Car/Vehicle Shipping Cost from Tokyo to Denver, Colorado

Car Shipping from Japan to USA starts at a cost of $1,895 USD, depending on make and model of the vehicle and whether the destination in the USA is on the east or west coast. Below, our 2025 guide will explore everything you need to know about car shipping from Japan to the USA.

Japan's "3-year car rule" refers to the mandatory, costly vehicle inspection called Shaken, where new cars get a 3-year certificate, then renew every 2 years, making older cars expensive to keep, leading many owners to trade in for new ones, boosting sales and the used car export market for well-maintained vehicles. This encourages frequent upgrades, but proper maintenance can extend a car's life significantly.

Shipping from Japan to the US varies widely, from around $20-$40 for small, light items (like books/planners) via slower methods (SAL/Airmail) to potentially hundreds for heavy or urgent packages, with costs depending on weight, size, speed (EMS, Air, Surface, DHL/FedEx), and current service availability, as Japan Post suspended some services to the US in late 2025. Expect to pay more for faster services like EMS or DHL, while surface mail is cheapest but takes months.