I think they are talking about the regular HJ and BJ series diesels sold in Canada.
And they are left hand drive.
My Importation Success Story
- Thread starter moondog
- Start date
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I think they are talking about the regular HJ and BJ series diesels sold in Canada.
And they are left hand drive.
My guess is that the customs official that accepted the letter didn't realize it wasn't from the manufacturer rather than the dealor. They probably scanned the letter, noticed the official letter head, and moved on. Wouldn't guess you could depend on that working everytime at each crossing. Probably best to spend the couple hundred bucks for the RI then the liabilities are on there shoulders.IMHO
arcteryx
Supporting Vendor
Yes, I was referring to LHD. RHD vehicles take an act of congress. 
And Diesel42, I agree with your post fully. Ithink it will be hit and miss. Some will take the chance and some won't. To guarantee passage, a RI is the sole way to go.
And Diesel42, I agree with your post fully. Ithink it will be hit and miss. Some will take the chance and some won't. To guarantee passage, a RI is the sole way to go.
- Thread starter
- #44
They are both LHD, canadian vehicles. We called customs, several times, on several occasions, they all told us the same thing, that a letter from a dealership is good enough. Maybe it's not technically, but if it isn't they were the ones who told me that it was, and certified both vehicles upon their entry into the states. The second time through the boss himself searched both my vehicles, and questioned me thouroughly. They gave me all the paperwork though too for the second cruiser to say it meets us standards. I don't see how they could send it to the crusher for that - I did exactly what they told me to. To anyone thinking of importing the same way - can't say this enough - call customs, talk to alot of different people who work at the port you will be using, let them know what you're up to - they like that, ask them what documents you need to bring, try to get an answer that everyone can agree on. If its not a matter of money, than use an RI, I just couldn't afford to.
Cutting the Red Tape
So yeah I got a seperate name, this is moondog's bro. I called the border myself on many occasions. This is how we were able to figure it all out. Call and talk to the folks at the border, when I explained to customs that I wanted to make sure that I had my paperwork straight they completely understood, I flat out told them I heard nightmares about vehicles getting crushed and impounded and all of that. They were helpful and went over with me exactly what I needed, ask they're name, tell them yours, they are people, they are our friends, and the gate keepers. I called three or four times. Most of them are guys, many of them like trucks, this works in our favor. And from our experience...go across with morning rush hour. Get your documents in order, call many times to confirm this and go with morning rush hour, and be friendly, yet direct......you will be a state-side Landcruiser owner. They have a lot more to worry about than a diesel Landcruiser.
And on the note of the local dealership stating that it meets NHTSA standards, left hand drive Landcruisers, manufactured for sale in Canada where found by the NHTSA to be the same as the Landcruisers for the states. They passed them, the dealership is only stating a legitimate fact, representing Toyota as a corporation.
Also, very important, you must realize you nor anyone else is smuggling these into the country, all that is being done is getting the same paperwork as a registered imported without spending as much on a letter as the rusty diesel Landcruiser cost in the ifrst place. The first time I called customs I did not want to ask direct questions cuz I felt like I was sneaking something. It wasn't until I called and was just completely up front that "I am importing two diesel Landcruisers and I want to make sure it goes smoothly"
So yeah I got a seperate name, this is moondog's bro. I called the border myself on many occasions. This is how we were able to figure it all out. Call and talk to the folks at the border, when I explained to customs that I wanted to make sure that I had my paperwork straight they completely understood, I flat out told them I heard nightmares about vehicles getting crushed and impounded and all of that. They were helpful and went over with me exactly what I needed, ask they're name, tell them yours, they are people, they are our friends, and the gate keepers. I called three or four times. Most of them are guys, many of them like trucks, this works in our favor. And from our experience...go across with morning rush hour. Get your documents in order, call many times to confirm this and go with morning rush hour, and be friendly, yet direct......you will be a state-side Landcruiser owner. They have a lot more to worry about than a diesel Landcruiser.
And on the note of the local dealership stating that it meets NHTSA standards, left hand drive Landcruisers, manufactured for sale in Canada where found by the NHTSA to be the same as the Landcruisers for the states. They passed them, the dealership is only stating a legitimate fact, representing Toyota as a corporation.
Also, very important, you must realize you nor anyone else is smuggling these into the country, all that is being done is getting the same paperwork as a registered imported without spending as much on a letter as the rusty diesel Landcruiser cost in the ifrst place. The first time I called customs I did not want to ask direct questions cuz I felt like I was sneaking something. It wasn't until I called and was just completely up front that "I am importing two diesel Landcruisers and I want to make sure it goes smoothly"
- Thread starter
- #47
Has anyone even heard of a cruiser being crushed and/or impounded in the states, after crossing the border and being cleared and certified by U.S. customs? I don't think it works that way. I read a story about someone in Canada (I think on this forum) who had their cruiser crushed at their own expense . . . but I've never heard of that happening in the states. Especially with paperwork from U.S. customs that says that it meets EPA and DOT.
- Thread starter
- #48
Haven't registered them yet . . . at customs though, with both vehicles they asked where I would be registering them, and gave me two stacks of papers, one to take to the DMV and one to keep. I've called the DMV and asked them what I need to register a vehicle imported from canada, and seems like I have every form that they want.
