Everything I Ever Learned About Importing (2 Viewers)

[samwise]

Thanks for the reply, but from what I read on this post, others, and the NHTSA website, the month DOES matter to SOME custom officials. I obvisouly have no idea what the official I will get thinks, and my question still stands about it being FMVSS certified. What if there was a 1987, but was FMVSS tagged? Thanks for the response!

Jon

 

[DieselFumes]

Thanks for the reply, but from what I read on this post, others, and the NHTSA website, the month DOES matter to SOME custom officials. I obvisouly have no idea what the official I will get thinks, and my question still stands about it being FMVSS certified. What if there was a 1987, but was FMVSS tagged? Thanks for the response!

Jon

Interesting, I do not know about the FMVSS and read a lot of the same items before I imported, I ended up purchasing the truck way before the month of the 25th b-day, but waited to ship until it was truely 25 cause I did not want to chance it sitting at the port with a picky customs agent and me paying storage fees or something crazy like that. Better safe than sorry and the seller was nice enough to hang onto the truck for me... Let us know if you come up witha a strait answer. If you need my customs agent email address- pm me.
Matt

 

[amaurer]

Having imported a truck within the last month, I can tell you that customs officials at border crossings (ports maybe be different) do not care, or even understand what the law is.

You are responsible for filling in all the forms, not them, and so you'll be writing the mfg date in yourself. In my case, the truck I brought in was 24yrs old by model year, or 25yrs to the very month based on mfg date... no problem, no verification, nothing. The only thing they'll check is that the VIN matches your title/registration.

They also tried to send me along without paying any tax, I had to remind them that duty is owed.

All that aside, the law is very clear - for import purposes its the MFG DATE, not the model year, that matters. Customs may get confused, but you should be able to bring a copy of the statute to convince them.

 

[coldtaco]

If it's a Canadian market vehicle it's no big deal, you still have to jump through all the proper hoops, no matter what year. The easiest way would be to make sure it is 25 yrs or older. If it's younger than 25 yrs. then I would recommend using an RI (registered importer), but someone familiar with diesels if its diesel, or if you have lots of time on your hands try it yourself, but if you don't get everything just right then you may have a headache with the process depending on the officer you get like I remember someone else mentioning about their import experience.

 

[DirtyLawyer]

Thanks for the reply, but from what I read on this post, others, and the NHTSA website, the month DOES matter to SOME custom officials. I obvisouly have no idea what the official I will get thinks, and my question still stands about it being FMVSS certified. What if there was a 1987, but was FMVSS tagged? Thanks for the response!

Jon

As far as I know, a foreign VIN will not pull up in their computer system - so, assuming they wanted to verify the date of manufacture, I have no idea how they could/would do it. I'm not sure if Canadian VINs cause the same problems as JDM, NZ and OZ VINs do.

If it is tagged as FMVSS compliant, then you only need to worry about EPA. EPA is 21 years to be exempt. Interestingly enough, the EPA form itself (3520-1) counts it from "calendar year of manufacture subtracted from year of importation", although the form itself asks for the month and date of manufacture. Therefore, an 87 with FMVSS would be a legit import with the EPA exemption as of 2008 (1987 + 21 = 2008).

 

[Coltrabagar]

How disassembled is "disassembled"?

How much would a vehicle have to be disassembled to be imported as "parts"? Is there an objective guide for this?

I wouldn't expect taking the wheels off would be enough. Could it be as "easy" as removing the engine and transmission and shipping it separately from the rest of the body? Do they have to be shipped separately or could they be in pieces in the same shipping container?

Thanks for any help on this.

 

[ForealBoreal]

from what i know same container is ok.
but i could be wrong. I am pretty sure if that could happen guys would be bringing in hzj79s and stuff.

 

[bad_religion_au]

How much would a vehicle have to be disassembled to be imported as "parts"? Is there an objective guide for this?

I wouldn't expect taking the wheels off would be enough. Could it be as "easy" as removing the engine and transmission and shipping it separately from the rest of the body? Do they have to be shipped separately or could they be in pieces in the same shipping container?

Thanks for any help on this.

i have "heard" that a parts vehicle requires a section of the frame to be cut out...

 

[TedsToys]

Hi, Would you care to talk about 25+ year old vehicles coming from New Zealand?
Thanks,
TedsToys

 

[OkiTLC]

My truck a, ‘88 HJ61 will be 25 years this Nov manufactured Nov 1987. I will be going to Japan to put her on the boat for a nice cruise home this Nov. I bought her a few years ago when I lived in Japan and have had her in storage since moving back 2 years ago. Does anyone know of any difficulties with the Japanese VIN being shorter only 10 digits than the American VIN 17 digits when coming through?

