Importation Costs/Regulations

[robustbambi]

My mom wants a 70 series really bad. Ive shown her the few that are for sale here on mud, nothing caught her fancy (stuff definitely caught mine though). She REALLY likes the older grille style troopies, I'm trying to push her to get a single cab truck or a nice little swb model. She likes the trucks profitts builds so we may just give up and contact them after a while of searching but id like her to get exactly what she wants if she's gonna be spending all that $$$.

My brother is an architect in Japan and has access to some pretty neat little cruisers over there. Are the importation rules the same as Canada to US (Must be 25 years or older)?

Also, if we were to import a 25 year old one from canada, does importing consist of tearing through it at the border and then reassembling it here in the US when they find nothing wrong or illegal with it?
Or is it just like drive over the border, register, good to go?

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Do a search for the MUD thread about importing vehicles. I believe it's the same 25 yr. rule for all countries. Central America might be another source to consider. From Canada, you need to have the proper forms filled out for customs. The fee they charge is based on the vehicles value, as I recall. A registered importer can take care of all these issues for you. Tear it down-are you kidding? No.
Your MOM wants a Troopie? I'd have her drive a RHD first before spending big bucks on it.

 

[robustbambi]

nope not kidding. and my mom used to live in UK so RHD is not an issue. thanks for the info

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

I recently bought and imported a 25yr exempt vehicle. It was extremely easy. The company that shipped it to me had a customs broker that did all the paperwork for $100. You pay ~6% duty, customs fee, import tax, whatever. To my knowledge it sailed thru customs with no issues or in-depth inspections as it was in one piece when they rolled off the car hauler.

If you bring in a CDN spec truck, make sure you have all the paperwork needed to sell/transfer the vehicle in the province it comes from. Mine was from BC, and I had to have the registration (their version of the title) and the tax/transfer form that their DMV uses. For a non North America vehicle, then I'd look into a registered importer to take care of the paperwork.

The state you are in will depend on the red-ass to get it titled. NC was pretty easy, have the paperwork and then the Inspections Division looks at the car, takes/photographs the VIN runs it and make sure its not stolen, etc, etc, etc.

All in all, easy after I figured out what the NC DMV needed to get it registered

 

[UnitedWorldCruiser]

phrogg4evr, do have you break down of what the import fees were, or how the vehicle was classified? From what I've seen, there's something like an $800 exemption (if you are traveling with the vehicle), the next $1000 dollars of value assessed at 10%, and then the reminder at the "dutiable rate." The kicker is that for cars that 2.5%, but for trucks its 25%--stupid chicken tax. So were you able to avoid the chicken tax rate?

Also, when I eventually move from Costa Rica, I'll be driving my BJ40 up and registering it in North Carolina. What did the NC DMV want from you?

 

[PAToyota]

My mom wants a 70 series really bad.

Is she single? I'd never ask a woman her age, but would she be interested in meeting a similarly minded (at least about 70 series LCs) 46 year old?

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

phrogg4evr, do have you break down of what the import fees were, or how the vehicle was classified? ...

What did the NC DMV want from you?

Ill see if I can dig up the paperwork. Ill PM you when I find it.

As far as NC DMV, as long as you have all the import paperwork, you will have to go to the SHP Investigstions guys and they photo the vehicle, take the VIN and run it through the databases beforr they will title it. But, once you do the inspection, the SHP guys give you paperwork for the DMV so you csn register it while the checks are going on.

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