Tool · File 05
Kei Truck Import Cost Calculator
A kei truck’s import cost is the vehicle price plus freight, customs duty, broker fees, transport, and other charges. Use your quotes below to estimate that total; our illustrative $4,500 truck example comes to $8,175 before unentered extras.
Estimated cost entered
This total includes only the amounts entered. It is a planning estimate, not a customs assessment or an all-inclusive quote.
Enter your numbers
Sample numbers are filled in. Replace them with your itemized quotes.
Use the customs value confirmed by your broker.
Use a route-specific shipping quote.
25% is the example truck base rate. Confirm applicable additional tariffs with your broker.
Check whether the quote includes the bond and entry fees.
Port to your destination, including your pickup costs if applicable.
Add any port, exporter, tax, inspection, or other costs not included above.
Your cost breakdown
- Vehicle / entered value
- $4,500
- Ocean freight
- $1,500
- Customs duty (25%)
- $1,125
- Broker fee
- $450
- Inland transport
- $600
- Other quoted costs
- $0
Before paying a seller, confirm federal entry eligibility, your state’s registration route, and an insurance quote for your intended use.
What does an example import budget look like?
These are sample inputs, not current market prices. A $4,500 entered value × 25% produces $1,125 in duty. Adding the example shipping, broker, and transport amounts gives $8,175.
| Cost item | Example amount |
|---|---|
| Vehicle / entered value | $4,500 |
| Ocean freight | $1,500 |
| Customs duty (25%) | $1,125 |
| Broker fee | $450 |
| Inland transport | $600 |
| Other quoted costs | $0 |
| Example total | $8,175 |
What should you confirm before buying?
Check which charges each quote already includes. Ask your broker about classification, entered value, applicable tariffs, bond and entry fees. Get separate figures for any port handling, storage, marine insurance, state taxes, registration, inspections, and initial repairs.
Kei truck import cost FAQs
How much does it cost to import a kei truck?
Add the vehicle price, ocean freight, customs duty, broker fees, inland transport, and any other charges in your quotes. The worked example on this page totals $8,175 before unentered extras. It is an illustration, not a market average or a quote for your truck.
What is the 25% Chicken Tax?
CBP lists a general 25% duty for imported trucks. This calculator starts with that example rate, but it does not determine your tariff classification or additional duties. Ask a licensed customs broker to confirm the current total rate and entered value for your specific vehicle and entry date.
How is the duty estimate calculated?
The estimate multiplies the vehicle / entered value by the duty rate you enter. A $4,500 entered value at 25% produces $1,125 in duty. Use the entered value confirmed by your broker; an invoice can contain bundled charges that need separate treatment.
Which costs are missing from the default example?
The default example has no allowance for exporter or auction fees, marine insurance, a customs bond, port handling, storage, examinations, state taxes, registration, inspection, or repairs. Ask for itemized quotes and put costs not already included into Other quoted costs without counting them twice.
Does the 25-year import rule make a kei truck street legal?
No. NHTSA’s age exemption concerns federal vehicle safety standards at importation and counts from the manufacture date. EPA requirements are separate. Your state decides whether and how the truck can be titled, registered, and used on public roads.
Can I use this calculator for a kei van or car?
You can use the same cost fields, but do not assume a van or car has the same customs classification as a truck. Enter the rate and value supplied by your broker. The calculator does not classify vehicles or check entry eligibility.
Can I save money by collecting the truck at the port?
You can set inland transport to zero if it is already covered elsewhere, but budget for your own travel, a trailer or transport service, and port release requirements. Confirm registration, insurance, and roadworthiness before considering driving the truck home.
Official import resources
- CBP: Importing a Motor Vehicle
- NHTSA: Importation and Certification FAQs
- EPA: Importing Vehicles and Engines
Last updated: . Rates and requirements must be confirmed for your shipment.