 

[amaurer]

My truck a, ‘88 HJ61 will be 25 years this Nov manufactured Nov 1987. I will be going to Japan to put her on the boat for a nice cruise home this Nov. I bought her a few years ago when I lived in Japan and have had her in storage since moving back 2 years ago. Does anyone know of any difficulties with the Japanese VIN being shorter only 10 digits than the American VIN 17 digits when coming through?

In terms of Customs that'll be no problem.

If your DMV is like mine they'll get a little upset, as they'll likely believe that the 17 digit VIN should apply to everything after 1981. But they can squeeze it into their computers if you ride them a bit.

Insurance has the same problem, but eventually they'll relent.

 

[rushglen]

Here is a link to land cruisers (80 series) for sale in Japan....
Toyota / Landcruiser 80 - Japanese used cars exports and Japan car import / Sort by : Update - New to Old / Page. 1 [ tradecarview ]

 

[OkiTLC]

VIN

In terms of Customs that'll be no problem.

If your DMV is like mine they'll get a little upset, as they'll likely believe that the 17 digit VIN should apply to everything after 1981. But they can squeeze it into their computers if you ride them a bit.

Insurance has the same problem, but eventually they'll relent.

Thank you very much for the info. Think I will talk to my Insurance and DMV here in the next month or so to get the gears moving.

 

[Scopedog]

My truck a, ‘88 HJ61 will be 25 years this Nov manufactured Nov 1987. I will be going to Japan to put her on the boat for a nice cruise home this Nov. I bought her a few years ago when I lived in Japan and have had her in storage since moving back 2 years ago. Does anyone know of any difficulties with the Japanese VIN being shorter only 10 digits than the American VIN 17 digits when coming through?

As a heads up for an issue I faced registering a Japanese 1981 BJ41 in Florida: the DMV required me to have the Japanese Title translated with a notarized translated copy. Obviously that is not a issue with the vehicles imported from Canada or Australia but you might face with a Japanese vehicle into Virginia. The non standard VIN was not a problem with the DMV or Allstate.

 

[ForealBoreal]

As a heads up for an issue I faced registering a Japanese 1981 BJ41 in Florida: the DMV required me to have the Japanese Title translated with a notarized translated copy. Obviously that is not a issue with the vehicles imported from Canada or Australia but you might face with a Japanese vehicle into Virginia. The non standard VIN was not a problem with the DMV or Allstate.

You exporter must have sucked a little.
My exporter has all of his paperwork in order and has translations on the needed documents

 

[RottnJP]

Greetings all! Quick question about the exclusions for a current CA spec vehicle:
Who counts as "immediate family?" My bro-in-law's and wife's family is in Canada- Would I, as a brother in law or son in law be able to purchase a vehicle from one of them, and bring it to the states? Or would my wife had to buy it? What hoops would that importation entail?

Thanks!!

 

[SNLC]

I am importing a 1984 Nissan Patrol right now from Australia.

I will report back when I have the vehicle in the USA.

 

[toyobaru]

I'm in the process of importing a (soon to be mine) BJ74. Found this website, lots of good info and I haven't seen it posted yet.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade/importing_car.xml

BTW this is my first legitimate post, I expect a warm welcome

 

[Docfranco]

Importing a Canadian diesel to the US is not
Hard, if over 25year old.
That said the hard or impossible part in
My case is federal emissions. I still live
In Kommiefornia. I bought a 1984 bj60
Paperweight a few weeks ago.
My beloved DMV has requested a letter
From the manufacturer attesting it meets
US federal emission standards, which
I can't find a solid answer on.
And most of us know Toyota will not
Get involved.
My only possible way out was suggested
By a RI, to bring it back to Vancouver and
Re import it to an Indiana title.
At a min cost of 2000....
I've read that a RI can get the emissions
Sticker but not unless they import it.
So, fair warning... And the rest if you who
Are snickering at us in Kommiefornia ....
Remember... It will soon come to your
Beloved DMV's soon...
Now, what to do with my paper weight...

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

If it is from Canada originally it should have a sticker on the inside of the hood that it confirms to north american emissions standards. Is there such a sticker?
Multiple Canadian diesels have been registered legally that way in California, I personally know of at least 7.
Something does not add up.