Import · Japan → USA

Importing a Mazda RX-7 FD to the USA: 2026 cost guide

The rotary icon is cheaper from Japan — if you budget for the engine you will probably rebuild.

By Marcus Lane, Vehicle import & export specialist · 7 min read

FD RX-7s are 25-year-rule eligible, so a Japan-market car imports cleanly at 2.5% duty.

Factor a 13B rotary rebuild into your real cost — many imported FDs need one within a year.

The full cost breakdown

Plug in your own purchase figure — everything below the vehicle scales only modestly with value. All amounts are researched 2026 estimates in USD.

Estimated landed cost — Mazda RX-7 FD, Japan → USA, 2026
Vehicle (purchase price)	$48,000
Export agent & auction fees	$1,200
Ocean freight	$2,700
Marine insurance (~1.5%)	$720
2.5% US duty	$1,200
Customs broker & port handling	$830
EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork	$300
Inland transport & registration	$1,500
Estimated all-in landed cost	$56,450

No DOT/EPA work at 25 years, but emissions referee inspections in states like California can still apply to direct imports.

Why import an FD instead of buying local?+

Japan-market cars are often cheaper and rust-free, even after shipping.

Hidden cost?+

Budget for a rotary rebuild; it is the classic FD surprise.