Importing a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V to the USA: 2026 Costs
The Evo V is the wide-body 1998 homologation special America never got to buy new, and the 25-year rule has finally opened the door.
The Evo V is the one enthusiasts point to as the moment the Lancer Evolution turned serious: wide arches, Brembo brakes, and a chassis reworked for the widened-track WRC rules of 1998. It was sold new only in Japan, so every US car on the road is an import.
For years American buyers could only watch. No Evo reached US showrooms until the Evo VIII in 2003, which makes the V a genuine JDM unicorn stateside, and now, at last, legal to bring in under the 25-year rule.
The Evo V landed in January 1998 as Mitsubishi's homologation weapon for that year's World Rally Championship, and it moved the game on. It was the first Evo with a genuinely wide body: flared arches over a widened track, 17-inch wheels, and four-pot Brembo brakes. The 4G63 turbo still officially quoted 280 PS, but torque swelled, and a refined Active Yaw Control shuffled drive across the rear axle. In Tommi Makinen's hands it took another WRC crown.
Prices have climbed hard as clean, unmodified examples thin out. The 4G63 is famously tough, but chase the paperwork: many were thrashed, over-boosted, and crashed. Look for cracked or repaired arches, uneven panel gaps that hint at accident repair, and proof the AYC and center differential still behave. Rust around the rear arches and boot floor matters on cars that endured Japanese winters. A documented, standard example commands a real premium over a modified one.
Because a 1998 Evo V is now past 25 years old, the import itself is refreshingly simple: no registered importer, no crash testing, no federalizing. You'll work with an exporter or auction agent in Japan, arrange RoRo or container shipping, and clear US customs with the HS-7 and EPA exemption paperwork. The real friction sits at the state level: California in particular makes direct-import registration awkward, so confirm your own state's rules before you bid on anything.
The full cost breakdown
Every line below is a researched 2026 estimate in USD. We start from the $32,000 purchase price, add marine insurance at about 1.5% and ocean freight, then 2.5% US duty on the declared value, and the broker, compliance and registration fees. Change the purchase price and everything else scales only modestly.
| Vehicle (purchase price) | $32,000 |
| Export agent & auction fees | $1,200 |
| Ocean freight | $2,700 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $480 |
| The standard US passenger-car import duty is 2.5% of declared value | $800 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork | $300 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $39,810 |
Into USA the duty is light, just $800, so tax is the small part of the bill. It is shipping (about $2,700), compliance and registration that make up most of the roughly $7,810 you add on top of the $32,000 purchase price — around 24% before you turn a wheel.
Step by step: how importing this car works
- Agree the purchase and secure the title/export paperwork in Japan (an export agent or auction house usually handles de-registration).
- Book ocean freight — roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) is cheapest, a sole-use container is safest for a high-value car.
- Confirm eligibility from the build month — the US 25-year DOT exemption is calculated month by month, not by model year.
- Clear US customs and pay the 2.5% duty, then file EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT Form HS-7 at entry.
- Arrange inland transport, then title and register in your state — a few states add emissions or kei-vehicle checks.
Compliance & the fine print
A 1998 Lancer Evo V clears the two federal hurdles that stop newer JDM cars. At 25-plus years old it is exempt from FMVSS, so it needs no DOT modification or crash certification, and being over 21 years old it qualifies for an EPA exemption in its original configuration. You file an HS-7 (box 1) and EPA form 3520-1 at the border and pay the standard 2.5% passenger-car duty. State registration is the wildcard: CARB states such as California can refuse or complicate a direct import even when it is federally legal.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V legal to import to the USA?+
Yes. Any 1998 Evo V is now over 25 years old, so it is exempt from federal FMVSS safety standards and qualifies for the EPA's 21-year exemption. Federally it imports cleanly; just confirm your state, since California and other CARB states can complicate registering a direct import.
Was the Evo V ever sold in the United States?+
No. Mitsubishi kept the Evo JDM-only through this era; the first Evo officially sold in America was the Evo VIII in 2003. That is exactly why the V has to be imported and why clean, standard examples have become so sought-after.
What is the total estimated cost to import a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V?+
About $39,810 all-in for a $32,000 example — the purchase price plus roughly $7,810 in freight, insurance, duty, compliance and registration. Your figure shifts with the exact price, route and exchange rate.
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