Nissan Skyline R31 GTS-R: Japan-to-USA Import Cost in 2026
One of the rarest RB-powered Skylines ever homologated, the R31 GTS-R is the touring-car special that set the stage for Godzilla, and in 2026 it is finally old enough to bring home to the States.
Nissan built roughly 800 GTS-R coupes across 1987 and 1988 purely to satisfy Group A homologation, each carrying the race-bred RB20DET-R: a 2.0-litre twin-cam six fitted with a larger turbocharger, a tubular stainless exhaust manifold and a bigger intercooler, good for around 210 PS.
It never officially left Japan, so every US example is a deliberate personal import. With the newest cars now closing on four decades old, the 25-year door is wide open and demand from GT-R lineage collectors keeps climbing.
The GTS-R exists because Nissan wanted back into Group A touring cars, and the regulations demanded road-going evidence on the street. The result bridged the dormant GT-R years: the nameplate had been gone since the mid-1970s, and the R31 GTS-R campaigned by teams such as Gibson Motorsport in Australia proved the RB platform could win before the R32 GT-R made it legend. That lineage, paired with genuine scarcity, is exactly why collectors chase it.
Values have climbed steadily as clean cars dry up, and the GTS-R now trades well above ordinary R31 coupes, with condition and originality driving the spread far more than mileage. Inspect for rust in the usual Japanese-market trouble spots, the sills, rear arches and battery tray, and confirm the RB20DET-R has not been swapped for a common RB20DET or a later RB25. Matching numbers, honest paint and a documented history separate a sound buy from a money pit.
Most cars surface through Japan's auction network, so budget for an exporter to deregister the vehicle, arrange the export certificate and book shipping; RoRo is cheaper, a container is safer for a valuable coupe. At the US port a customs broker files the HS-7 and EPA 3520-1, and missing or mistranslated paperwork is the single most common delay. Titling can frustrate you afterward, since some DMVs handle a foreign export certificate and kilometre odometer clumsily, so line up your state's process before the ship lands.
The full cost breakdown
Every line below is a researched 2026 estimate in USD. We start from the $30,000 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) | $30,000 |
| Export agent & auction fees | $1,200 |
| Ocean freight | $2,700 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $450 |
| The standard US passenger-car import duty is 2.5% of declared value | $750 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork | $300 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $37,730 |
Into USA the duty is light, just $750, 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 $7,730 you add on top of the $30,000 purchase price — around 26% 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 1987-88 GTS-R clears the two federal hurdles that trip up newer JDM cars. At more than 25 years old it is exempt from FMVSS safety standards under NHTSA's rolling exemption, declared on form HS-7, and being older than 21 years it qualifies for EPA exemption code E on form 3520-1 with no emissions testing. Standard passenger-car duty of 2.5% applies at the port, and factory right-hand drive is entirely legal at the federal level. California and a few other states layer on their own registration and smog wrinkles, so confirm your state's stance before you ship.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to convert the R31 GTS-R to left-hand drive?+
No. There is no federal prohibition on right-hand-drive vehicles in the US, and the GTS-R only ever came in RHD from the factory. Most owners keep it original, since converting would gut both the driving character and the collector value.
How do I confirm a car is a genuine GTS-R and not a base GTS?+
Start with the HR31 chassis code and the RB20DET-R engine, then verify the R-spec turbo, exhaust manifold and intercooler are present and unmodified. Genuine cars carry specific build details, and a Japanese auction sheet or export certificate helps trace originality.
What is the total estimated cost to import a Nissan Skyline R31 GTS-R?+
About $37,730 all-in for a $30,000 example — the purchase price plus roughly $7,730 in freight, insurance, duty, compliance and registration. Your figure shifts with the exact price, route and exchange rate.
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