Question 1

What counts as an "imported" or "grey market" vehicle for insurance purposes?

Accepted Answer

An imported or grey market vehicle is any car originally built for sale outside the United States — most commonly a Japanese-market (JDM) vehicle — that has been legally brought into the country, titled, and registered here. Insurers treat these differently from domestic-market vehicles because valuation, parts availability, and repair networks all work differently.

Question 2

What is the 25-year import rule and how does it affect my insurance?

Accepted Answer

Federal law generally requires a vehicle to be at least 25 years old before it can be permanently imported into the US without meeting current FMVSS crash and emissions standards. Once a vehicle clears that 25-year threshold and is properly titled, it becomes straightforward to insure. Vehicles imported under show-and-display or other exemptions before hitting 25 years can be more complex to insure and usually need a specialty policy.

Question 3

Can I insure a right-hand-drive (RHD) car in Arizona?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Arizona allows registration of properly imported and titled right-hand-drive vehicles, and we write specialty policies specifically for RHD cars. The key is making sure your title, VIN, and import documentation are in order before we bind coverage.

Question 4

What's the difference between agreed value and stated value coverage?

Accepted Answer

Agreed value coverage locks in a specific payout amount you and the insurer agree on up front, with no depreciation deduction at claim time. Stated value coverage uses the amount you state as a ceiling, but the insurer can still pay out less based on actual cash value at the time of loss. For rare imports, agreed value is almost always the stronger protection.

Question 5

Does my regular auto insurance policy cover an imported JDM car?

Accepted Answer

Usually not adequately. Standard personal auto policies are built around mainstream, US-market vehicle valuation data. They frequently undervalue rare imports, may exclude aftermarket modifications, and rarely account for the cost and lead time of sourcing JDM-market parts. A specialty import policy is built to close those gaps.

Question 6

How is the value of my imported car determined for agreed value coverage?

Accepted Answer

We work with you to document your vehicle's value using build sheets, receipts, third-party appraisals, and comparable sales data (including Japan-market auction results where relevant). That agreed figure becomes the payout amount in the event of a total loss.

Question 7

What is rare-parts sourcing coverage and why do I need it?

Accepted Answer

Rare-parts sourcing coverage accounts for the real-world cost and time it takes to source OEM Japan-market parts for a covered repair — parts that typically aren't sitting on a US warehouse shelf. Without it, a claim can be settled using generic aftermarket-parts pricing that doesn't reflect what it actually costs to fix your car correctly.

Question 8

Can I get coverage for a modified or heavily customized import?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We write policies that specifically list and cover aftermarket parts, custom paint, forced induction, wide-body kits, and other modifications, so your build is valued and covered as it actually sits — not as a stock factory car.

Question 9

Do I need special documents to insure an imported vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Typically we'll need your title, VIN, U.S. Customs and Border Protection entry documentation (CBP Form 7501 or similar), EPA/DOT compliance documentation if applicable, and any build sheets, appraisals, or purchase records that support the vehicle's value.

Question 10

How do I title and register an imported car in Arizona?

Accepted Answer

Once your vehicle clears customs and any applicable federal exemptions, you'll title it through the Arizona MVD, which will require proof of import compliance, a VIN inspection in many cases, and emissions testing depending on county and vehicle age. We can point you toward the right resources and make sure your insurance is lined up before you register.

Question 11

Is a Kei truck or Kei car street legal and insurable?

Accepted Answer

Kei vehicles are street legal in most states once properly imported and titled, though some states restrict them to off-highway or low-speed-vehicle registration. Arizona generally allows Kei vehicle registration; we can write coverage once you confirm your specific registration classification.

Question 12

What happens if my rare import is totaled — how is payout calculated?

Accepted Answer

With agreed value coverage, you're paid the pre-agreed amount stated on your policy, full stop — no depreciation, no negotiation over comparable listings. That's the core reason agreed value matters so much for vehicles that don't have a deep, reliable US resale market to draw comparisons from.

Question 13

Can I insure a Nissan Skyline GT-R in the US?

Accepted Answer

Yes, once it's legally imported (typically once it clears the 25-year rule or is imported under a qualifying exemption) and properly titled in your state. Skylines are one of the most common vehicles we write specialty agreed-value coverage for.

Question 14

What is a "federalized" vehicle and does it change my insurance options?

Accepted Answer

A federalized vehicle has been modified and certified to meet US FMVSS and EPA standards, allowing it to be imported and titled without waiting for the 25-year exemption. Federalized vehicles are generally straightforward to insure, though we still recommend agreed value coverage given their rarity and the cost of the federalization work itself.

Question 15

Do collector/import policies have mileage restrictions?

Accepted Answer

Some do, some don't — it depends on how you actually use the vehicle. We offer both limited-use (show car, weekend driver) and higher-mileage daily-driver structures, so tell us honestly how you drive it and we'll match the policy to real usage.

Question 16

Can I drive my import car daily, or is it show-car only coverage?

Accepted Answer

You can insure an import as a daily driver with us. Some agreed value / collector-style programs do favor limited use, but we also write policies built for owners who drive their import as a primary vehicle.

Question 17

What discounts are available for import/collector vehicle owners?

Accepted Answer

Discounts vary by carrier and can include multi-policy bundling, secure storage/garage-kept discounts, alarm and tracking device discounts, and club/registry membership discounts. Ask us for a full breakdown when you request your quote.

Question 18

How do I find a mechanic who works on RHD or JDM vehicles?

Accepted Answer

We maintain relationships with specialty JDM and RHD-capable shops in the Phoenix area and can point you toward trusted mechanics as part of onboarding — this is part of what our team means by being "more than just an agent."

Question 19

What states have the most import-friendly registration rules?

Accepted Answer

Rules vary widely and change over time — some states are notably strict on RHD or Kei vehicle registration, others are permissive. See our State-by-State Import & Registration Rules page for a breakdown, and always confirm current rules with your state's DMV before purchasing an import.

Question 20

Do I need an appraisal before getting agreed value coverage?

Accepted Answer

For higher-value or heavily modified imports, a third-party appraisal strengthens your agreed value case significantly. For more common JDM models with established comparable sales data, we can often set an agreed value without a formal appraisal — we'll tell you which applies to your vehicle.

Question 21

Can I add spare/rare parts inventory to my policy?

Accepted Answer

Yes — many import owners keep an inventory of hard-to-find spare parts (engines, ECUs, body panels). We can schedule that inventory onto your policy so it's covered in the event of theft, fire, or other covered loss, separate from the vehicle itself.

Question 22

How quickly can I get a quote for my import vehicle?

Accepted Answer

Most quotes are turned around within one business day once we have your vehicle details, VIN, and desired coverage type. Complex or high-value agreed value cases involving appraisals may take a bit longer.

Question 23

What's not covered under a typical import/collector auto policy?

Accepted Answer

Exclusions vary by carrier, but commonly include racing/competition use (unless specifically endorsed), commercial use, and wear-and-tear/mechanical breakdown. We'll walk through your specific policy's exclusions during your quote so there are no surprises.

Question 24

Can I insure multiple imported vehicles under one policy?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we regularly write multi-vehicle import and collector policies, which can also unlock a multi-car discount.

Question 25

Does import car insurance cost more than standard auto insurance?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the vehicle and coverage type. Agreed value specialty coverage can sometimes cost more per vehicle than a basic liability-only domestic policy, but it's priced against your actual agreed value and real risk profile — and for a rare import, it's the coverage that actually protects what you own, which a mainstream policy usually can't.

Frequently asked questions