The R34 Skyline GT-R is landing in the United States one build month at a time. If yours has already cleared customs, or you have one held in Japan waiting on its date, this guide covers two things: when your specific car becomes eligible, and what actually fits the interior once it arrives.
The 25 year rule runs on build date, not model year
This is where most listings mislead buyers. The federal exemption is measured 25 years from the month and year of manufacture stamped on the build plate, not from the model year on a spec sheet. An R34 built in March 2001 becomes eligible in March 2026. An identical car built in November 2001 waits until November 2026.
Check the plate before you commit to anything. Two cars advertised as the same model year can be eight months apart on the calendar that matters. A separate EPA exemption applies at 21 years, and the Show or Display route exists for a small number of rare cars, but for the R34 the 25 year clock is the practical path.
R34 eligibility, build year by build year
| Build year | US eligibility |
|---|---|
| 1999 | Eligible since 2024 |
| 2000 | Eligible since 2025 |
| 2001 | Phasing in through 2026, month by month |
| 2002 | Phasing in through 2027, month by month |
The late cars are the ones worth watching. V-Spec II and Nur examples came at the end of the run, which puts most of them in the 2001 and 2002 window.
What else opens up alongside it
2001 builds crossing the line in 2026 are not just Skylines. The Lancer Evolution VII CT9A, the later S15 Silvia, the JDM Honda S2000 AP1 and the 2001 Impreza WRX STI all sit in the same window. If you are shopping more than one car, we have separate guides for the Evo body shapes from CP9A to CT9W and for S2000 floor mats.
BNR34 or GT-T changes what fits
Before ordering anything, know which chassis you have. The GT-R is BNR34 and runs the wide guards. The GT-T is a narrower body on the same basic shell. They are not interchangeable for every part, and the difference bites in two opposite directions.
For a car cover, the body width decides it. Our R34 BNR34 indoor cover is patterned for the GT-R guards and clears the factory rear wing. Put that same cover on a GT-T and it sits loose across the shoulders, because the panel it was cut for is not there.
For floor mats the answer flips. The GT-R and the GT-T share a carpet pattern, so one set covers both. Our R34 checker floor mats fit BNR34 and GTT alike.
Kitting out a fresh import
Cars that arrive from Japanese auction houses tend to land in one of two states. Either the original mats are gone, or they are 25 year old originals that nobody wants to wear out further.
The checker mats are cut and bound by hand from high low loop carpet. A reinforced heel pad sits where the driver actually wears through, a metal grommet eyelet locates on the factory retaining hook, and rubber nipple backing plus velcro keeps the mat from sliding under braking. Edges are overlocked throughout. Left hand drive conversions are common on US imports, so if yours has been switched, contact us before ordering and we will cut the correct side.
On storage: the covers are velvet stretch with a four way flex and a napped inner face that will not scuff clearcoat. They are breathable on purpose. A waterproof cover over a garaged car traps moisture underneath, which does more damage than dust ever will. Owners running an R33 or R32 alongside can find the matching patterns for the BCNR33 and the BNR32, with all four generations compared in our Skyline GT-R cover guide. R33 owners will want the BCNR33 mat set, which runs a different floorpan and is not shared with the R34.
Shipping to the United States
We are based in Melbourne, Australia and ship worldwide. Import duties and taxes on your order are covered by us, so nothing extra is collected at your door. If a carrier ever invoices you for duty on one of our parcels, send it to us and we reimburse it. Full detail is on our international shipping and duties page.
Common questions
Is the R34 GT-R legal in the US now?
Partly. Cars built in 1999 and 2000 are eligible. 2001 and 2002 builds become eligible on the anniversary of their own build month, running through 2026 and 2027. Eligibility follows the individual car, not the model.
Will R34 floor mats fit a GT-T?
Yes. The GT-R and GT-T share the same carpet pattern, so one mat set covers both.
Will an R34 cover fit an R33?
No. Each Skyline generation gets its own pattern. The R33 runs a longer wheelbase and a different body, so a cover cut for one will not seat on the other.
My car has been converted to left hand drive. Can you still cut mats?
Yes. Contact us before ordering with your chassis details and we will cut the correct side.
Will I pay customs charges when the parcel arrives?
No. Duties and taxes are covered on our end. The price you pay at checkout is the price you pay in total.
Import eligibility information here is general and current as of August 2026. Confirm your specific vehicle against the build plate and current NHTSA guidance before purchasing or shipping a car.