importing car
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importing car Question: I'm planning on going to Japan next year, and was thinking about shipping back a s15. I was wondering would is involved in shipping a car back stateside, and who I should talk to. If this belongs in Legal, my bad. Wasn't sure where to put it.
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I dunno .. I think you would definately have to talk to the US Customs Department (I think that's the import/export people) to find out what you can and can't take in and out of Japan legally. Second I think that the vehicle has to comply with all emissions and DOT laws reguarding vehicles in America. I'm just guessing on this stuff I don't know for sure.
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From: Maine
Rep Power: 294 definitly speak with customs about this. probably alot of taxes and paperwork if they even let you. www.customs.gov may have answers as well. good luck
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From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 424 I would call MotoRex. They know the ins and outs of it. I know its expensive as **** to legalize it, which if you want to title it, you're going to have to do.
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Rep Power: 0 You may also want to try http://j-garage.com/. A while back I found an explaination of some of the processes there.
Nothing works better than a Chris except a Honda.
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From: Baltimore, MD
Rep Power: 347 Very hard unless you're very rich. I'm pretty sure that you won't be able to drive it unless you convert the steering to ummm... whatever we have here (left hand drive, I believe). Otherwise I'm pretty sure you won't be able to take it out on public roads.
Good luck. When it gets here take pix!
Good luck. When it gets here take pix!
I sure wish my car was newer
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From: St. Louis, Mo
Rep Power: 364 Actually, it's perfectly legal to drive a right hand drive car in the states. However, most of the exhaust parts are going to be changed over to US spec. That's what gets expensive... well... other than shipping.
Aside from calling motorex, call your local DMV. If you ever get through to a real person, they should be able to answer the bulk of your questions.
Aside from calling motorex, call your local DMV. If you ever get through to a real person, they should be able to answer the bulk of your questions.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
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see what it takes to get a car from japan legalized... they import and sell skylines, fairladyZ's, and j-spec 240sx's that are legal to drive in the US... and they do minimal mods to it..
see what it takes to get a car from japan legalized... they import and sell skylines, fairladyZ's, and j-spec 240sx's that are legal to drive in the US... and they do minimal mods to it..
I was also thinking about shipping my car to Europe in a few months (may-june). I'm not thinking about shipping the car back. Do you guys know how much would it cost me to do it? NY to France.
completely legal nothing to see here. 
. We'd all worship you forever 
From the rbmotoring link.
This is about legalizing a Skyline in CA.
Texas might be a different story. PRobably alot easier than CA.
Legalization is not an easy or inexpensive process. A vehicle must meet DOT , EPA , and if you are in California ARB requirements. Direct import of a vehicle requires a Registered Importer to do the DOT work and an ICI to do the EPA work.
The vehicles available for sale that are certified are legal for use on public highways and roads in all 50 states. Emissions certification is performed under stringent California laws and bylaws. Majority of the cars available are pre-owned and undergo a stringent testing procedure to ensure absolute customer satisfaction. Cars available for sale are not covered under any warranty whatsoever, expressed or implied. Prices may fluctuate without notice due to U.S. Dollar to Japanese Yen exchange rate.
Many people ask if they can do some of the requirements themselves. According to the Code of Federal Regulations - all DOT legalization must be preformed by the Registered Importer only.
This is about legalizing a Skyline in CA.
Texas might be a different story. PRobably alot easier than CA.
Legalization is not an easy or inexpensive process. A vehicle must meet DOT , EPA , and if you are in California ARB requirements. Direct import of a vehicle requires a Registered Importer to do the DOT work and an ICI to do the EPA work.
The vehicles available for sale that are certified are legal for use on public highways and roads in all 50 states. Emissions certification is performed under stringent California laws and bylaws. Majority of the cars available are pre-owned and undergo a stringent testing procedure to ensure absolute customer satisfaction. Cars available for sale are not covered under any warranty whatsoever, expressed or implied. Prices may fluctuate without notice due to U.S. Dollar to Japanese Yen exchange rate.
