JDM guides & car terms
What JDM means · JDM cars & engines · importing from Japan
Plain-English guides to Japanese imports — what JDM means, what makes a car or engine JDM, which brands are Japanese, and how importing a car from Japan actually works. Start with the basics below, then dig into the import and state-registration guides.
Start here
JDM basics, explained
What does JDM stand for?
The meaning of JDM, what it stands for, and how Japan-market cars differ from the versions sold in the US.
What is a JDM car?
What makes a car 'JDM,' the models people usually mean, and how to buy a genuine Japan-market car in the US.
What is a JDM engine?
What makes an engine 'JDM,' why Japan-spec motors are prized for swaps, and how they differ from US-spec.
What is a mini truck?
What a mini truck is, how it relates to kei and K trucks, the popular models, and how to buy one in the US.
How to import a car from Japan
The step-by-step process of importing a car from Japan to the US — eligibility, shipping, customs, and titling.
What cars are Japanese made?
A complete list of Japanese car brands — and the difference between a Japanese brand and a car actually built in Japan.
Process
JDM import guides
How importing a car from Japan works — the federal 25-year rule, EPA and DOT compliance, tariffs, and clearing customs at the port.
By state
JDM registration by US state
Federal import clearance is only half the story — each state decides whether a Japanese import or kei truck can be titled and driven on public roads.
Arizona
Street use permittedOHV/on-road registration path with Primary On-Road Use — one of the most kei-friendly states.
Texas
Street use permittedSB 1816 classifies 25+ year miniature vehicles as motor vehicles for title and highway use.
Utah
Conditional / restrictedGenerally permitted with 50 mph road limits; stricter emissions in Wasatch Front counties.
Idaho
Conditional / restrictedNo statewide ban; county-level registration with VIN inspection — confirm local road rules.
Washington
Conditional / restrictedRegisters 25-year imports but limits them to roads posted 35 mph or less — no highways. No emissions test.
California
On-road use prohibitedOn-road registration effectively blocked by CARB emissions and FMVSS requirements.
Oregon
On-road use prohibitedDMV won't title or register kei vehicles for road use; off-road Class IV ATV titling only.
Laws and agency interpretations change. Confirm current requirements with your state DMV before purchasing. These guides are informational only and not legal advice.