Toyota Altezza RS200 Import to USA: 2026 Cost Guide
The JDM Altezza RS200 is the manual, high-revving Lexus IS300 that America never got — and the earliest cars are finally legal to import.
A Toyota Altezza RS200 costs about $20,990 all-in to import on the Japan → USA route in 2026 — a $14,000 purchase plus roughly $6,990 in shipping, 2.5% duty, compliance and registration.
- Route
- Japan → USA
- Est. all-in cost
- ~$20,990
- Duty & tax
- 2.5% duty
- On a purchase of
- $14,000
Badged Lexus IS300 in America, the RS200 is the version enthusiasts actually wanted: a roughly 210 PS 3S-GE 'BEAMS' four spinning toward 8,000 rpm, backed by a slick J160 six-speed manual and an available Torsen limited-slip diff. Stateside IS300s came only with the 2JZ-GE six and, at launch, an automatic — never this combination.
The earliest SXE10 RS200s rolled out in October 1998, so the first build months cleared the 25-year NHTSA threshold in late 2023 and are entering the country now. For anyone chasing a light, rear-drive Toyota sedan with a screaming four-cylinder and three pedals, it is one of the only ways to legally park one in a US driveway.
Launched in October 1998, the Altezza was Toyota's compact sports sedan aimed squarely at the BMW 3 Series, and the RS200 was its sharp end. Riding on the SXE10 platform, it paired the dual VVT-i 3S-GE BEAMS four — good for around 210 PS at 7,600 rpm — with rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. It also gave the world the clear 'Altezza' tail lights that went on to define an entire era of tuning.
Values hinge on which RS200 you are actually buying: the six-speed manual commands a clear premium over the far more common five-speed automatic, so confirm the gearbox before you fall for the photos. Rust in the rear arches and subframe mounts, tired VVT-i actuators on the 3S-GE, and hard-used drift survivors are the main traps. Original interiors with the quirky chronograph-style gauges, unmolested suspension, and a documented history separate a keeper from a project.
Sourcing usually runs through a Japanese auction agent, who bids, arranges domestic transport, and books roll-on/roll-off or container shipping to a US port. Budget for the auction and agent fees, marine insurance, the 2.5% import duty, customs brokerage, and stateside title and registration — the last of which varies wildly by state. Scrutinize export deregistration paperwork, verify the chassis number matches the auction sheet, and confirm your state will title a right-hand-drive import before you commit money.
How much does it cost to import a Toyota Altezza RS200?
Every line below is a researched 2026 estimate in USD. We start from the $14,000 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) | $14,000 |
| Export agent & auction fees | $1,200 |
| Ocean freight | $2,600 |
| Marine insurance (~1.5%) | $210 |
| The standard US passenger-car import duty is 2.5% of declared value | $350 |
| Customs broker & port handling | $830 |
| EPA / DOT entry & compliance paperwork | $300 |
| Inland transport & registration | $1,500 |
| Estimated all-in landed cost | $20,990 |
Into USA the duty is light, just $350, so tax is the small part of the bill. It is shipping (about $2,600), compliance and registration that make up most of the roughly $6,990 you add on top of the $14,000 purchase price — around 50% before you turn a wheel.
How to import a Toyota Altezza RS200, step by step
- 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.
Is a Toyota Altezza RS200 legal to import? Rules & compliance
As a passenger sedan under HTS heading 8703, the Altezza RS200 is dutiable at the standard 2.5% car rate — the 25% "chicken tax" applies to cargo trucks, not sedans, so it never touches this car. Eligibility rests on the 25-year FMVSS exemption declared on DOT form HS-7, and because any RS200 is comfortably older than 21 model years, it also clears federal emissions review through the age exemption on EPA form 3520-1. Only cars built at least 25 years before the entry date qualify, so eligibility opens up month by month as production dates age in.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Altezza RS200 legal to import to the USA?+
Yes, once it is 25 years old. RS200 production began in October 1998, so the earliest cars became eligible in late 2023 and later build months keep opening on a rolling basis. They enter under the FMVSS 25-year exemption (DOT HS-7) and the EPA 21-year age exemption (EPA 3520-1), with no federal safety or emissions modifications required.
What's the difference between the RS200 and a US Lexus IS300?+
The US-market IS300 used Toyota's 3.0L 2JZ-GE inline-six. The JDM RS200 instead runs the 2.0L 3S-GE BEAMS four with a factory six-speed manual — a lighter, higher-revving, more driver-focused package that was never sold new in America.
What is the total estimated cost to import a Toyota Altezza RS200?+
About $20,990 all-in for a $14,000 example — the purchase price plus roughly $6,990 in freight, insurance, duty, compliance and registration. Your figure shifts with the exact price, route and exchange rate.
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