Many people ask if they can do some of the requirements themselves. According to the Code of Federal Regulations - all DOT legalization must be preformed by the Registered Importer only.
ya when I was younger I thought it would be sweet to import a car (well it still is) but I found out some of the costs and that was it. Once you find the car overseas, buy it ship it back to the US. Then the car must be impounded for close to a month (sometimes longer). This way they can look it over and then you have to pay them for a list of what needs to be done to the car (if it can be, cause some cars are not allowed into the US). Once you get the list, you have to get it done = more $$. It is close to $20k at this point without the purchase of the car and without shipping. Then if the car is new from Japan or from wherever, they probably won't let you bring it over, cause the government wants at teast two year recognition of the car. With all these laws and sooo much money, it's really not worth it unless you have a lot of money and don't know what to do with it.
A little perspective: when I was in college one of my roommates was from Japan and he wanted to bring his Honda to the states. It was cheeper to buy a brand new Subaru forester wagon then bring his car over, which he did.
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From the rbmotoring link.
This is about legalizing a Skyline in CA.
Texas might be a different story. PRobably alot easier than CA.
Legalization is not an easy or inexpensive process. A vehicle must meet DOT , EPA , and if you are in California ARB requirements. Direct import of a vehicle requires a Registered Importer to do the DOT work and an ICI to do the EPA work.
The vehicles available for sale that are certified are legal for use on public highways and roads in all 50 states. Emissions certification is performed under stringent California laws and bylaws. Majority of the cars available are pre-owned and undergo a stringent testing procedure to ensure absolute customer satisfaction. Cars available for sale are not covered under any warranty whatsoever, expressed or implied. Prices may fluctuate without notice due to U.S. Dollar to Japanese Yen exchange rate.
Many people ask if they can do some of the requirements themselves. According to the Code of Federal Regulations - all DOT legalization must be preformed by the Registered Importer only.
This is about legalizing a Skyline in CA.
Texas might be a different story. PRobably alot easier than CA.
Legalization is not an easy or inexpensive process. A vehicle must meet DOT , EPA , and if you are in California ARB requirements. Direct import of a vehicle requires a Registered Importer to do the DOT work and an ICI to do the EPA work.
The vehicles available for sale that are certified are legal for use on public highways and roads in all 50 states. Emissions certification is performed under stringent California laws and bylaws. Majority of the cars available are pre-owned and undergo a stringent testing procedure to ensure absolute customer satisfaction. Cars available for sale are not covered under any warranty whatsoever, expressed or implied. Prices may fluctuate without notice due to U.S. Dollar to Japanese Yen exchange rate.
Many people ask if they can do some of the requirements themselves. According to the Code of Federal Regulations - all DOT legalization must be preformed by the Registered Importer only.
You could always do things the "cheaper" way
There is a guy I know who lives in (undisclosed), he has 2 skylines an R33 and R34 both GTR's. What he did was goto Japan buy a Skyline and have it shipped to Mexico. In Mexico he bought a similar Nissan car, that had to be similar in size, so he picked a used US spec Maxima <-- very important its US spec. He went and got the Maxima licensed and registered, he removed all VIN number plates from the Maxima and placed them on the skyline. He then proceeded to drive out to a remote desolate area, and push the Maxima off a cliff. He now drove the skyline back to the US and when he got home he had it registered and insured as a Maxima with a Skyline conversion. The total cost was $12,000 for the used R33, $700 for a used Maxima with some slight body damage, you also have to include costs for shipping, hotel stay etc etc. Whats cool is that since he has authentic skyline body panels on his car if he gets into a wreck, he gets authentic skyline parts. At first i called BS but the guy actually had pictures of his trip to Japan, pictures of the cars, and even a pictures of a white Maxima in the bottom of a canyon.
^^^ DO THIS
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