Is It Legal to Drive a Right-Hand Drive Car in the US? 2026 Rules

Driving a right-hand drive (RHD) car in the US is a question of how the car gets here and how your state registers it, not of a federal ban on the steering wheel’s side. NHTSA’s own FAQ says an RHD vehicle can be built to meet US safety standards, and a vehicle 25 or more years old can be imported without regard to those standards. Newer non-US cars face a much narrower route. We cover the federal import rules, what California and Texas ask at registration, and adapting to the right-hand seat. This is general information, not legal advice.

The Basics: Left-Hand Drive vs. Right-Hand Drive

In the US, traffic keeps to the right and cars sold here put the driver on the left, next to the centerline. A right-hand drive car puts the driver on the right, toward the road edge. A US driver in an RHD car therefore sits on the side away from oncoming traffic.

What matters legally is whether the car was built and certified for the US market. According to the NHTSA importation and certification FAQs, it is possible for an RHD vehicle to be manufactured in compliance with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), and a car that was not built and labeled that way cannot be imported on a permanent basis unless NHTSA has determined it eligible.

Federal Regulations and RHD Cars

Three federal agencies touch an imported car. NHTSA, part of the Department of Transportation, regulates safety standards. The EPA regulates emissions, and the EPA page says the Clean Air Act prohibits importing a vehicle that does not conform to EPA emission standards, whether it is new or used. U.S. Customs and Border Protection handles entry itself. The rule text for the safety side is in 49 CFR Part 591.

The two age limits are the heart of the topic, and they are not the same number. Under 49 CFR 591.5(i), a vehicle that is 25 or more years old can be declared for import without conforming to the safety standards. EPA separately has a provision for vehicles over 21 years old. NHTSA’s limit is the longer one.

Rule	Agency	Age test	How it is counted	Customs form
25-year exemption from safety standards	NHTSA	25 or more years old	From the date of manufacture	HS-7, Box 1
Over-21-years emissions provision	EPA	21 or more years old	Year imported minus year manufactured	EPA Form 3520-1, code E

EPA’s import procedures guide (EPA-420-B-10-027, July 2010) adds that the vehicle must be in its original unmodified configuration and that Customs may ask for proof of age. The current EPA page says the engine must be the same model and configuration as the original, and encourages importers to contact EPA’s Imports Hotline before shipping.

The EPA page warns that Customs and EPA can seize or export a vehicle that arrives without the right arrangements or a valid exemption, so clear a car on paper before it is shipped.

State Laws: The Key Factor for RHD Operations

Federal clearance gets a car into the country; your state handles titling and registration. California and Texas are covered below because their DMVs publish import-specific pages. Other states differ, so treat them as examples.

Registration and Titling

Both states ask for proof of ownership and proof that the car cleared customs. Texas asks for DOT Form HS-7 or another document that establishes customs clearance and compliance with, or exemption from, the federal safety standards, plus an original bond release letter if the car was imported under bond. California lists stamped Customs forms such as HS-7 and 7501. Keep every customs document; the DMV will ask for them. See also how to check a VIN.

Insurance

Texas requires proof of liability insurance meeting the state minimum when you title and register, and again at inspection. Get a quote for the exact vehicle before you pay for it.

Driving on the Road

The practical difficulty is visibility. In right-side traffic, an RHD driver sits on the side away from oncoming cars. When you pass on a two-lane road, the vehicle ahead blocks more of your view of the oncoming lane than it would from the left seat, so wait for a longer gap than feels necessary. Left turns across traffic also need a deliberate look past the A-pillar.

State-by-State Variations: A Closer Look

This section uses the California DMV imported vehicle page and procedures manual and the Texas DMV out-of-state and imported vehicle page, read in October 2026. Confirm with the DMV before you go.

California

The California DMV calls a car imported directly from another country a direct import. Its page says some imported vehicles cannot be registered in California, and that a direct import not built to California emissions standards and FMVSS cannot be registered unless it is modified and tested under CARB’s direct import program. It adds that if a direct import is over two years old, conversion may be expensive or impossible, and that registration fees must be paid within 20 days of entry into California.

The California pages do not discuss the federal 25-year exemption at all. They list FMVSS evidence as something you may also need, mandatory for vehicles manufactured after 1995, plus a smog certificate for gasoline vehicles built after 1968. A buyer of a car built between 1996 and 2001 should confirm with the California DMV and CARB before buying.

Texas

The Texas DMV says the vehicle must meet all federal and state importation requirements before titling and registration, and that it must be registered within 30 days of bringing it to Texas. Its steps are: import the vehicle properly, get any applicable inspection, get a VIN inspection from a trained auto theft investigator who is a law enforcement officer, then apply at the county tax office with HS-7 or an equivalent customs document, Form 130-U, the ownership document and proof of insurance. Foreign-language documents need a certified English translation.

Other States

Florida, New York, Alaska and the remaining states publish their own import procedures, which this guide does not summarize. Ask your DMV which customs documents it wants and whether it requires a VIN inspection. See also emissions tests versus vehicle inspections.

