Financing
What will my car payment be?
Type a price. See an estimate. Then pick a lender type.
Most banks do not lend on a 25-year-old Japanese import, and many will not pay a seller in Japan. This page shows a monthly payment estimate for the price you enter, and explains which kinds of lenders usually fit a car that is still in Japan and which fit one already titled in the US. We are not a lender, and nothing here is an offer.
Payment estimate
Landed cost = car, shipping, duties and fees in the US. You can change it.
Not a lender. Estimates only, not an offer.
How it works
- 1. Pick your carBrowse listings and note the landed price.
- 2. Get approvedApply with the lender you choose, on their own site.
- 3. We help with shipping and paperworkExport, ocean freight, customs and title.
Which lender fits you?
Collector-car lenders (apply from anywhere)
Collector-car lenders that lend across the US. Facts from their own sites, checked October 19, 2026. Rates are not published. A starting list, not a recommendation.
Local and member credit unions
Lenders that publish a classic or older-car loan. Most require you to live in an area or join a group. Confirm import eligibility with the lender.
Common questions
Can I finance a car that is still in Japan?
Usually not directly. We found no lender that pays a Japanese seller before the car arrives. The common route is a personal loan paid to your own bank account, then you pay for the car from there. A home equity loan works the same way. Once the car is titled in the US, you can refinance with a classic-car lender. Get approved before the auction payment deadline.
What is the 25-year rule?
A car can be imported into the US without meeting US safety and emissions rules once it is 25 years old. Cars younger than that generally cannot be imported for road use.
Do I need a US title?
Lenders that use the car as security (classic-car lenders, most credit unions) generally want a US title, so the car must already have a US title. An unsecured personal loan does not use the car as security, so no title is needed to get the loan.
Does my credit score matter?
Yes. Better credit usually means a lower rate. Lenders set minimums, and some want good to excellent credit. The example rates above are only a guide.
Please read
JDM Hunter is not a lender or a broker and does not make credit decisions. We do not collect your personal or financial information on this page. Payment figures are estimates for illustration and are not an offer of credit. Rates, terms and approval are set by each lender and depend on your credit and the car. Example rates are based on figures lenders have published and may be out of date. We do not guarantee approval, a rate or a payment. Lender links open the lender's own website; read their terms before you apply. Lender rules about imported cars vary, so ask each lender before you apply.
Last reviewed: October 2026.