I've spoken to a customs official in D.C. concerning the private import of vehicles, and he told me of few stories where individuals purchased vehicles on ebay and found that they had to pay for shipping back to country of origin because the vehicle didn't pass their scrutiny. Particularly a $100.0K Mercedes that was sitting in the NYC port authority waiting for the owner to make shipping arrangements back.
Never heard of a story about anything getting crushed.
Yes, twice. One was an ex- mine truck from Saskatchewan.
Both were Land cruisers but I am sure there have been various other brands that have met the same fate.
- Thread starter
- #51
When I went to register my BJ40 the person at the counter wasn't interested in anything from the border. She stated "U.S. Customs does not tell the state of Washington what to do". The issue was smog compliance. My vehicle is exempt from testing in the state of Washington because it is more than 30 years old, however the 25 year DOT exemption would not have helped me here.
The state requirements vary state by state, of course, but if I had been importing a vehicle less than 30 years old it would have needed smog compliance to be registered.
My vehicle is RHD. At no time has that been an issue, again due to exemption, this time DOT exemption for age. Washington doesn't care about which side the driver sits in, only that there BE a driver while it moves.
I'm not sure that I'd care to buy a vehicle originally sold in Canada. Mine, a JDM truck with 39,000 miles (approx - actual 49,000 km) had several areas of young rust, since repaired, apparently resulting from it's boatride and it's relatively brief stay in Canada.
The state requirements vary state by state, of course, but if I had been importing a vehicle less than 30 years old it would have needed smog compliance to be registered.
My vehicle is RHD. At no time has that been an issue, again due to exemption, this time DOT exemption for age. Washington doesn't care about which side the driver sits in, only that there BE a driver while it moves.
I'm not sure that I'd care to buy a vehicle originally sold in Canada. Mine, a JDM truck with 39,000 miles (approx - actual 49,000 km) had several areas of young rust, since repaired, apparently resulting from it's boatride and it's relatively brief stay in Canada.
- Thread starter
- #53
registering
Well, I'm sort of waiting until they are running to register them . . . but, out of curiosity, before they were actually here, I took my bill of sale and canadian registration to the DMV to find out what it would take to register them. All that they wanted to see was the paperwork from U.S. customs. I live in the midwest, the automotive state at that, they don't care so much about smog compliance. The women at the DMV told me that all that they needed was the form from U.S. customs that says how and when it was brought into the states. As to purchasing canadian vehicles, well, I just don't have the money for a JDM vehicle, I was lucky to have gotten the deal that I did on these two, a little tiny bit of rust isn't the end of the world, if they didn't have a single thing wrong with them, I never could have bought them. You gotta do what you gotta do.
Well, I'm sort of waiting until they are running to register them . . . but, out of curiosity, before they were actually here, I took my bill of sale and canadian registration to the DMV to find out what it would take to register them. All that they wanted to see was the paperwork from U.S. customs. I live in the midwest, the automotive state at that, they don't care so much about smog compliance. The women at the DMV told me that all that they needed was the form from U.S. customs that says how and when it was brought into the states. As to purchasing canadian vehicles, well, I just don't have the money for a JDM vehicle, I was lucky to have gotten the deal that I did on these two, a little tiny bit of rust isn't the end of the world, if they didn't have a single thing wrong with them, I never could have bought them. You gotta do what you gotta do.
[You gotta do what you gotta do.[/quote]
bump pics
bump pics
- Thread starter
- #55
pics
Well here is a link to some pictures, I'll take some more as my brother is working on them . . . . they are small, I live in the country, with a slow-ass dial up modem.
http://photos.yahoo.com/moonshine_avenue
Well here is a link to some pictures, I'll take some more as my brother is working on them . . . . they are small, I live in the country, with a slow-ass dial up modem.
http://photos.yahoo.com/moonshine_avenue
hi and welcome aboard!!!
first i like to thank you from keeping me out of trouble with the wife. why do i say that asking yourself? 
well, i phoned about those mentioned cruisers and they were already sold!!
i could just here her scalding me, not more cruisers(7 to 9). sounds like i missed out on a couple of keepers. my lost and your gain. 
this is the information place you wannabe and get yourself some FSM's to help along the cruising ride!
first i like to thank you from keeping me out of trouble with the wife.
why do i say that asking yourself? well, i phoned about those mentioned cruisers and they were already sold!! i could just here her scalding me, not more cruisers(7 to 9). sounds like i missed out on a couple of keepers. my lost and your gain. this is the information place you wannabe and get yourself some FSM's to help along the cruising ride!
arcteryx
Supporting Vendor
Definitely a good deal moon. BTW, JDM cannot be imported into the states- well I guess technically they could, but would cost WAY too much(6-figures too much).
Moondog, you are indeed a goddess! welcome aboard how about an update? and perhaps some pix of your art?
welcome aboard how about an update? and perhaps some pix of your art?
HZJ60 Guy
Tank Buster
Ya gotta love when GOOD news happens! Great job guys. 
- Thread starter
- #60
Well, a few thousand miles, many mountains, and lots of good times later me and Max (my HJ60) are on the west coast. Its running great, still needs a little love - I need to take the fuel injectors in and have them tested, get a new primer pump, u-joints, etc. . . . . it's last owner was kind of abusive. Eventually I'd like to find a clean FJ with a blown motor or something and swap the drivetrain from the HJ in. . . . but that's probably a ways off.
