Thanks. That helps.
So, would that mean no duty on the landcruiser I've owned 6 years?
Information Re: Importing to the USA and Complete DIY How-To (4 Viewers)
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So, would that mean no duty on the landcruiser I've owned 6 years?
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
It is my understanding that the duty exemption for returning expats includes vehicles. I'm pretty sure Joel brought at least one back from Dubai duty-free when he repatriated. Maybe @Honger can confirm. I think the vehicles would have to be shipped with your household goods.
So, the returning expat bit might trip that up then?
I'm an Aussie, migrating on a green card visa.
I'll ask my broker about if anyway. Have him confirm it.
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
Yes that's a bit different. Assuming you aren't importing a truck, then the duty will be 2.5% of the "value" (again, if I recall correctly). I never paid any duty outbound on household goods but those shipments were obviously not to the US (Germany, UK, and Saudi Arabia).
I brought in two trucks when I repatriated. They were in one container and were part of my overall household relocation. All items were my own that I had owned for 6 months or more. I filled out a Customs Form 3299 for all of that including the cars.
They did give me a bit of guff on the horde of Toyota parts... was told that "car parts" aren't allowed. I said they were spares for my two vehicles and after that it all went fine. I didn't place the parts in the trucks, I just had them boxed up along with all my other goods. Included extra wheels. Ha!
No duty on my trucks or my household goods... all were free entry based on "CBP Form 3299 - Declaration of Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles"
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
I would agree. It's been a while since I read that form. My 6 months was clearly incorrect; it's 1 year but all you have to do is say everything was purchased over 1 year ago. They won't ask you to prove it.
I may know a guy who, on repatriating, bought a new piece of wood furniture handmade in India to include in his shipment home... he declared it in the spirit of not intending to sell it, it was a household item.
I also may NOT know a guy who did that...
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
I can empathize. We added quite a bit between the initial survey and the final packing. Happens every time when you realize the window of opportunity is closing.
Next question. . .
My vehicle is due to land early May.
Vehicle has current Australian registration.
Can I drive it away from the port? Drive it to my home in NC with foreign plates on it?
My understating is customs laws allows a foreign registered vehicle to be driven in USA for up to 12 months for tourism purposes by a foreign citizen.
Local insurance is required.
Not sure this applies for a vehiclethat's been permanently imported?
My vehicle is due to land early May.
Vehicle has current Australian registration.
Can I drive it away from the port? Drive it to my home in NC with foreign plates on it?
My understating is customs laws allows a foreign registered vehicle to be driven in USA for up to 12 months for tourism purposes by a foreign citizen.
Local insurance is required.
Not sure this applies for a vehiclethat's been permanently imported?
suzuguru
SILVER Star
Short answer: Yes. Now, you can't drive it around for a year. That's for foreigners that have a reason to be here with a vehicle, and have filled out the proper paperwork. You can piggyback off your current insured vehicle for 30 days. As long as you have the paperwork with you, including the title and bill of sale, you will be fine driving it home. I don't know if this is kosher or not, but I prefer to put my tag on the vehicle, since it's tied to me. That way, if they run the tag, it will at least, bring up my info. Also, it looks less conspicuous that way. Is it coming into the port of Charleston?
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
When you say "my tag", what do you mean? If it's a tag from another car that you own then that's 100% illegal. I agree with your first answer though which is that you should be fine as long as you have all the import paperwork with you, insurance, and it hasn't been long since it was imported.
@mudgudgeon you should be fine. Get insurance coverage before it arrives or at least commencing on the date it arrives and keep all of your import paperwork with you. Also, I'm sure it varies by state but I would try to get it registered within the first 30 days.
I am a foreign citizen, permanent resident in US. Federal law makes provision for foreign citizens to import and drive a foreign registered vehicle in USA for up to 1 year, not permanently imported.
My vehicle is being permanently imported, so I think there's a gray area.
After making enquiries with NC DMV sounds like I can go and get a tag before it reaches port, or goes through customs.
Just need title & VIN, proof of identity, insurance.
Doesn't need to be inspected because it's 30+ years old.
Will see how this plays out next week
My vehicle is being permanently imported, so I think there's a gray area.
After making enquiries with NC DMV sounds like I can go and get a tag before it reaches port, or goes through customs.
Just need title & VIN, proof of identity, insurance.
Doesn't need to be inspected because it's 30+ years old.
Will see how this plays out next week
Was leaning towards driving it with insurance and carrying all import docs regardless of getting a tag. If I can get a tag ahead of time, all the better
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
I don't think there is much of a gray area, FWIW. Since you are permanently importing the vehicle, I assume you haven't filled out the paperwork to drive it legally for up to one year (because if you did, I'm pretty sure that precludes you from registering it in the US). Sounds like you will be fine with the DMV though. If you can get a tag great. If not, it's not illegal to drive it home as long as you have proof of insurance and the import paperwork.
That helps.
suzuguru
SILVER Star
notwithstanding the legality of it, as long as I have all of my paperwork and documentation with me, I would think it would be better to at least have a tag on it that's registered to me, instead of a foreign tag that's registered to someone else.
WarDamnEagle
SILVER Star
I respectfully disagree. That is illegal and there is no question about it. No problem, FWIW pulling the foreign plates. Saudi removes the plates at the port so I drove mine home without tags.
No way I'd be running a tag off another vehicle. Not only is it going to be illegal, your insurance would probably not pay out if anything went wrong.
In my situation, the foreign tag is mine.
suzuguru
SILVER Star
Nothing wrong with disagreeing. I'm not saying I'm right. I'm just saying that's the way I've done it. Mine had (and still has) the foreign plates on it.
