Registering a Euro Import That Already Has a U.S. Title

"bshappy" (bshappy) 11/07/2016 at 12:11 • Filed to: None

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Good afternoon Oppo,

My father is looking at buying a Euro market car that was imported into the US in the 80's. Its currently registered and titled in Montana. I’m just trying to confirm that registering an import that already has a US title is the same as registering any regular car. The only info I can find online talks about registering an import with a foreign title. If it makes a difference I live in New York.

PS: Feel free to guess the car. Hint: A Detriot Tigers hat is part of the requried uniform while driving.

Now with Photo:

Kinja’d

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 12:16

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I’m not aware of any exceptions. Any Federalizing oddities or requirements that might have been necessary in the 80s, while historical, certainly aren’t a necessary point of scrutiny anymore, and I don’t think any such oddity would make it to the title.

Party-vi > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/07/2016 at 12:19

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The Feds would certainly make them a point of scrutiny. A non-conforming vehicle does not get grandfathered-in once it has reached 25 years old if it was already in the US prior to reaching that age. I don’t think the State of New York will care, but the Feds would.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 12:19

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308....

bshappy > Party-vi 11/07/2016 at 12:22

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It has all of its importation docs and was federalized when imported as far as I know (amber side markers, seatbelt warning lights, etc.).

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Party-vi 11/07/2016 at 12:22

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I knew that - I was going from the position of it already being Federalized and wasn’t clear. Which I realize he isn’t terribly clear on.

That being said, he probably doesn’t have to find the original Federalization paperwork, which is what I was getting at - assuming it *is* a legal one.

bshappy > Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection 11/07/2016 at 12:22

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Well done!

someassemblyrequired > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 12:23

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Only issue that might crop up is if you try to register it in California.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 12:26

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Omg, that 308 is pure sex.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 12:27

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That Fiero’s proportions look way off. Is it a kit car?

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 12:31

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With a US title you should just be able to register it like any other car. Being a 308 instead of something like a Skoda they might not even realize it was an import.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > someassemblyrequired 11/07/2016 at 12:33

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Is that just because of SMOG requirements or is California a pain in the ass about other things?

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/07/2016 at 12:34

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Can you imagine: a kit to make a 308 look like a Fiero. It would be one of the most legendary trolls in auto history.

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht 11/07/2016 at 12:35

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Half way there...

http://jalopnik.com/5542526/the-worlds-first-reverse-fauxrarri

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/07/2016 at 12:37

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And just thinking aloud but considering that these were sold here with minimal differences even if it was less than 25 years old you could probably get it imported under the “substantially similar” clause which allows you to bring in things like Golfs from Canada. If you can prove that cars are basically the same as their US counterparts you can import them (the idea being that you will just buy the US car instead of importing one but it allows people to move to the US from Canada or wherever without having to buy a new car).

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 11/07/2016 at 12:40

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Huehuehuehuehue.

someassemblyrequired > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/07/2016 at 12:42

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Smog/CARB requirements. You need a CARB certificate of conformance if you are a CA resident bringing in an out-of-state grey market vehicle.

https://www.arb.ca.gov/html/master_faqs/vehicle_faqs/greymarket_cars_faq.htm

Party-vi > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 13:01

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Oh neato. Then I would assume you’re good to go with the federalization paperwork in hand.

AfromanGTO > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 13:15

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You shouldn’t plus it is over 25 years old. I doubt/hope you’d have any issues.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > someassemblyrequired 11/07/2016 at 14:12

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CA is a big problem for any grey-market import like JDM R32 Skylines, etc.

Basically if it wasn’t CA-legal to begin with, it needs to be made legal. I don’t even know what that entails, other than a lot of money.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 14:13

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The biggest question is, what is the car’s destination? If it’s California, you’re in for a world of hurt.

CaptDale - is secretly British > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 14:23

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Can I has?! Please!!!

bshappy > Party-vi 11/07/2016 at 14:39

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Excellent! Thanks for the insight everyone.

bshappy > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 11/07/2016 at 14:40

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Car would be coming to New York. Not the freest sate in the nation but not PRK.

bshappy > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 11/07/2016 at 14:41

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Hopefully the old man lets me get more than a little time behind the wheel.

RallyWrench > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 14:45

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In that era of gray-market imports, it was a free-for-all. Once titled in that era, you’re good. I see a good number of similarly imported German cars of the era, and none has registration problems here in California. Emissions testing can be tricky because they have to be detuned within an inch of their life to pass sometimes.

Also OH MY GOD THAT 308!

RallyWrench > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 11/07/2016 at 14:47

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I see a bunch of gray-market imports, they’re fine as far as titles go, it’s smog that’s a pain in the ass. The cars that didn’t originally have Cats take some tuning to get past smog.

Kanaric > bshappy 11/07/2016 at 15:05

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If it has an american title you shouldn’t have any problems. It is the same.

The only thing I would worry about is if you were in a restrictive state when it comes to smog. Like california. Otherwise if you are in a state that respects the 21 year EPA exemption you should be good.

Same applies if you were to buy an imported Skyline that already has a US title. Well, if it’s a legitimately imported 25 year rule car.

someassemblyrequired > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 11/07/2016 at 15:47

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Here’s the gory details - you need a certificate of compliance from CARB:

https://www.arb.ca.gov/html/master_faqs/vehicle_faqs/greymarket_cars_faq.htm

someassemblyrequired > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 11/07/2016 at 15:48

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Yep air resources board restrictions. You need to make the vehicle compliant if you are a CA resident.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > someassemblyrequired 11/07/2016 at 16:04

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So if the car was a Euro Ferrari 308 GTSi and way too dirty for CA, what do you have to do? Throw cats on it and hope the engine can cope?

someassemblyrequired > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 11/07/2016 at 16:54

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Sounds like it - I wouldn’t want to know how much it costs.

a “Certificate of Conformance” issued by the ARB after a successful laboratory test. This test is administered to the same standards required of new vehicle manufacturers, and for the model year of the vehicle