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25-Year Import Rule · SW20
Toyota MR2 (SW20) US Import Eligibility
Legal NOW — since October 2014
Every example of this chassis has passed the 25-year mark.
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Production run & eligibility
| Chassis code | SW20 |
|---|---|
| Production start | October 1989 |
| Production end | August 1999 |
| First cars eligible | October 2014 |
| Last cars eligible | August 2024 |
Eligibility is counted from the month of manufacture on the build plate of the specific car — not the model year. A MR2 (SW20) built one month later unlocks one month later.
JDM GT and GT-S turbos out-spec the US Turbo. Entire run 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.