Advice importing vehicle to the USA

[re2500]

I'm looking into the possibility of importing my car into the USA, can any US members give me any advice or point me in the direction of information on this matter?

Situation is i may be moving stateside for a while and would rather take my car than sell/break it and try and work out what to buy once out there. I know RHD is a bit of a pain on LHD roads but im no fan of automatic boxes, and i'm very familiar with my car...

[re2500]

Car is first registered 29/01/1990 as i understand it may be easier to import the car after 29/01/2015 due to it "coming of age" (25 years.)

Also what are the implications of the car being modified?

[quattro_king]

is it not possible to import a s2 or rs2 directly??

[re2500]

is it not possible to import a s2 or rs2 directly??

As far as i know, importing into the USA is not easy due to US safety and emissions requirements. Some cars need a lot of modification to meet these.
But a vehicle over 25 years old (S2's and RS2's are not 25 yet) are classed as classics and are exempt of these rules.
I'm just trying to work out what is involved and whether modifications and LHD are going to cause me any headaches.

[saltinot]

There is a provision as a non-US citizen to import a car for one year.


NONRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
A vehicle registered in a country other than the United States may be imported for personal use by a non-resident of the United States for a period not to exceed one year. The vehicle cannot be sold while in the United States and must be exported within one year from the date of entry. This period cannot be extended under any circumstances. The importer’s passport number and the name of the country that issued the passport must be supplied on the HS-7 Declaration form. Use Box 5 on the HS-7 Declaration form.

More info can be found here. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/

[varia]

As far as i know, importing into the USA is not easy due to US safety and emissions requirements. Some cars need a lot of modification to meet these.
But a vehicle over 25 years old (S2's and RS2's are not 25 yet) are classed as classics and are exempt of these rules.
I'm just trying to work out what is involved and whether modifications and LHD are going to cause me any headaches.

i dont think you every will be able import an rs2 legally into the usa.

[saltinot]

i dont think you every will be able import an rs2 legally into the usa.

Non-US citizens can import anything.

Stinks for us.

[Mcstiff]

i dont think you every will be able import an rs2 legally into the usa.

Why's that? The 25 year restriction is pretty clear cut, importing something newer is where the real pain is.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...l#Anchor-28852

8. Importing a vehicle that is at least 25 years old.
A motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old can be lawfully imported into the U.S. without regard to whether it complies with all applicable FMVSS. Such a vehicle would be entered under Box 1 on the HS-7 Declaration form to be given to Customs at the time of importation. If you wish to see that form, you may download a copy from our website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import. You should note that the 25 year period runs from the date of the vehicle's manufacture. If the date of manufacture is not identified on a label permanently affixed to the vehicle by its original manufacturer, to establish the age of the vehicle, you should have documentation available such as an invoice showing the date the vehicle was first sold or a registration document showing that the vehicle was registered at least 25 years ago. Absent such information, a statement from a recognized vehicle historical society identifying the age of the vehicle could be used.

Non-US citizens can import anything.

Stinks for us.

True, I've seen more than a few cars with foreign plates touring around. I'd guess that duration of stay in the US, current registration/proof of ownership, and who knows what is required.

If you are moving here long term, don't forget that we got 1990 CQs too

[re2500]

Some good info here cheers guys! :0

Thats an interesting point about a temporary import! Unfortunately there's a good chance my stay would be a bit longer than 1 year. and i'd also like to have to have the option of being able to sell it or break it before i leave the US, especially as the car or parts of the car would be pretty rare/ sought after over there and could make more sense financially for me to sell it than shipping it back only to sell/break it later...

I know the US had 1990 CQ's, but you can hardly call mine a 1990 CQ anymore... its basically a ABY S2 re-shelled into a CQ which makes it ideal to import to the USA being as its very nearly 25 years old its got some pretty tasty bits on it too!!

Whats the implication of me being a non-US citizen on a visa but wanting to import a car permanently, thta could be a stumbling block....

Is LHD and Modifications an issue?

