Are you wondering why Americans are buying imported vehicles at record numbers?
Buying imports is becoming common. More and more Americans are viewing foreign made vehicles as their first choice when shopping for a new car. For car enthusiasts who have been reading Facebook Classics since day one, this is a massive change.
And there’s no sign of it slowing down anytime soon.
But there’s something you should know…
Purchasing an imported vehicle is only part of the battle. Actually getting it shipped safely and affordably is where it’s at. That’s where affordable car transport comes in.
The Ins And Outs Of Affordable Car Transport
In this article you’re going to learn:
- Why Imported Vehicles Are More Popular Than Ever
- The Cultural Shift Behind Imported Vehicles
- How Affordable Car Transport Is Fueling The Boom
- What You Need To Know Before Importing a Vehicle
Why Imported Vehicles Are More Popular Than Ever
It’s official.
Americans purchased over $219 billion dollars worth of cars from foreign markets in 2024 alone. That’s upwards of 84 different countries and a whopping 50.6% increase over the previous 5 years. Consumers are spending more money on imported vehicles than ever before.
Imports are clearly here to stay. But what caused this sudden boom? Well, there are a few drivers of this growth.
Major car brands from Japan, Korea, Europe, etc have made huge pushes towards being known as reliable and trustworthy. Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Kia all have stellar reputations. If you’re shopping for reliability and dependability, these are the brands people talk about.
Buyers also have more choice with imported vehicles. Everything from hybrid cars to luxury European sports cars are imported regularly. While American car brands have plenty of variety, buyers are gravitating towards foreign manufacturers that can provide the options they want.
Speaking of variety…
Price point is another big factor. Many imported models go head-to-head with American-made brands while pricing their vehicles lower. Competitive pricing by South Korean and Japanese manufacturers have lead to better affordable options for consumers who still want quality cars.
Keep these things in mind when searching for auto shipping quotes later. Affordable car transport is your best bet to getting these vehicles where you need them.
The Cultural Shift Behind Imported Vehicles
Remember back in the day when buying a foreign car was frowned upon?
Times have changed. The mindsets of everyday consumers have changed. When it comes to buying a vehicle, modern buyers care most about value, features, specs and overall reliability. Here’s why:
The whole world has changed since the early days of Facebook Classics. The globalization of the automobile industry has expanded buying options past what was once imagined. The 2025 American-Made Index by Cars.com found that 248 of the 400 light-duty vehicles sold in America are imported. That’s over HALF the market!
Buyers also have so many more resources at their disposal. YouTube reviews, Facebook Marketplace and Google Alerts are just a few ways car buyers can research the ins-and-outs of each vehicle they’re looking at. Foreign vehicles are not excluded from this research and because of it, they tend to fair pretty well in the eyes of the consumer.
Did you know electric vehicles have also helped fuel growth for imported brands?
EV’s have been popping up by the droves over the last few years and many of them are imported. Automakers from all over the world are trying to get a piece of the EV pie by selling their electric vehicles in America. This also attributes to the shift in culture because consumers are more open than ever to buying imports.
Shift. Full stop.
How Affordable Car Transport Fuels The Boom
Here’s a secret most people don’t think about.
The surge in popularity of imported vehicles has created a demand for affordable car transport companies. When you buy a vehicle from out of state, or import one from a port-of-entry, you’ll need to get it shipped somewhere.
Transportation is key.
Having affordable options to transport these vehicles is what allows the average person to buy whatever they want, from anywhere. If it weren’t for affordable car shipping, imported vehicles wouldn’t be quite as popular as they are.
Think about importing a vehicle that’s rare in your area. You’ll probably have to buy it from another state and have the vehicle transported to you. Without affordable shipping, some of these vehicles wouldn’t be accessible at all.
There are a few reasons why affordable car transport is so accessible these days:
You have options when looking for the right transport provider. Things like Open vs. Enclosed transport and online quote comparison tools have allowed consumers to find the best transport options fast.
Transport providers now offer door-to-door services that deliver vehicles straight to your doorstep. There’s no more going to pickup or drop-off points.
As the amount of imported vehicles increase, so will demand for affordable car transport.
What You Need To Know Before Importing A Vehicle
Thinking about importing that dream vehicle? Hold your horses!
Before you go importing just anything, there are some things you should know:
Shipping isn’t cheap. The cost to ship your vehicle don’t just stop at the purchase price. Customs fees, taxes, modifications and meeting USDA standards are some things that come at an additional cost.
Do your research when finding a transport provider. As with anything, you want to make sure you’re dealing with a reputable company. Look for providers with high reviews and get multiple quotes before committing.
They actually have rules and regulations for importing vehicles. Just because you found that super cool Japanese sports car you’ve always wanted doesn’t mean you can automatically get it. There’s a 25 year rule that most people don’t know about.
Delivery times can take weeks. Shipping your vehicle across the country isn’t like overnight shipping a package. Depending on transport method, it could take up to a few weeks for delivery.
Your homework doesn’t stop when you buy the vehicle.
Bringing It All Together
As you can see, buying imported vehicles has become the norm. The days of watching old FB posts about the cool imported cars people were buying are over. Now, imported vehicles are the majority of sales in the US and will continue that trend as annual import sales exceed 219 Billion.
But there’s one thing that hasn’t been discussed that makes this possible.
A seemingly small piece of the pie, affordable car transport allows buyers to take their car shopping to the next level. Without affordable transportation, customers would be limited to buying cars locally. If you didn’t live near a dealership with the options you were looking for, you were out of luck.
Affordable car transport:
- Gives you access to vehicles from all over the country.
- Removes geographical barriers.
- Allows you to find the vehicle YOU want.
As long as you plan accordingly and do your research when importing a vehicle, you should have a great experience. The best advice before importing that dream vehicle is to find an affordable transportation method. Researching transport providers and packaging up your car for shipment is the last thing you want to be stressing about!