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25-Year Import Rule · EK9
Honda Civic Type R (EK9) US Import Eligibility
Legal NOW — since August 2022
Every example of this chassis has passed the 25-year mark.
Importing a Honda Civic Type R (EK9)? Get the checklist.
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Production run & eligibility
| Chassis code | EK9 |
|---|---|
| Production start | August 1997 |
| Production end | December 2000 |
| First cars eligible | August 2022 |
| Last cars eligible | December 2025 |
Eligibility is counted from the month of manufacture on the build plate of the specific car — not the model year. A Civic Type R (EK9) built one month later unlocks one month later.
The first Civic Type R. The entire run is now eligible.
California is different
The 25-year rule is federal — it clears customs and NHTSA. California additionally requires direct-import vehicles newer than 1975 to pass its own emissions certification, which most JDM imports cannot do without an expensive lab conversion. If you are in California, read our state registration guide before bidding on anything.