[Ruffiano]

seems like the easy thing to do would be bring it over on the temp import, then in a year, it will be 25 and you should be able to convert it to a US Titled vehicle.

[DFrosty]

...its got some pretty tasty bits on it too!!

Mmmm....tasty bits!

[Mcstiff]

Some good info here cheers guys! :0

Thats an interesting point about a temporary import! Unfortunately there's a good chance my stay would be a bit longer than 1 year. and i'd also like to have to have the option of being able to sell it or break it before i leave the US, especially as the car or parts of the car would be pretty rare/ sought after over there and could make more sense financially for me to sell it than shipping it back only to sell/break it later...

I think the timeline needs to be carefully considered here. If you put it on a ship the day you fly out and plan on taking x amount of time to part it out you may be down to ~ a year and better served by renting or buying something vs the cost (time&$$) to deal with the import. Or, as Dave said, maybe you could file the 25yr paperwork (still a fee I'm sure) and be good for any time over a year that you'd like to stay.

An other thought, the US Feds may be annoyed that there is no exportation closing the loop for a temp import.

I know the US had 1990 CQ's, but you can hardly call mine a 1990 CQ anymore... its basically a ABY S2 re-shelled into a CQ which makes it ideal to import to the USA being as its very nearly 25 years old its got some pretty tasty bits on it too!!

Whats the implication of me being a non-US citizen on a visa but wanting to import a car permanently, thta could be a stumbling block....

Is LHD and Modifications an issue?

I fully understand that your CQ is upgraded, there are a few RS2+ US CQs which come up for sale once an a while. No doubt, without S2s here you’ll get more selling/parting it in the US.

Being a non-citizen could be a blocker; Worst case you may have to “sell” it to a US citizen to finalize the importation.

LHD should not be an issue.

Where are you going to be headed?

[re2500]

seems like the easy thing to do would be bring it over on the temp import, then in a year, it will be 25 and you should be able to convert it to a US Titled vehicle.

Thats an interesting thought, it would be ideal if it was possible, but the statement "... must be exported within one year from the date of entry. This period cannot be extended under any circumstances." worries me a little!

I think the timeline needs to be carefully considered here. If you put it on a ship the day you fly out and plan on taking x amount of time to part it out you may be down to ~ a year and better served by renting or buying something vs the cost (time&$$) to deal with the import. Or, as Dave said, maybe you could file the 25yr paperwork (still a fee I'm sure) and be good for any time over a year that you'd like to stay.

An other thought, the US Feds may be annoyed that there is no exportation closing the loop for a temp import.



I fully understand that your CQ is upgraded, there are a few RS2+ US CQs which come up for sale once an a while. No doubt, without S2s here you’ll get more selling/parting it in the US.

Being a non-citizen could be a blocker; Worst case you may have to “sell” it to a US citizen to finalize the importation.

LHD should not be an issue.

Where are you going to be headed?

Yeah i agree with you comments here! there could be a few stumblers, but "selling" temporarily to a colleague could be a possibility. I also have to weigh up the cost of shipping/importation into whether its even worth it! i was hoping that any extra i could get for selling/breaking the car in the US would pay for the initial importation, but im not sure if that would even be the case.

I'd be heading to Chicago, its not even 100% yet... im still working on the wife...

[Tonks4x4]

Or strip it now and put it into a load of boxes. Ship all the parts out in a container with the rest of your stuff.
Sell the shell in the uk.
Then when you get to the states buy a LHD CQ.
Strip and build it with all your parts


Tonks4x4 - The Land Rover Specialist

[re2500]

Or strip it now and put it into a load of boxes. Ship all the parts out in a container with the rest of your stuff.
Sell the shell in the uk.
Then when you get to the states buy a LHD CQ.
Strip and build it with all your parts


Tonks4x4 - The Land Rover Specialist

Theres probably some sense in that! And definately a good plan B! Im not sure my accomodation out there is even going to have a private driveway let alone a garage,
#CarparkMechanics