The answer to this question depends heavily on your vehicle.

We’ve provided general guidelines below, but note these are meant as overviews only. To get specific information about EPA requirements related to a custom bond, smog check or emissions testing, or any other kind of approval for your vehicle, it’s best to contact the EPA Imports Team at (734) 214-4100 or visit the Importing Vehicles and Engines section of the official website of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Older Vehicle Imports

For example, if your vehicle is 21 years old or older, the EPA requires no kind of approval or customs bond; all you have to do is prove the vehicle or engine was manufactured before EPA regulations were set in place, file the regular paperwork, and be on your way.

U.S. Version Vehicle Imports

Similarly, if you want to import a U.S. version vehicle that isn’t 21 years old or older, you don’t need any kind of EPA approval unless the vehicle has been modified or altered. If it has, it’s unlikely the vehicle meets U.S. smog and emissions requirements and you must contact an EPA-certified Independent Commercial Importer to see about converting it to meet EPA requirements and importing the vehicle as a non-U.S. version vehicle.

Non-U.S. Version Vehicle Imports

Aside from vehicles that were originally U.S. version vehicles but were altered in such a way that the EPA no longer considers them U.S. version vehicles, non-U.S. version vehicles are divided into two groups:

1. Vehicles from Canada.
2. Vehicles from anywhere else in the world.

If the car import is from Canada, the EPA will consider the vehicle one of the following:

• Identical to a U.S. version vehicle, in which case all U.S. version vehicle rules and exemptions apply.
• Vehicles belonging to immigrants, workers, or students (you must prove this ownership status with a Canadian title or vehicle registration), in which case no customs bond or any other EPA approval is required.
• Inherited vehicles, in which case no customs bond or any other EPA approval is required.

If the vehicle is from anywhere else in the world, you’ll probably face some challenges. Not only must the vehicle go through the EPA, but also it needs to go through the Department of Transportation, Customs, and Internal Revenue Service. The EPA doesn’t even recommend importing these vehicles because converting them to conform to U.S. standards is “usually very expensive, and sometimes impossible or impractical.”

Note, however, that the EPA will permit such a vehicle if:

• It qualifies for an exclusion or exemption. Generally, these include vehicles excluded or exempted from meeting the emissions requirements of the Clean Air Act. See a complete list in the Non-U.S. Version Vehicles section of the EPA website.
• The importer is an independent commercial importer (ICI) who currently holds a valid EPA certificate of conformity.

Temporary Vehicle Imports

The EPA usually allows temporary imports to skip emissions requirements. After the purpose of the exemption is finished (i.e. the vehicle was imported for repair, alteration, display, testing, or for a non-resident, diplomat, or foreign military member), the vehicle must be destroyed or exported.