Import newer than 15 years (Canada)?

[aamiggia]

Hello all,

I maybe making a trip to Sweden and Germany in the near future and I will be looking into the cruisers they have there.

I've heard from the knowledgeable resources on this site that I can import ANY vehicle into Canada if it is 15 years or older. What about vehicles less than 15 years old?

How are 5 - 10 year old US cars imported to Canada? Is it true that there is a list that the gov't has and will not let into Canada? If my car is less than 15 years do I have to make sure that it's not on the list and get it to Canadian safety specs?

Is this possible for a 1992 HDJ80? I heard that there used to be loop holes, but what is involved to do it legally?

Thanks,
Alex

[lowenbrau]

Originally Posted by aamiggia

Is this possible for a 1992 HDJ80? I heard that there used to be loop holes, but what is involved to do it legally?

Thanks,
Alex

You can import anything less than 15 years old if it was intended by the manufacturer to be used in North America.

Importing from the US is easy, anywhere else, not so much

[Ocelot]

Heres the email I got from RIV:

In order to import any vehicle into Canada it must be a US specification vehicle and must be cited as admissible on Transport Canada's List of Admissible Vehicles from the United States, it must also bear a Statement of Compliance label affixed by the Original Equipment Manufacturer stating that "the vehicle as manufactured to comply with all US federal emission, bumper and safety standards on the date of manufacture". Failing that, we will accept a letter from the manufacturer stating the same. Other information contained on the label/letter would also include the Vehicle Identification Number, make, model, date of manufacture, gross vehicle weight ratings and axle weight ratings.

Admissible vehicles, manufactured to US standards on the date of manufacture and complying with the above information are processed through the RIV program regardless of their country of origin. However, since this vehicle is or will be purchased from Central America, it is likely that it has been manufactured to their standards and therefore would be INADMISSIBLE through the RIV program. In this case please contact Transport Canada to determine if the vehicles are admissible for importation to Canada or visit their website at <http://www.transportcanada.com/roadsafety/importusa/impxus_e.htm>
http://www.transportcanada.com/roads...a/impxus_e.htm

All vehicles (except buses) that are fifteen years or older are exempt from the Registrar of Imported vehicles, regardless of where they are imported from. However, you should contact CBSA (Canada Border Service Agency) as they may have additional requirements before you import this vehicle. Their telephone number is 1-800-461-9999 (within Canada) or 204-983-3500 (outside of Canada).

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From what I've learned it is not impossible to import an HDJ-80 newer than 15 yrs old, however it is difficult. However if the HDJ-80 was imported into the United States first, you could then import it to Canada.

A 1992 vehicle will be admissible next year because it will be older than 15yrs (if you can find a 1992 manufactured in 1991, which is possible from what I've heard as production usually starts the year before)

I'm probably just going to wait untill 2008 to import a 1993 HDJ-80 from Europe or Central America... so between now and then I'll have to settle for an FZJ-80/LX450

I never got an email from you btw, I sent you one but I dont know if you got it.

Cheers

[aamiggia]

If an Euro HDJ80 is basically the same as a USD FZJ80, wouldn't it comply to the same bumper and safety standards? I know that they do not have airbags in early model HDJ80's but neither do early FJ80's.

I've seen many Landcruiser's in a German Autotrader at very good prices. 1990 - 92 HDJ81's go for 10 - 12 k Euros, which is about $15k - $20k CDN. The body condition is good, but the k's range from 150 - 200.

There are TONS of LJ70's and LJ74 for very cheap. The body condition is OK and the k's are low. The best part is they're all LHD. I don't think Germany ever got BJ70/1/4, but there are BJ45 pickups around.

I don't think they get snow in Holland and they usually get the same trucks as Germany. I'm looking into that option. And more people speak English.

[aamiggia]

Just read the link to MTO.

I didn't know this.

Vehicles manufactured for sale in countries other than Canada and the United States do not comply with the requirements of the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act, CANNOT be altered to comply and CANNOT be imported into Canada. The only exceptions to this rule are vehicles fifteen (15) years old or older as determined by the month and year in which the vehicle was manufactured

They made sure you can easily read the CANNOT. So you can't import a vehicle and alter it to meet the Canadian standards. It has to be approved before it gets here.

Maybe that's why all the importers just wait for a 15 year old car. Or the JDM trucks don't meet the CDN standards.

Do EURO trucks meeet CDN standards? (I know I won't get a response from the importers because that may be a trade secret )

[Ocelot]

Well I'm not sure if they do... but I was thinking we might be able to use this to our advantage:

---

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-039; Notice 2]


Decision that Nonconforming 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles are Eligible for Importation


AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.


ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1990-1996 Toyota
Landcruisers multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible for
importation.


