Morning Oppo, anyone ever import?

"Once_upon_a_pvt" (eagleruwe07)
12/22/2013 at 12:53 • Filed to: None

I want to import a car.

Ok I want to import all the cars, but I am not named Gates.

I will be in Europe for several years, so which particular car is up in the air, but I need to start with the basics. Does anyone have experience with the process to bring a car to the US that was never sold here (skyline, etc)? I was also thinking about cars that the engine options in Euroland were more awesome than the US offerings, but the bodies were similar (diesel versions, s14s, anything German)

I have looked all over the internet but I can't find any decently reliable information. Some have said to budget 5k for the process, some say 10.

For reference I am entertaining the thought of an R34 for me, and a used (in 3 years) 550d for the wife/actually driving around. And if I can find good enough prices, I would totally rock a Legacy GT as a DD.

Hey, I can dream.

DISCUSSION (13)

duurtlang > Once_upon_a_pvt
12/22/2013 at 12:58

I'm assuming you don't want to wait until the car is 25+ years old?

Once_upon_a_pvt > duurtlang
12/22/2013 at 13:01

Maybe for the perfect one, but I figure I should plan on a newer one, that way I have planned for all scenarios.

duurtlang > Once_upon_a_pvt
12/22/2013 at 13:07

My point is that there's this 25 year exemption rule, you can import pretty much anything over 25 years old for very little cost. Hundreds, not thousands of dollars I believe. I looked into this slightly as I was planning on ex porting a 25 year old BMW E30 wagon to the US. If you're looking for something under 25 years old it'll be much more expensive, but I'm not too familiar with those rules.

scoob > Once_upon_a_pvt
12/22/2013 at 13:07

Some one on Oppo is trying to import an E30 wagon from Germany. If I can find the articles, I'll post them here.

Once_upon_a_pvt > scoob
12/22/2013 at 13:09

That would be sweet. Being home for Christmas, I can only browse on mobile, which doesn't bode well for searching...

scoob > scoob
12/22/2013 at 13:10

Found it!

Here's part 1: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/so-you-want-to…

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And part 2: http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/so-you-want-to…

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Once_upon_a_pvt > duurtlang
12/22/2013 at 13:12

Yea I know about that exemption, and I ve been looking for cars that qualify, but I don't want to dd a 25 year old import lol. If I do go old school, I would still want to bring something newer back as well.

That being said, if diesel takes off like it should in the next couple years, I wont have to import one :)

Skif6996 > Once_upon_a_pvt
12/22/2013 at 13:29

I believe the R34 import is impossible until it is 25 years old. The feds have cracked down on finding and destroyin things. There are a few skylines in the US but most dont have paperwork and cannot be registered. Since they were imported loopholes have been closed and you can no longer import R34s.

Once_upon_a_pvt > Skif6996
12/22/2013 at 13:34

I had heard somethingbof the sort, I wonder if the same applies to the r33..?

jariten1781 > Once_upon_a_pvt
12/22/2013 at 13:41

All the rules are here: http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/imp…

If it's not on one of those lists it's nearly impossible to do 100 percent legally. There are some companies that will do some shady things importing it through Canada, then getting it registered in Maine, then transferring the title back to you... But it doesn't always work. Then, whether legally via the federal lists, or gray market through Canada, you've got to get it registered in your state, which again is a crap shoot. Not worth it IMO unless it's an investment car or future museum piece.

Once_upon_a_pvt > jariten1781
12/22/2013 at 13:49

Yea I'm trying to avoid sketchy loopholes. You can always send the body and engine separately and call it a kit car, but...good luck with that.

Ferrero1911 > Once_upon_a_pvt
12/22/2013 at 14:27

The same applies to ALL CARS that are not at least 25 years old. If the car is not "on the list" you would need to crash test and bring the car up to emission standards to bring a car in. You are talking about hundreds of thousands, not tens of thousands. If the car is on the list for import then you will still need to bring it in through a Registered Importer and make whatever changes to safety and emissions that have been determined when it was put on the list. If the car is over 25 years old you still may have some emissions or safety requirements in some states, but it is EPA and DOTS exempt.

check the list of vehicles on the list here:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/imp…

Once_upon_a_pvt > Ferrero1911
12/22/2013 at 14:31

Yea I finally found that site with the magical list. Now I just have to make sense of it all and contact a registered importer.