle so you don't have to. You tell us the car you want; we deliver it to your driveway, legal and ready.
No confusing forms. No auction accounts. No wondering if the car is really what the photos showed. Just a transparent, personal process from start to finish.
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll start the hunt — or reach out to Abe directly with any question.
This guide provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Import regulations change and state rules vary. Kai Lot works with licensed customs brokers on every import, and we'll confirm the current requirements for your specific vehicle and state.
Answer a few questions and we'll match you with the right vehicle and give Abe everything he needs to help you fast.
