Can I import my car from Germany to the United States?

The shipping price is only useful after you know whether the vehicle has a workable federal import path. U.S. Customs, NHTSA safety rules and EPA emissions rules are separate layers.

1. Start with the U.S. certification labels

NHTSA states that a vehicle abroad bearing the original manufacturer's label certifying compliance with the applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards can use the conforming-vehicle path on the HS-7 declaration. If a vehicle is under 25 years old and was not originally certified to the U.S. standards, permanent import generally requires an NHTSA eligibility determination and a Registered Importer route.

2. The 25-year NHTSA rule

A motor vehicle at least 25 years old can be imported without regard to FMVSS conformity. NHTSA says the 25 years run from the actual date of manufacture, not merely the model year.

3. EPA is a separate check

Passing the NHTSA age rule does not automatically answer the EPA emissions question. EPA currently highlights its over-21-year provision and says the engine equivalence/original configuration matters.

Why Ship or Sell asks only a few questions

A returning U.S.-certified car may need only label confirmation. An older BMW may trigger the 25-year and EPA engine questions. A newer European-spec Mercedes triggers a different review path.