Bringing a 70 series into California that came from Japan > Canada > Washington

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iitrebor

10 Year
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Jan 3, 2013
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I apologize if I am posting in the wrong forum. I am trying to purchase a Japanese 70s series that was imported to Canada and then purchased by a gentlemen in Washington State and imported to the USA. The seller has a Washington State title for the vehicle, which is an '88. I understand that California has stricter emissions laws than the other 49 states. Will I be able to registar this vehicle in California?

I went to the DMV today and they told me yes, but you get a different answer from every person you speak to in that place. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
That is a reoccurring theme on this forum..... Everyone wants a 70 Series and California is a strange place to live. :D
 
Well, what I would so is:

#1, get deep into the emissions requirements for passenger car type diesels.

#2, see what paperwork comes with the truck. If this truck was brought in prior to the 25 year window for imports, it is either legally imported and had the associated customs and NTSB paperwork, or is a grey market truck brought in on the sly.

Since it has a legal title, you may be Ok, depends on what the DMV says when you are standing there with the title in hand. After that, it will depend on what emissions hoops there are. Cali and ARB are seriously cracking down on diesels in Ca, so you may run into road blocks there.

Head down to your garage that you have inspect your current cars and see if you can bend their ears bit on the current laws and restrictions. Also see what paperwork comes with the truck and ask the current owner how he got it in to the US and registered.

FYI, my trooipe was registered in Ca before I bought it, and the PO pretty much said it was the whim of who you got at the window at the DMV:meh:
 
Thanks for all the info!

I've been calling around all day. It seems as though the emissions requirements aren't the only issue. It appears the CA safety requirements might be a big hangup. Obviously, this truck doesn't have an Emissions label or a Federal Safety label, both of which CA DOT requires. Apparently the right side driver thing is a safety hangup too. I received this info from the DMV Technical Compliance office.

I also spoke with a woman from the ARB who told me that, even though this truck was legally imported into the states, CA still defines it as a "grey vehicle" meaning that, because it is a diesel, it is not eligible to be registered in CA.

I am going to unfortunately pass on this deal. Pretty bummed. Hope this info helps someone else in the future.
 
iitrebor said:
I also spoke with a woman from the ARB who told me that, even though this truck was legally imported into the states, CA still defines it as a "grey vehicle" meaning that, because it is a diesel, it is not eligible to be registered in CA.
Click to expand...

Like I said, depends on the DMV person you talk to. My diesel troopy was a Cali truck until 2 years ago, no emissions of FS label.:meh:

Bummer, sounds like it would be a great truck
 
California used to have an exemption for smog tests for antiques (25 years or older). But it seems they have removed even that.


I moved to Saudi so I could get a 70 series, the least you could do is move to Nevada or Oregon, FFS!! ;)
 
That is the first I have heard of a State having an issue with RHD. You would think a State so starved for tax revenues would be delighted to register any vehicle.
 
I bought an '87 BJ70 CDN last March, 2012, from Calgary. More than 25 years old so no problem bringing it into the States.
I live in NorCal. From DMV I got the inspection form to be completed by a CHP or any DMV office. Filled out the same form used when you are bringing a vehicle in from another State. DMV asked me for proof of Emission Controls. I stated that Calif in 1987 did not require any emission on diesel vehicles. They thought about it and said I was correct. Gave them copies of all import papers plus their DMV forms. Payed sales tax and registration and they gave me a 90 day
license. Pink Slip, registration, and plates were delivered in 6 weeks.

Calif requires a smog check on '97 and newer diesels. Therefore I'm assuming anything older than '97 is a non issue. Any questions feel free to PM me.
 
basfire, your '87 CDN BJ70 was eligible for import into CA in 1987. Your proof of safety and emissions is on the drivers side door jamb.
 
Lots of RHD JDM trucks registered in CA.
Diesel exempt in CA.
25 years old makes it exempt for safety.

Buy it.
Walk in to local DMV with title and confidence.
They will have computer problems with the short VIN, but convince the counter person to get their manager to override it. And remind them, when they do the VIN verification, that it is a diesel.
It will sail right through.
 
gifu said:
If it helps, friend was just today able to register a short digit VIN cruiser, JDM, in CA. It was registered in another state previously.
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My JDM BJ74 was imported through BC, and they attached a 17 digit vin to it. So now it has 2 vin numbers on it, and i registered in Minnesota with the 17 digit VIN. I tried to get it back to the short vin, but the state would not do it. Something about overriding the importing country???
 
Hi guys, I have being reading a lot about all you people and a lot of this web page forum which I found very interesting and I congrat all you for sharing all of your experience and skills about toyotas.
Am from Medellin, Colombia, S. America and I will like to ask if some one can guide me or help me on how to import my 1987 BJ73 toyota to the states, especificly to the city of Miami, United States. I apreciate all the help and knowledge! And am whiling to help anyone needing to purchase any toyota from here too!
image-2246881048.webp
 
the 17 digit vin also allowed that one JDM importer to send a few RHD cruisers over the border ... questionably.
he filled out the importation documents with "Canada" instead of "Japan" in country of origin.
made for a few illegal JDMs in the States.
Shes Mad said:
My JDM BJ74 was imported through BC, and they attached a 17 digit vin to it. So now it has 2 vin numbers on it, and i registered in Minnesota with the 17 digit VIN. I tried to get it back to the short vin, but the state would not do it. Something about overriding the importing country???
Click to expand...
 
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