What are the rules on bringing in a diesel import into the USA? (1 Viewer)

[Fisher23]

How old does it need to be?
Do you need to own it over seas and them bring it in?
Is it a 15 year rule so a 2008 diesel can be brought in 2023?

 

[i4c4lo]

It is a 25 year rule in the US. Canada is 15 years.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

What he said. And that’s 25 years period, end of story. At least if you want to do it legally.

 

[hickuptruck]

25 year rule. End of story like other posters have said. You can thank Mercedes Benz USA for f'in it up for all of us. If you're in California, needs to pass CARB of which is a whole another can of worms.

 

[Mazderati]

Some vehicles less than 25 years old can be imported into the US but it's unlikely any of those criteria apply to a normal Land Cruiser.

 

[04UZJ100]

How about import through Canada and drive across and keep in your garage?

What’s stopping you from starting a 7 Continent journey across the pond, shipping it to the states, and keeping it here unregistered?

 

[EPUro2019]

interestingly there is a rare and important vehicle exemption that allows you to import a vehicle less than 25yo into the US. There are limits on how much you can drive it but with how few LC there are in the US, you might be able to sneak one in?

 

[stonepa]

How about import through Canada and drive across and keep in your garage?

What’s stopping you from starting a 7 Continent journey across the pond, shipping it to the states, and keeping it here unregistered?

Unless you are really hoping to have your vehicle seized and crushed (on video - they make it hurt) don’t even try it. They have zero humor in this regard.

now, if you have a home in Canada and can legally register a car there then you could of course drive it across the border. But you need to be able to legally register and insure it in Canada. Or Mexico. Or where ever.

There isnt a Land Cruiser in the world, especially a diesel, worth this much trouble.

 

[greynolds]

25 year rule. End of story like other posters have said. You can thank Mercedes Benz USA for f'in it up for all of us. If you're in California, needs to pass CARB of which is a whole another can of worms.

What did MB USA do?

But as others have said, trying to sneak something in that isn’t at least 25 years old is likely to turn into an expensive lesson while you watch it get seized and then crushed.

 

[spazzyfry123]

I think rule #1 on breaking the law is not talk about breaking the law.

 

[hickuptruck]

What did MB USA do?

But as others have said, trying to sneak something in that isn’t at least 25 years old is likely to turn into an expensive lesson while you watch it get seized and then crushed.

MB USA is the reason why you can't bring in vehicles newer than 25 yrs old. They lobbied congress in the late 80s/early 90s to pass the 25 year rule because they were pissed Americans were bringing in grey import Benzs at lower prices and more selection like diesels models.

25 year rule is literally entirely the works of Mercedes Benz USA. Hence which is why you can't bring in a 4.5L 200 til 2033.

 

[Fisher23]

interestingly there is a rare and important vehicle exemption that allows you to import a vehicle less than 25yo into the US. There are limits on how much you can drive it but with how few LC there are in the US, you might be able to sneak one in?

What are the limits... keep the Canadian plates on it? Limited to 6 months of driving?

 

[greynolds]

They lobbied congress in the late 80s/early 90s to pass the 25 year rule because they were pissed Americans were bringing in grey import Benzs at lower prices and more selection like diesels models.

That's the part I was looking for; thanks.

They would probably be able to completely discourage people on newer cars just by requirements to prove the car is compliant with safety and emission standards as that would be completely cost prohibitive for most people. But the arbitrary 25 year rule really isn't pretty ridiculous. BUT, it has been shown time and time again that trying to circumvent it generally isn't a good idea. They made a pretty big production out of crushing a bunch of imported Land Rovers something like 5-10 years ago, some of which the owners claimed should have been OK.

 

[highfructose]

Diesels are cool, but wouldn’t spare parts and service be basically impossible in the United States?

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Lots of ways to bring it in illegally. Knock yourself out.

 

[greynolds]

What are the limits... keep the Canadian plates on it? Limited to 6 months of driving?

If it's registered in Canada, I'm pretty sure it can only be in the USA for a certain number of months per year, so it would have to go back across the border and stay there for a while before coming back.

Bottom line - unless you're fully prepared to have the vehicle seized and crushed losing every penny you put into it in the process, don't try bringing something less than 25 years old into the USA planning to keep it here long term.

 

[greynolds]

Diesels are cool, but wouldn’t spare parts and service be basically impossible in the United States?

Some or all parts would probably need to be shipped from outside the country, but service really shouldn't be an issue.

 

[CruiserFan88]

Why can Ford sell diesel trucks all day long whilst at the same time the US is serial crushin foreign diesels for emissions?

 

[greynolds]

Why can Ford sell diesel trucks all day long whilst at the same time the US is serial crushin foreign diesels for emissions?

That's a misrepresentation. They get crushed because they're illegally imported. The rules may be stupid, but it's what we're stuck with until someone works to get the rules changed.

 

[WarDamnEagle]

Why can Ford sell diesel trucks all day long whilst at the same time the US is serial crushin foreign diesels for emissions?

Because the Fords meet the regs and the illegal foreign diesels don't. I'm not saying that makes sense; but it is what it is.