Is it true 25 year rule does not apply if the vehicle is Canadian

"In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you" (hoontheangelsing)
09/22/2014 at 20:00 • Filed to: None

As long as it's older than 15 years?

DISCUSSION (14)

Dsscats > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:02

Nope, false. Still 25 years

Blondude > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:03

95% sure that it has to be 25 or older regardless of place of origin. Canada has a 15 year import restriction going into the country though.

Aaron James > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:05

Nope, untrue. 25 years no matter where it comes from.

In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you > Dsscats
09/22/2014 at 20:06

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. There are some exceptions to this right?

JGrabowMSt > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:13

Short term, yes. Long term, no.

You do have a one year show and display license, but there's a whole different set of problems getting that.

I wouldn't be able to give you the answers you're looking for about that though.

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:13

Canadian here, our import laws are 15 years. Anything older than 15 years can be brought in and registered. I got to ride in an R34 this way :)

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Dsscats
09/22/2014 at 20:13

Nooooooope, am Canadian and can confirm that it's 15 years here and thank god!

Dsscats > cletus44 aka Clayton Seams
09/22/2014 at 20:15

No, I think OP means bringing a Canadian car to the Us

cletus44 aka Clayton Seams > Dsscats
09/22/2014 at 20:22

Whoops, that's what I get for not reading the thread

lonestranger > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:39

Your question is a little vague. Do you want to

A: Import a vehicle that was sold new elsewhere (such as Japan), and was then later imported to Canada?

B: Import a vehicle that was sold new in Canada and originally intended for the Canadian market?

If "A", then no, it's still 25 years. If it's "B", then yes, there are exemptions for Canadian-market vehicles less than 25 years old.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/imp…

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/c…

gawdzillla > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 20:52

get them bug eye sti

ranwhenparked > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 21:08

If the car was very, very limited production and of some sort of historical or engineering significance, it might qualify under the "show and display" exemption. But, that basically restricts it to a handful of miles a year just to keep the drivetrain in operating condition for going to and from car shows. And there's a really long review process to qualify, and most cars are rejected. There's a whole list on the NHTSA's website of cars that have qualified and cars that have been rejected, if what you want is on the latter list, no dice.

Too many M's > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/22/2014 at 21:12

You can import a vehicle into Canada that is older than fifteen years.

If you want to import a vehicle designed and sold to the Canadian market (newer than 25 years) into the U.S. you need to get a letter from the manufacturer stating that there are no mechanical differences between the two. There also needs to be all applicable EPA stickers stating it is designed for the U.S.. If you do not have both of these things you will have to wait until the vehicle is 25-years old.

thebigbossyboss > In a Mini; let them mock me as My Mini Countryman is higher than you
09/24/2014 at 14:22

Everyone here is wrong and I am right.

First Cletus is talking about importing a car TO canada, then the limit is 15 years. But he's not talking about importing it to the US.

Dsscats and Jgrabow M St are only sort of right. Any Canadian car under 25 years *can* be imported to America if it meets US safety and emissions standards.

Many models do, but some models (for example 1992 Miata's) do not. Canadian 1992 Miata's don't meet the standards because 1992 Miata's don't have passenger side airbags which became a US requirement in 1992. You would (I think) be able to import a 1991 Miata though (at least I was told so by the guy that tried to import the 1992 Miata), because passenger air bags were not a requirement for US passenger cars in 1991.

So, if you can get a letter from the manufacture saying the car meets us safety and emissions regulations at time of manufacture...you're good to import away.