How to Import a Toyota Cresta to the USA
Everything a US buyer needs before committing: which generations are legal today, what one actually costs landed and titled, and who does the customs work.
As of today, any Cresta built September 2001 or earlier is legal to import. The 25-year rule runs on month and year of manufacture, so this moves forward every month — the figures on this page are calculated live, not written down.
Which Cresta generations can you import right now?
| Chassis | Built | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| JZX90 | 1992–1996 | Eligible now | Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. |
| JZX100 | 1996–2001 | Eligible now | Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. |
What a Cresta costs landed in the USA
Worked example using the cheapest Cresta in our Japan stock right now:
- Vehicle in Japan: $2,746 (stock ranges to about $32,727)
- Ocean freight: $1,950
- Standard export, import and title fees: $2,378
- US import duty (~12.5% of vehicle value): $343
- Landed and titled: about $7,417
Your state sales or use tax and registration are paid when you title the car and are not included above. Door delivery from the port is optional and extra.
Unlike exporters who advertise a to-port “shipped” price and leave the US side to you, we act as your importer of record: customs entry, duty, port clearance and US title are all in the number we quote. There is no separate customs broker for you to hire.
How the process runs
- Tell us the spec. Generation, transmission, colour, budget.
- We source it. Japanese auctions and dealer stock, bidding on your behalf.
- We inspect it in person before money moves — photos, video and a condition report, not just an auction sheet grade.
- Export and shipping. Inland transport, export paperwork, ocean freight to your nearest US port.
- US customs and duty, filed and paid by us under the 25-year exemption (EPA 3520-1, DOT HS-7).
- Title. The car arrives with title paperwork done, ready to register at your DMV.
Typical timeline is 45–60 days from purchase to delivery.
Registering a Cresta in your state
Once the car clears customs under the 25-year exemption you receive a US title, and registration then works like any other used vehicle at your state DMV. Requirements vary — some states want a VIN inspection or an age-appropriate safety check. Right-hand drive is legal to own and register in all 50 states. We are based in Vienna, Virginia and handle Virginia, Maryland and DC buyers directly, and ship nationwide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Cresta legal to import to the USA?
JZX90: Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. JZX100: Fully eligible — the entire run is 25+ years old. Eligibility runs on month and year of manufacture, not model year — as of today anything built September 2001 or earlier qualifies.
How much does it cost to import a Toyota Cresta from Japan?
Cars in our Japan stock start around $2,746. On top of that, ocean freight runs about $1,950, standard export and import fees about $2,378, and US import duty about 12.5% of the vehicle value — roughly $7,417 landed and titled. We quote all of it as one price.
Do I need a customs broker to import a Cresta?
Not with us. We act as your importer of record and handle customs entry, duty, and port clearance, then provide US title service. Exporters who quote a to-port "shipped" price leave that work — and cost — to you.
How long does it take to import a Toyota Cresta?
Typically 45–60 days from purchase to delivery: purchase and inland transport in Japan, roughly 3–5 weeks on the water depending on port, then customs clearance and titling once it lands.
88 Toyota Cresta available now
See what we can source today, or tell us the exact spec and we will find it at auction and quote one all-in landed price.
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