------------------------------------------------------------%#@&-----------


SUMMARY: This notice announces the decision by NHTSA that 1990-1996
Toyota Landcruiser MPVs not originally manufactured to comply with all
applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are eligible for
importation into the United States because they are substantially
similar to vehicles originally manufactured for importation into and
sale in the United States and certified by their manufacturer as
complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the
1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser), and they are capable of being readily
altered to conform to the standards.


DATES: This decision is effective as of September 16, 1997.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Entwistle, Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202-366-5306).


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Background


Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not
originally manufactured to conform to all applicable Federal motor
vehicle safety standards shall be refused admission into the United
States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially
similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for importation into
and sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of
the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared,
and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable
Federal motor vehicle safety standards.
Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either
manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to
49 CFR part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice
in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords
interested persons an


[[Page 48711]]


opportunity to comment on the petition. At the close of the comment
period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the petition and any comments
that it has received, whether the vehicle is eligible for importation.
The agency then publishes this decision in the Federal Register.
Champagne Imports, Inc. of Lansdale, Pennsylvania (Registered
Importer R-90-009) petitioned NHTSA to decide whether 1990-1996 Toyota
Landcruisers are eligible for importation into the United States. NHTSA
published notice of the petition on July 15, 1997 (62 FR 37950) to
afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is referred to
that notice for a thorough description of the petition. No comments
were received in response to the notice. Based on its review of the
information submitted by the petitioner, NHTSA has decided to grant the
petition.


Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles


The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must
indicate on the form HS-7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle
eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry.
VSP-218 is the eligibility number assigned to vehicles admissible under
this decision.


Final Decision


Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA hereby decides
that 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers not originally manufactured to
comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards are
substantially similar to 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruisers originally
manufactured for importation into and sale in the United States and
certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and are capable of being readily
altered to conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety
standards.


Authority: 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A) and (b)(1); 49 CFR 593.8;
delegations of authority at 49 CFR 1.50 and 501.8.


Issued on: September 9, 1997.
Marilynne Jacobs,
Director, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-24428 Filed 9-15-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

---

I'm not sure what the deal on that is, I just found it, but we might be able to use it to our advantage.

I'm trying to look for lots of loopholes to get an 19993 HDJ-80 into Canada, but at least I know at the very worst all I will have to do is wait 3 years

[aamiggia]

I think you mentioned to me once that HDJ80's had lockers as an option from 1992. From the translated German I think I've seen a couple of 1992 HDJ80 Euro spec models with lockers and OK km's.

8.500 - 15.000 Euro Depending on condition and mileage. Some dealers mention export. I think Germany is notorious for exporting their vehicle because they have lower taxes. It looks to be easy to export a Unimog or G-Wagen.

Anybody speak German?

I think "3xDiff. Sperre" ==> "3x Diff locks"
and "3 el. Differentialsperren" ==> "3 Differential locks"
and "Differentialsperre" ==> "Differential Lock"

PM me for the link.

[crushers]

use this:
http://world.altavista.com/
and email me the link, if you don't mind...
wayne@crushersrule.com

[70seriesaddict]

Sorry, this won't work, though these Cruisers have been deemed eligible for import into the US it is because they have been found to be able to modified to meet US standards. Any Cruiser brought into the US under this eligibility decision has to be modified to meet US standards because none meet US standards as is, though the mods are few and easy. But the problem is you simply cannot import anything into Canada unless it was ORIGINALLY manufactured to meet NA specs, so you can't import a vehicle into the US by modifying it to meet US specs and then import it into Canada as a US spec'd vehicle. I know how bad you want it because we all want it that bad, believe me though, I have looked into it thoroughly, and not a day doesn't go by that I don't sceme and dream the Cruiser import angles.

Originally Posted by Ocelot

Well I'm not sure if they do... but I was thinking we might be able to use this to our advantage:

---

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
[Docket No. 97-039; Notice 2]


Decision that Nonconforming 1990-1996 Toyota Landcruiser Multi-
Purpose Passenger Vehicles are Eligible for Importation


AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT.


ACTION: Notice of decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1990-1996 Toyota
Landcruisers multi-purpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) are eligible for
importation.


---

I'm not sure what the deal on that is, I just found it, but we might be able to use it to our advantage.

I'm trying to look for lots of loopholes to get an 19993 HDJ-80 into Canada, but at least I know at the very worst all I will have to do is wait 3 years

[aamiggia]

Oh well.

There is still hope for LHD 70 series truck 15 years plus. I think I'll hold out for a HZJ75. I think they came out in 1993.

It looks like lockers for the HDJ80 came out in 1992 in Europe. So it won't be long until they are legal. Probably man'd in 1991.