I know the legal issues. We've done it with a motorcycle from Venezuela. It's much easier to drive one across the border than have one shipped, much easier. The only reason I haven't bought one back yet, I don't have the money. They are very expensive since they're new. As soon as I get the money though, I'm headed back down there and driving one back. I'll be down there this summer dreaming as I watch 2007 models running around. I'm so jealous of the trucks they get. They still have the 70 series as well. When I win the lottery.......
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I know the legal issues. We've done it with a motorcycle from Venezuela. It's much easier to drive one across the border than have one shipped, much easier. The only reason I haven't bought one back yet, I don't have the money. They are very expensive since they're new. As soon as I get the money though, I'm headed back down there and driving one back. I'll be down there this summer dreaming as I watch 2007 models running around. I'm so jealous of the trucks they get. They still have the 70 series as well. When I win the lottery.......
are the newer Vennies fully DOT compliant?
alvarorb
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Eric,
I don't know.
They do have airbags and cat converters. I don't know if the smog system is EPA/DOT compliant.
Regards
Alvaro
I'm up for the meet... but I'll skip the trail. I'm not locked, sliders aren't here yet, and I'm not a very good driver.
Enlighten us. What are the requirements to bring a VZ spec 2007 80-Series into the USA as your personal vehicle, licensed, insured, and registered for daily use in Texas or any other state?
-B-
I will see If I can roll
might be going to the valley
and to keep on topic
pic 1 twisted in a ditch
pic 2
ownership
pic 3 parking lot wheelin
might be going to the valley
and to keep on topic
pic 1 twisted in a ditch
pic 2
ownershippic 3 parking lot wheelin
I'm pretty sure that they are EPA/DOT compliant.
To bring a vehicle in through a port has a ton of red tape. To bring one in by driving across the border is much easier. You can get a temporary permit, I believe it's 90 days, to drive it without it being registered as you cross the border if you are questioned at all. (Have you ever noticed a car with Mexico plates on it here, same thing, you just drive right in) The next step is to make sure the vehicle meets whatever regulations your state mandates. The Venezuelan 80 will meet mandates of most of the states if not all and acceptable proof of compiance is a letter from toyota stating the Venezuelan model is the same as the U.S. Depending on where you are, you might be able to skip some of the red tape just because most places don't really know what to do when you tell them you need to register the vehicle and they just take the VIN and copy the title you bring from Venezuela and issue a title much like it's done for a vehicle that has a lost title. If they know what's going on, you're charged an import tax and have to fill out a lot more paper work, but it's not too bad. I believe it's around 2% of the value of the vehicle that you make up. You will also have to bring it and have an emissions test done. Now one of the trickiest parts is getting your hands on the actual title in Venezuela. If you don't "know" somebody and the language, you could really spend a long time trying to track it down. I have connections and know the language. Venezuela is run by "connections." This is a basic run down of how it works, but there are some details I left out. It's very feasable to get one here without fighting the port authorities and it's quite a nice drive from Venezuela to here. The only part that you can't drive is from Columbia to Panama, you have to catch a ferry and it's a little pricy. The last time I went, I paid a plane to fly the bike over and it cost me around $300, ouch.
There is also an illegal, but very easy way to do it. Once you get it across the border. Find out the VIN of a totaled 80 and register under the VIN of that one.
There is another option, but not feasable to most. You can also leave the vehicle registered down there and never worry about it. I know a guy that did this and just kept renewing the temporary permit by crossing the border every once in a while. I wouldn't choose this route unless you live very close to a border.
If I ever get the money, I will be driving around here with a 2007 80. I thought about buying one and getting it here and getting it legal and sell it to see if there's a market for them.
Compra y Venta de carros usados - Clasificados con fotografia - Venezuela, Colombia, Puerto Rico
This is a used car web page for Venezuela where you can check out some of their 80's. Down there they are called the "Autana" and the "Burbuja."
Wouldn't it be awsome to have an 80 with less than 40,000 miles on it and still have the new car smell. I can only dream for now.
here's Onur passing through the gwnf in one of our little wheeling spots that people think are easy 
This was preroll
bk
This was preroll
bk
I'm not knocking jlg32281's knowledge, as he's done it before with a motorcycle, but typically each state has their own requirements that you can usually find somewhere through the DMV. Here's a link to PA's fact sheet as an example. The reference to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and emission requirements is interesting. Also, there may be less restrictions on a motorcycle than a passenger vehicle since motorcycles have less safety and emissions regulations pertaining to them.
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/fact_sheets/fs-ieve.pdf
I think it would be awesome if it is feasible without having to add a bunch of emissions equipment.
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
I thought many of the Venezuelan 80 aren't ready to get in the US .. haven't ABS and Air bags make a simple but radical issue.
You guys should go to the 24v diesel tech thread if you want to know about importing rather than get off topic too much here. Bottom line, less than 25 years requires an RI if you want to do it legally. Anything else is risking seizure of the vehicle.
The import laws are federal laws and can be found on the US state dept web site. I left out some of the specific details, but the venezuelan models are identical to the US versions, except for the standard transmission ones, they might be a little different. They have airbags and ABS, catalytic converter. The only thing I can think that they might not have is MPH on the speedo, but I think I remember seeing it on the one I drove. When you go to have it registered, they will ask you to jump through some loops, but nothing unrealistic. I've seen a Venny 80 in the states, so it can be done. The only reason I haven't done it because of the money issue. You guys are seriously over estimating the knowledge and capacity of the average tax assesor office in small towns across America. Most assessors will get you to have it inspected or something and issue the title. If I ever get one, I'm registering it to the VIN of one sitting in a junk yard or something and just have a salvage title and have unmatching numbers. I've never had a cop check my VIN.
It is impossible to get a compliance letter from Toyota. Not difficult; impossible.
As you pointed out, this would be illegal.
We are off-topic so let's drop this discussion.
-B-
I don't think it would be too hard to get a letter from Toyota to confirm that they are identical. If you can't get one from Toyota, you can pay an RI (registered importer) to check it out give you formal paper work of compliance.
And to have one illegally wouldn't bother me at all, as long as it could get insurance. Insurance on a salvage title is usually a little higher, but not too bad. It would be worth it for me to have a 2007 80, especially considering I've never had any run-ins with the law and would never sell it.
Tapage
Club 4X4 Panamá
Dude .. I own a Venezuelan FZJ-80 basic with manual tranny, no ABS and no Air Bags .. !
alvarorb
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What year?
I think after 2000 they began installing the cats and airbags.
Regards
Alvaro
You've got a PM.
Qick drive today
mate getting a photo under my truck (making fun of my mishap)
Nice pic`s of your rig!
Mate!
I gotta say, that's a bit funny. You won't mind futzing on the VIN as long as you can get insurance. Your call. But if insurance is that important, you don't care that the insurer may find out you have the wrong VIN on (all the body shops I've been to always look that up) and disallow your claim possibly because of incorrect information you submitted? We better drop all this, too off topic...