Importing RHD Cars: The 25-Year Rule in Detail

The NHTSA FAQ spells out how the 25-year route works. A motor vehicle at least 25 years old can be lawfully imported without regard to whether it complies with the FMVSS, entered under Box 1 on the HS-7 form given to Customs. The 25 years run from the date of manufacture. If no label shows that date, NHTSA says to have documentation such as an invoice showing the date of first sale or a registration document at least 25 years old.

• Under 25 years old and not US-certified: NHTSA must have found that make, model and model year eligible, and a Registered Importer, or someone contracted with one, must import it.
• Bond and deadline: a bond of 150 percent of the declared value, with modifications completed within 120 days of entry.
• Why RHD is harder: NHTSA says an RHD vehicle may not be treated as substantially similar to a US-certified left-hand drive version, because safety performance may differ, unless the manufacturer writes on its own letterhead that it would perform the same in crash tests.

For Customs, the EPA step runs in parallel. The EPA procedures guide says an individual filing for the over-21-years provision files EPA Form 3520-1 with Customs on entry and declares code E. Non-US-version vehicles under 21 years old must instead be modified and certified by an Independent Commercial Importer, or covered by an EPA exemption approved in writing before shipment.

Example car	Built	NHTSA 25 years reached	EPA 21 OP years (imported in 2026)
Car A	August 1998	August 2023	Yes: 2026 minus 1998 is 28
Car B	November 2001	November 2026	Yes: 2026 minus 2001 is 25
Car C	June 2005	June 2030	Yes: 2026 minus 2005 is 21

The table is a worked example, not an official list. Car C clears EPA’s 21-year count but not NHTSA’s 25-year one.

2026 Update: Which Model Years Just Became Importable?

A common claim is that a new model year becomes importable every January 1. NHTSA counts 25 years from the date of manufacture, so the window moves month by month. As of October 2026, a car built in September 2001 or earlier has passed 25 years, and one built in October 2001 reaches it this month. Check the manufacture date on the car’s label or documents, not just the model year.

Safety and Practicality: Driving an RHD Car in the US

The sources above say nothing about how to drive an RHD car, so the advice below is general driving practice, not a legal requirement.

Adjusting to Visibility

• Overtaking: wait for a longer, clearer gap than you would in a left-hand drive car, and do not commit until the oncoming lane is clearly visible.
• Intersections: left turns across traffic need a deliberate look past the A-pillar and the passenger side of the car.

Modifications for Safety and Comfort

Nothing on the pages above requires extra mirrors or cameras. Many owners add them anyway. Stick-on convex mirrors widen the side view, and our guide to the best car blind spot mirrors compares options. A backup camera can also help in parking lots. Confirm anything you add does not obstruct your view.

Consider Your Driving Environment

Quiet rural roads are a gentler place to learn than busy city interchanges. Start with short, low-traffic trips and add highway driving once left turns and passing feel routine.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I drive a right-hand drive car on the highway in the US?

The federal import rules regulate bringing a car into the country, not the side of its steering wheel. Once a car is legally imported and registered in your state, ask your state DMV about any local rule and allow time to adapt to the seating position.

Is it legal to import right-hand drive cars from Japan to the US?

It can be. A vehicle 25 or more years old by date of manufacture can be imported without regard to US safety standards (HS-7 Box 1) and must also clear EPA. A newer non-US car needs NHTSA eligibility, a Registered Importer and a 150 percent bond.

Do I need special insurance for a right-hand drive car in the US?

The Texas DMV page requires proof of liability insurance meeting the state minimum at registration. None of the pages cited here describe a special RHD policy, so get a quote with the exact vehicle details before you buy.

What are the main challenges of driving a right-hand drive car in the US?

Visibility and adaptation. Your seat is toward the road edge, so the car ahead can hide oncoming traffic when you pass, and left turns across traffic need extra care. Practise in quiet areas first.

Will my RHD car pass inspection in the US?

It depends on the state. Texas lists a VIN inspection by a law enforcement auto theft investigator for vehicles bought outside the US, and emissions inspections in 17 named counties. California lists a smog certificate for gasoline vehicles manufactured after 1968.

Are there any states that ban right-hand drive cars?

Neither the California DMV nor the Texas DMV import page lists steering-wheel side as a condition. This guide covers only those two states, so ask your own DMV about your state.

Do I need a special license to drive a right-hand drive car?

The federal import rules and the California and Texas pages cited here cover vehicles, not a separate license class for steering-wheel side. Driver licensing is handled by each state, so ask your DMV.

Conclusion

So, can you drive a right-hand drive car in the US? The sources read here do not put a ban on the steering wheel’s side. What they regulate is the import: 25 or more years from the date of manufacture for the NHTSA safety exemption, an EPA clearance of its own, and a state registration process that differs between California and Texas and, by extension, elsewhere. Confirm the manufacture date and ask your state DMV before you buy.

What this guide does not cover:

• Driver license rules and other states’ registration rules; ask your state DMV
• Postal and other government-operated vehicles
• Import costs, duties and Registered Importer fees