japan-partner.com

[fairladyZ34]

i found this site a while back and they still send me updates on their stock list. they have a lot of nice JDM cars including a few skyline gtrs. i was wondering how hard it is to bring a skyline over to the states? ive only seen one r32 skyline on the road before

[theDreamer]

Bringing it here is some what the easy part actually, it is mostly the cost to pay for it and pay for transportation (it is all cash up front).
The real problem is making legal to drive in the US and even in some states where you can locally do it, the federal government will not approve it most of the time.

[fairladyZ34]

yeah i talked to a guy at my work and he said if you register it a certain way and then maybe its street legal.

[theDreamer]

Originally Posted by fairladyZ34

yeah i talked to a guy at my work and he said if you register it a certain way and then maybe its street legal.

Yes and no, state legal yes but not federal.
Also, you will need a shell car to register it as.

[memorylasts]

the R33 and R34 i thought were the only two banned? I was under the impession that if you could make the R32 street/DOT legal then you should be good, yes you will get a lot of attention though.

Feel Free to correct me if i am wrong!

[frost]

Getting cars from other countries is a whole to do here. Look at the site's FAQ:
"Q: Do you sell vehicles to customers from USA?
We sell our cars only to those customers from USA that already had previous experience of importing japanese vehicles to USA and are aware of the whole procedure of its importing."

Translation: Importing cars to the USA is such a pain in the ass, we don't want to sell to newbs.

Here is some info from usa.gov

Importing a Vehicle for Trade Purposes
Because motor vehicles are subject to a number of safety and air pollution control standards, the rules for importing them into the United States are very strict. Vehicles that do not conform with U.S. standards must be brought into compliance, exported or destroyed. The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are the federal agencies responsible for defining the requirements which motor vehicles must meet in order to be compliant:

* The "Automotive Imports Facts Manual" is a publication by the EPA which describes the emission requirements for imported vehicles in detail. It also discusses many common import situations and provides a comprehensive look at the vehicle import process. Additional information on vehicle imports is also available from the EPA by calling their Imports Team at 1.734.214.4100.
* Information on motor vehicle certification and importation guidelines is published by the DOT's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It addresses matters such as occupant and vehicle safety requirements, and includes a list of vehicles that already meet them, and another of those which do not.

Given that EPA and DOT requirements are subject to change, it is important to contact these agencies prior to purchasing a vehicle abroad that will be imported to the U.S. When a vehicle is imported, its owner must be able to demonstrate to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that the vehicle model conforms to EPA and DOT requirements in order to obtain CBP clearance. The owner must also present proof of ownership of the vehicle through an original certificate of title, or a certified copy.

Importing a Vehicle for Personal Use
Some aspects of importing a vehicle for personal use depend on a number of factors, such as the citizenship of its owner, or the length of time the vehicle will be in the United States. These include whether the vehicle is subject to an import duty or not, whether it was exported previously, and the purpose for which it is being imported.

The CBP provides some essential information on vehicle imports. Additional information on these or other matters related to the import of motor vehicles, please contact the CBP directly at 1.877.CBP.5511 (1.877.227.5511), or 1.703.526.4200. TDD callers may dial 1.866.880.6582.

USA.gov: The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal

This is from another site that specializes in selling jdm cars to other countries:

We have some good news and bad news. The good news is that you will have no issue with getting JDM engines or parts. The bad news is that a importing whole car is a bit tricky. Layers of rules and regulations from the federal and state goverments make getting a clear answer on what needs to be done to make the car street legal a bit unclear. And the stakes are high. Cars that do not meet a regulation will be either exported or destroyed.

Having said this, it doesn't mean it is impossible to get the car you want. Certainly there are JDM cars on the road in the US. To meet federal guidlines you will need to do the following:

* File the Department of Transportation form HS-7 regarding safety standards
* File the Environmental Protection Ageny form 3520-1 regarding emissions standars
* The Department of Agriculture requires that the car is free of soil. (Cars are cleaned before they leave Japan)
* There cannot be any items transported inside the car. (If you buy from an auction there won't be)
* Pay a duty of 2.5% the value of the vehicle.

The next step is to investigate state DMV regulations. State laws vary widely, so it will be best to simply call the DMV and get a definitive answer.

We can also help you by locating any importers that might be the area. They keep track of which models will be too expensive to modify to meet compliance.

How to Import Cars from Japan into the United States

[Trips]

Thanks Frost!

[fairladyZ34]

damn, so i guess those r34s are gonna stay their for now lol

[frost]

Originally Posted by fairladyZ34

damn, so i guess those r34s are gonna stay their for now lol

Grammar Police On Full Alert

[Trips]

Originally Posted by frost

Grammar Police On Full Alert

[fairladyZ34]

there* lol, my bad. its a little late and i am kinda tired

[CBRich]

You may be better off looking around for one that is already imported.

[frost]

Originally Posted by CBRich

You may be better off looking around for one that is already imported.

x2. In your own state.

[PapoZalsa]

Originally Posted by frost

Grammar Police On Full Alert

Originally Posted by fairladyZ34

damn, so i guess those r34s are gonna stay their for now lol

there

[phelan]

Originally Posted by memorylasts

the R33 and R34 i thought were the only two banned? I was under the impession that if you could make the R32 street/DOT legal then you should be good, yes you will get a lot of attention though.

Feel Free to correct me if i am wrong!

And actually, the R33 is the one that has all the DOT testing done. The R32 and R34 can't come here.

Not that any of them can right now...