ZilviaBot

Filed under: Car Buying, Government/Legal


Bill Gates's adventure in importing his Porsche 959 brought increased media attention to the world of grey market automotive imports. It even prompted the creation of the "show or display" exemption for vehicles of extremely low production combined with historical or technological significance. The 1999 amendment opened the door for many fine vehicular examples to make their way into the United States, but at the same time, it has caused even greater confusion about the laws of automotive importation. If you're thinking about filling empty space in your garage with a Peugeot 308 or an S15 Nissan Silvia, it's best to do a lot of research first. Luckily, the folks at Motive Magazine have put together an article outlining the possible legal means of obtaining a foreign vehicle. It explains the process in simple terms, not confusing government syntax. Follow the jump to read more and be sure to contribute comments on your own importing experiences.

First thing's first: when making the attempt to import an automobile into the US, do not assume that the salesman spewing unintelligible legal jargon has the means of getting the job done legally. Neither should you assume that he's in full disclosure of the terms behind the vehicle's importation. Motive's article covers all the standard legal means, so if someone is selling you a process you haven't heard about before, run. Unless over 25 years old, in order to be federally legalized for street use a vehicle must comply with DOT standards for its year of production. It must also meet EPA standards, which means if the vehicle was manufactured during or after 1996, a complex ODB II diagnostic and sensor system is required. Very few registered importers have built reputations for successfully modifying imports for compliance of DOT requirements and there is an extremely short list of independent commercial importers available to install EPA demanded components with resulting proof. Both entities come at an enormous expense, often multiple times the vehicle's worth. The show or display exemption is an exception to the DOT requirements, but the qualification requirements are stringent. Plus, almost all exemptions only allow for importation on a temporary basis; when the bond period expires the vehicle must be exported or crushed. On top of that, working around EPA and California regulations is a whole different can of worms.

Once the information outlined by the Motive piece is digested, a lot of firsthand knowledge can be acquired from the Skyline GT-R/GT-S forum at FreshAlloy.com. The owners of the few federally legalized Nissan Skyline GT-Rs have seen, heard and shot down every conceivable importing scam. Posters look out for shady internet sales operations and they are also quick to point out fraudulent sales advertisements. They are very particular about the distinction between grey market and black market vehicles as well. There are automobiles that make it through customs and even end up registered on roadways, but are illegal in the eyes of the federal government therefore subject to impound.

[Source: Motive Magazine]Â*
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shade

Good article. I wanted more though! I thought it was going to go over the whole process. Oh well, time to research and start clicking on those links!

fromxtor

See thats the thing, IF I ever imported a car it would be track only. So I really wouldn't care if it passed emissions(which I really don't worry about w/ my FL residency), and wouldn't see the point in trying to make it street legal.

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turtl631

From what I've read on the FA skyline forum, to register it as a track car you need proof of race history in Japan. So, you can't just bring a street car over and say you'll only use it on the track. I thought the "track car" clause would be the way to go to import a skyline someday as a track car that I would tow, but apparently it doesn't work that way.

fromxtor

^^I dont see how it would be race record in JP. I always thought my scca/nasa records would be proof enough.

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LB.Motoring

If I imported a car.


I would flaunt it everywhere.


Track cars = easily replaceable chassis therefor Imported Hard to find cars =/= Track cars.

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Robby Leuer

turtl631

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...ng/Racing.html

Copy/paste: To import a racing vehicle into the United States on a permanent basis, you must:

Obtain from the vehicle’s original manufacturer a letter stating that the vehicle was originally manufactured as a racing vehicle.

File with Customs, upon entry, an HS-7 Declaration form on which Box 8 is checked, indicating that the vehicle was not manufactured primarily for use on the public roads, and is therefore not a motor vehicle subject to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety, Bumper, and Theft Protection Standards.

Attach a copy of the manufacturer’s letter to the HS-7 Declaration form that you furnish to Customs.


This thread is a mess, but it has good info http://forums2.freshalloy.com/showth...ce#post1543727