Honda Integra Type R DC5
import guide.

Sourcing the right DC5 in the UK

Establish that the car is an Integra Type R, not another DC5 variant wearing Type R parts. The DC5 chassis family and an Acura RSX resemblance do not establish Type R identity or US compliance. Ask for chassis records, original-market documentation and evidence supporting the engine and trim specification.

Choose your priorities before viewing: earlier or later styling, originality, colour, cabin condition, service records and modifications you are willing to maintain. Verify any claimed edition or factory equipment on the individual car. Do not use cosmetic changes to infer its manufacture date.

For a Japanese-market DC5 sourced in the UK, review the available Japanese export record, UK registration history and any auction documentation. Ask whether an auction sheet can be independently checked. Compare chassis identifiers and distance units throughout; gaps in history should remain visible in the buying decision.

Browse current Honda and JDM vehicle listings or request a DC5 sourcing discussion. These are buying paths, not a claim that we currently have this model in stock; availability and scope must be confirmed.

Inspect before paying for export

Inspect the underside, sills, arches, suspension mounting areas and previous body repairs. Ask for clear photos of panel alignment, the boot floor and signs of water ingress. Japanese origin does not rule out accident repairs, and time on UK roads deserves its own corrosion assessment.

Have an independent inspector report on cold starting, oil leaks, cooling, clutch operation and gearbox behaviour during a road test. Include braking, suspension and tyre wear. Ask what wear or replacement work the seats, interior and fitted performance parts need rather than judging the whole car from a few exterior photos.

Document the current engine model and configuration, ECU, intake, exhaust and emissions equipment. Type R-looking hardware and a familiar engine family do not settle EPA equivalence. Obtain specialist advice on swaps or tuning before budgeting for shipping or assuming that returning one part to stock resolves the issue.

Agree the inspection scope and a written repair budget. Pre-export servicing can be discussed with the Auto Factor workshop preparation service, but servicing does not create US import eligibility.

Plan US eligibility before the purchase

NHTSA: count from manufacture, not model year

NHTSA's official FAQs explain that vehicles at least 25 years old may be imported without regard to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, using Box 1 of the HS-7 declaration. The period runs from the vehicle's manufacture date. Request a photograph of the manufacturer's date label and supporting records; if the label is absent, discuss acceptable age evidence with your broker and NHTSA.

A “2001” advert does not mean every car described that way qualifies throughout 2026. Establish the actual manufacture date and intended US entry date; do not ship on the assumption that first registration proves the date of production. A younger nonconforming car needs a separately established lawful route, which may involve a NHTSA eligibility determination and a Registered Importer. We do not claim such a route exists for your DC5.

EPA: a separate emissions decision

EPA Form 3520-1 code E describes vehicles at least 21 years old, calculated as import calendar year minus manufacture calendar year, in original unmodified configuration. This is not NHTSA's 25-year calculation. EPA's engine-equivalence guidance says the engine must be the same model and configuration as originally installed. Do not assume an engine swap or modified car qualifies; resolve the actual configuration with EPA before importation.

Your state still matters

Federal entry is not a promise of a state title, emissions approval or road registration. CBP advises checking state requirements. Ask your destination DMV and emissions authority what they require for this chassis, its documents and present specification before placing a deposit. Also check insurance availability for the intended use.

UK export: keep the paper trail together

Match the chassis identifier on the car to the purchase agreement, bill of sale and registration records. Agree who handles UK collection, secure storage, export documentation and any waiting period before the planned US entry date. Put responsibility for storage charges, insurance and cancellation into the agreement rather than assuming it is included.

Found the right DC5 before it reaches 25? We can arrange UK storage while your vehicle waits to reach the 25-year threshold. Storage terms are agreed individually, and the vehicle's import eligibility is checked separately before export.

DVLA's permanent-export guidance explains the V5C export notification process and retention of the remaining log book for overseas registration. If buying to take abroad, the seller must supply the full V5C, not just the new keeper slip. Coordinate this with the seller or export agent; the DVLA process is not a substitute for customs export arrangements or evidence of US eligibility.

Compare container and roll-on/roll-off proposals against the car's condition, carrier acceptance, loading arrangements and insurance cover. Ask for the exclusions as well as the price. Have the undercarriage cleaned of foreign soil before shipment, as CBP's vehicle-import guidance explains, and follow carrier rules on loose items and fuel.

Budget for arrival, not just the UK price

Ask for separate figures for the car, inspection, agreed workshop work, UK transport, export handling, shipping, marine insurance, brokerage, port charges, duties and taxes, US delivery and state registration. Obtain current, vehicle-specific duty and tariff advice from your customs broker; UK shipment alone does not establish the car's country of origin or its total duty liability. Do not treat a headline shipping quote as a landed-cost guarantee.

CBP lists the bill of lading, bill of sale, foreign registration and other vehicle records, alongside EPA Form 3520-1 and DOT HS-7 declarations for clearance. Confirm with the broker who will file them, which provision is supported by the evidence and what originals are needed. Keep the released entry documents for the destination DMV; budget for delays without promising a clearance or handover date.

Questions to ask before buying a DC5

• What chassis and original-market records prove this is a Type R rather than a converted DC5 variant?
• What manufacture-date evidence is available beyond its model year or first UK registration?
• Can the Japanese export, auction and UK history be reconciled, including kilometres and miles?
• Is the engine the original model and configuration, and what ECU or emissions-related changes have been made?
• What did an independent inspection find about body repairs, corrosion, water ingress and gearbox condition?
• Has the proposed import route and my state's titling and emissions process been confirmed before I pay a deposit?

Tell us the car you want, and where it is going.

Share your preferred specification, budget, timing and destination state. We can discuss a listed vehicle or a sourcing brief, available evidence and the questions still to resolve. Please do not send identity documents or VIN paperwork through the public enquiry form.

Also read the Honda Civic Type R EP3 import guide and our UK export and US import process.