how to tell a LEGAL importation? (HZJ75)

[woody]

1998 Toyota Landcruiser diesel 4x4 HZJ75

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2485993552

I'm looking at this truck on Saturday morning...the owner told me last night he imported it from Canada, so of course, some of my many questions will include the legality of the importation and such.

I've been reading thru the threads on how to import, but haven't spotted anything on what paperwork/confirmation a later buyer needs to have?

Additionally, are their any specific items on this truck that are worth checking into prior to purchase?

TIA...

 

[Landpimp]

I would think a US title and reg would be a good sign, can't imagine what else you would need. I am sure it came in a very dark shade of gray but if its here now(for 6 years) and has US papers I would think your golden....regardless of how it was done.

 

[Exiled]

Woody, as long as the title is valid and not completely outside of stretch (meaning, it's not titled as a Hilux or Tacoma or something like that), you're pretty much in the clear. From a purely technical standpoint, *most* importations brought into the US after 1996 are gray market and don't comply with *some* importation requirements, but there have always been loopholes that can be exploited.

If the title matches the year and ID number (it probably doesn't have a regular VIN) for the truck (on the aluminum plate inside the engine bay), I wouldn't worry too much about it. Emissions are a completely different animal, but I suspect with diesel and WI you don't have to worry too much about it.

 

[cruise4070]

I guess I would check w/this owner to see what supporting documentation he has if any
D.O.T., EPA ,etc... A clear US title is usually good as previously stated.
When I purchased my BJ70 it had already been titled through Mo. and NY. The P.O. was a Canadian citizen who moved here.

 

[wesintl]

I think a 96 would have to go through a registered importer to be 100% legal. He/she should have the imported papers and a sticker on the vehicle. If you read down through Alex other posts and her interest to import cruisers other than a bj70 of canadian origin and her work with importers it leads me to believe that a hzj75 has not been through a registered importer leaving this as a GREY market. Just because it has a valid title doesn't make it 100% legal although you porbably wouldn't have any problems DTR. I think canadian citizens and diplomamts, etc go through a different route. One thing i noticed is that you get different answers on overall vehicle importation depending on who you talk to at DOT, seems to be the same with customs from reading other posts. The EPA was very helpful when I spoke to them on the fone on several occasions. Awesome truck woody, I'd snatch it up if i could.

 

[vtcruiser60]

Woody,

I concur with the suggestions to closely follow the paper trail on this thing. The owner has a very limited market here, so I think you are ok to ask for lots of help. I would not hesitate to encourage the owner to notorize forms that are photocopies of originals, for example.

There are a number of European companies that supply these rigs to UN and NGO operations across the world. For example, see http://toyota-gib.com/ I would encourage you to contact one of these companies, and ask very simply, what is involved in importing one of their vehicles to the US. Take notes, especially if they say it can't be done legally.

You may find that you have the paperwork to register and insure the vehicle. However, if you were ever in an accident, it would be really bad to find out that your insurance was not valid because the vehicle is not legal in the States. Of course then you could get into an discussion about why it was registered or insured in the first place.

Also, since it is on EBAY, I would definately purchase things like VIN reports and closely examine EBAY's Vehical Purchase Protection.

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

ZERO BIDS! Come on Land Pimpster, buck up and buy this thing would ya. You NEED another cruiser anyway. Besides, then I could come down and get a ride in it!




TB

 

[Bruno AZ]

1998 Toyota Landcruiser diesel 4x4 HZJ75

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2485993552

I'm looking at this truck on Saturday morning...the owner told me last night he imported it from Canada, so of course, some of my many questions will include the legality of the importation and such.

I've been reading thru the threads on how to import, but haven't spotted anything on what paperwork/confirmation a later buyer needs to have?

Additionally, are their any specific items on this truck that are worth checking into prior to purchase?

TIA...

I went through this a couple of weeks ago here in arizona and was told the following by the AZDMV. I did not end up buying the BJ70. Also they told me that the original import documents are to be retained buy the owner just as a title would be. What they want to see from the original import package is. 1. Inspection Doc. 2. Emmissions Doc. 3. Title Verification Doc. 4. Bill of Sale. 5. Title. Now I was trying to import one from alberta and those original docs would be required for me to atempt inspection here in AZ. This was my first attempt at this and I don't claim to know anything more than I just stated. I had talked to at least three different people at the DMV and they all pretty much came up with those 5 documents.

 

[72cruiser]

haha,

that thing is tight.
i've been tryin to get my buds to pitch in and buy it for me...you know, as a kind of gift for my friendship....it's not goin so well


malphrus

 

[DieselROCKS]

I wonder which mine up here the guy ripped it off of

Geoff

 

[Landpimp]

you hit the nail on the head, that is my biggest fear of having a gray market Cruiser that came into the US thru a loophole, if in an accident(esspcialy one that had injuries) the insurance company might just say "sorry your are on the hook not us" No prolbem if you live in a cardboard box in an alley........you got nothing to loose, but if someone can afford 20-5K for a hzj75 then you got more to loose than just your pickle jar bathroom

And nope i won't be bidding on it as much as I would like to have it.

