Importing a Skyline GT-R, Supra, NSX, Land Cruiser, or any JDM vehicle under the 25-year rule requires certified English translations of the Japanese Export Certificate, deregistration paperwork, auction sheet, and shaken inspection records.
The Japanese Export Certificate (Shaken-sho, also called Yushutsu Tsukoku Shomeisho once converted for export) is the single document that drives the entire JDM import: US Customs & Border Protection requires the certified English translation at the port of entry attached to CBP Form 7501, NHTSA references the manufacture date on it to grant the 25-year FMVSS exemption, and the destination state DMV uses it to issue the first US certificate of title. The Deregistration Certificate (Matsue Tsuko Sho) confirms the vehicle was struck from Japanese registries and was the legal property of the seller at export — CBP and the DMV both require it translated. The Bill of Sale documents the cross-border transfer for CBP duty calculation and is also referenced by Insurance Companies underwriting the new US policy. Title Change History (the multi-owner record on the back of the shaken-sho) is read by the DMV to verify a clean chain of title.
The federal compliance forms map cleanly to specific agencies. CBP Form 7501 is the entry summary itself, filed by the importer or broker with US Customs & Border Protection; foreign-language attachments to it (Japanese commercial invoice, packing list, deregistration) must be translated. EPA Form 3520-1 declares emissions admissibility to the EPA — vehicles 21+ years old qualify under the original-engine exemption and the manufacture date on the translated Shaken-sho proves the year. DOT Form HS-7 is filed with NHTSA to claim the 25-year FMVSS exemption (Box 1) for cars like the R32, R33, and R34 GT-R, Supra Mk IV, NSX-R, RX-7 FD, Lancer Evolution, and Impreza WRX STI; again, the translated Export Certificate is the proof. For broader imports see our foreign vehicle title translation guide; for European 25-year imports see European vehicle registration translation.
Auction Sheets from USS, HAA, JU, TAA, and BCN are the dealer-level provenance document — JDM Auto Importers and resale dealers verify mileage authentication (A or B mark), auction grade (RA, R, A1, 3.5, 4, 4.5, 5), and the body condition map against them, and many state DMVs accept the translated auction sheet as supporting odometer disclosure for vehicles under 20 years old. State Inspection Stations (especially in Maine, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania) ask for translated Service Records and Owner Manual excerpts to verify maintenance and right-hand-drive headlight aim before issuing a state inspection sticker. JDM Auctions in the US (Manheim, Copart RHD lots) and Insurance Companies writing collector policies use the same translated bundle to set value and verify VIN. We translate kanji, hiragana, katakana, and auction-grader shorthand into clean field-by-field English. Get a free quote with your JDM paperwork.
Upload your Japanese Export Certificate, auction sheet, and import paperwork. Receive a certified English translation in 24 hours, accepted by CBP and every state DMV under the 25-year rule.