A military car sales representative’s encounter with a service member planning to ship his Nissan 350Z back to the US turned into an unexpected reminder of just how quickly time flies. The chat about logistics became a moment of existential unease when joe.mas clocked that the sports car was already old enough to legally import. Joe (@joe.mas) works as a military auto source representative at Yokota Air Force Base in Japan, according to his videos and TikTok bio. He posted an 11-second video that has had over 6,700 views, with commenters debating the model year cutoffs and having their own “I’m getting old” moments. What Is The 25-Year Rule About Shipping Cars? In the video, Joe recounts the conversation with a fellow service member who was planning his return to the States. “Guy says he doesn’t need a car. He’s shipping his back to the states. I said, oh, what you got?” Joe explains. “He said, a 350Z. I said, you can’t ship that. It’s got to be 25 years old.” The federal government restricts importing foreign-market vehicles that don’t meet US safety and emissions standards. However, under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act , once a vehicle reaches 25 years of age, it becomes exempt from safety standards and emissions requirements. According to Customs and Border Protection, “motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in order to be imported permanently into the United States.” This rule has made certain classic Japanese cars, in particular, into cult items as they age into eligibility. But then the story took a twist. “He said, it is 25 years old. I said…” Joe says, trailing off. The Nissan 350Z, which debuted for the 2003 model year, is now approaching that milestone. The caption says it all: “I’m ancient.” What Does Joe Do For The Military? As he explains in a separate video, Joe’s job involves helping active-duty service members stationed overseas navigate the often-complicated process of purchasing vehicles. “If you are active duty, serving overseas, or about to be overseas, you have car buying benefits that no one has told you about,” he says. “If you haven’t met me, my name is Joe. I am your Yokota Air Force Base Military Auto Source Representative.” Military AutoSource describes itself as “the only DoD and Exchange authorized car-buying program” for overseas military personnel. The program also offers US-spec vehicles with regulated pricing for delivery to stateside duty stations. In the video, Joe outlines the program, which is meant to make new car purchases more accessible for military personnel. “My job is to make new cars financially attainable for service members, because new cars are expensive as [expletive],” Joe explains. “How’s it work? Well, when you get here, we start you on a savings program. Then right before you PCS out, we build you a brand new car, which we deliver to your next duty station”, he adds. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station—military terminology for when service members are reassigned to a new location. Commenters Debate The Math The comment section became a debate as to whether the 350Z actually qualifies yet. “It ain’t 25 yet,” wrote BeerThirty, noting that it came out in 2003. RW offered a correction, writing “came out in 02.” The Nissan 350Z was indeed introduced as a 2003 model, with production beginning in August 2002 for sale as a 2003 model year vehicle. This means early examples are on the cusp of the 25-year threshold, with 2003 models becoming import-eligible in 2028. Jay Bertram raised a practical point that others may have overlooked: “When’s the dude’s PCS date? No one said he is shipping it out this year.” If the service member isn’t rotating back to the states until 2026 or later, his 350Z could very well meet the 25-year requirement by then. What Does It Cost To Ship A Car? For those wondering about international vehicle shipping logistics, costs vary significantly. According to West Coast Shipping, shipping a vehicle from Japan to the US typically ranges from $1,200 to $4,200 depending on the method, destination port, and size. Roll-on/Roll-off service runs $900 to $2,000. Active-duty military members may receive vehicle shipping entitlements as part of their benefits. According to Military OneSource, service members are entitled to various allowances during permanent change of station moves, though specific vehicle shipping provisions depend on the move and the destination. Military members stationed overseas can drive Japanese-spec vehicles locally, but bringing those cars home requires either meeting US standards or waiting until the vehicle ages into the 25 year exemption. For Joe and his audience, the real takeaway wasn’t about import regulations—it was about the relentless passage of time. The Nissan 350Z, which feels like a new car to some, is now a classic by import law standards. It’s a reminder that we’re all getting older, one model year at a time. Motor1 reached out to Joe via TikTok direct message. We’ll update this if he responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team