I am positive this cruiser did not come in thru a reistered importer, it sliped/slithered thru the loopholes(and hats off to the dude that did it) Gilbralter will tell you NOPE can't sell you one no if and or butts about it......well unless your are moving to Iraq or something

I would be more inclined to have something like a 85 fj47 troopy that has the old style short VIN and a body style similar to a US fj40....but even that worries me. For now I will stick with my mundane run of the mill US spec Cruisers

hmmmm , wonder if I can get a SSN for my dog........get him a lic and put it in his name.......yeah thats the ticket

Woody,

I
You may find that you have the paperwork to register and insure the vehicle. However, if you were ever in an accident, it would be really bad to find out that your insurance was not valid because the vehicle is not legal in the States. Of course then you could get into an discussion about why it was registered or insured in the first place.

A.

 

[woody]

test drove it this morning....I want this truck...if it's legally imported, it's mine....

Insurance: he ran it thru the VIN number with his insurance company, which apparrently lines up with some 98 Corollas for numbering, and his insurance agent basically asked him what it's worth and then manually entered in the vehicle information. Personally, insurance is the least of my worries...

Legality: There IS a registered importer sticker on the drivers door.

He bought it as new in 1999, worked with a dealership service manager local to me to bring it in legally, had it inspected by the State Patrol, did all the registration stuff and got it all set. Then, NHTSA contacted him and basically said, take it back to Canada...which he did. He the redid the paperwork and brought it back into the US, and hasn't had one issue since. The license plate has a current 04 registration, with the 03-02-01 stickers visible under it. Wisconsin registered, truck plate.

He seemed overly casual about the paperwork....which honestly concerns me a bit. I'll be contacting a few people I know who do import and making sure all that's in place.

to repeat, I want this truck....

 

[HZJ60 Guy]

Good for you Woody. It would be great to have this baby in the family!




TB

 

[yooper]

test drove it this morning....I want this truck...if it's legally imported, it's mine....

on Woody. You gonna wheel it? Where're the pics?

I figured you would want it. Takes me off the hook - I can stop thinking about it and start plotting how to pry LandPimp's mustard 82 FJ40 from him again. If you ever decide to sell it, I call first dibs!

 

[s79bj40]

first thing to do is to get rid of that ugly styleside homemade tray and make a real dropside tray so it actually looks like a work truck again and not some 'pickup'. Other than that it looks really clean! And those are some seriously bendy looking springs, is the load capacity the same?

sam

 

[Jim_Chow]

I think a 96 would have to go through a registered importer to be 100% legal. He/she should have the imported papers and a sticker on the vehicle. If you read down through Alex other posts and her interest to import cruisers other than a bj70 of canadian origin and her work with importers it leads me to believe that a hzj75 has not been through a registered importer leaving this as a GREY market. Just because it has a valid title doesn't make it 100% legal although you porbably wouldn't have any problems DTR. I think canadian citizens and diplomamts, etc go through a different route. One thing i noticed is that you get different answers on overall vehicle importation depending on who you talk to at DOT, seems to be the same with customs from reading other posts. The EPA was very helpful when I spoke to them on the fone on several occasions. Awesome truck woody, I'd snatch it up if i could.

I was reading an article saying that around 700,000 vehicles per year are brought in from Canada, including new vehicles unknowingly sold to some US dealerships and stolen vehicles (there are ways around brining it into the states, like getting a salvage title issued then getting a new title in the states, etc.). The only way for the vehicle to be legit is to have gone through a registered importer who took the time to file the paperwork with the government (some don't bother, and the vehicle is later confiscated by US customs from the buyer!). If the vehicle is a '97+, it'll need to have dual front airbags, speedo needs to be in miles rather than km, VIN plate attached with stainless rivets, passenger wide angle mirror labelled w/ the proper warning that objects are closer than they appear, etc. On the body at the door, there should be a sticker placed there by the registered importer or something that says the manufacturer certified that it meets north american NHTSA requiements. I can tell you now, the 75 series cruiser is NOT on the import list of eligible vehicles into the US. The latest is the 80 series 1996, not even the 97 or 100 series. That doesn't mean it can't be done legally, but the registered importer would be setting a precedent.

BTW, TGS will NOT sell to the US unless you are a non-profit international aid agency (eg, international red cross, etc.). I already inquired about this.

 

[s79bj40]

airbags? what airbags? wide angle mirror? what wide angle mirror? miles? wtf i think you yanks are getting a bit too advanced for the rest of us ;0 I spose you'll be wanting coils next too!

 

[coldtaco]

One of the biggest giveaways that it is NOT a leagal import is that anything newer than 1996 has to have airbags, dont' know if just drivers side or both. Also, these are no side lights on it. Sure would love to have it too though.

 

[vtcruiser60]

Woody,

Sounds like a nice rig and that you have checked things out. Keep making those phone calls.

And....for what it is worth, I would negotiate pretty hard on that price. Who else is going to take the time to do this homework? This is a small market, drive down that price.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[woody]

looks like it sold on EBAY....oh well