Importing cars

Tyler · Post by **Tyler** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:19 pm

if you go to dmv.org they have a page that has all the importation laws and such. if i remember right from reading and understanding what i could, there are only 10 places in the US that can fully import a car, legalize it, and title it. when you import a car, it is sent to some place that makes it legal for the US, and that takes about a month to do, after is has reached the states, then you have to have it shipped from the importer to you, unless you pick it up. i think the average price i found for a car that i would order, and when it reached me, was able to take to the dmv and get it titled, was around 30k. so if i got an r32 skyline, it would be in the same condition as any car that old in the US, but still 30k.

but i could be wrong, its been a little while since i read up on it all

Jar Jar Binks · Post by **Jar Jar Binks** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:18 pm

SweetEBPSi;101484 wrote:Has anyone ever heard of this online company for exporting cars to the US? The prices are pretty cheap. Even for shipping it to here.

the car and the shipping arent the major expenses... its converting it to be legal that is...

Kage87;101564 wrote:if you're talking about the grey R32, that's Gru and his is from Canada.

gru's is a motorex car from california... motorex was the only legal importer of skylines...

Tyler;101581 wrote:if you go to dmv.org they have a page that has all the importation laws and such. if i remember right from reading and understanding what i could, there are only 10 places in the US that can fully import a car, legalize it, and title it. when you import a car, it is sent to some place that makes it legal for the US, and that takes about a month to do, after is has reached the states, then you have to have it shipped from the importer to you, unless you pick it up. i think the average price i found for a car that i would order, and when it reached me, was able to take to the dmv and get it titled, was around 30k. so if i got an r32 skyline, it would be in the same condition as any car that old in the US, but still 30k.

straight from gru's mouth on another site...

Yea, they've started using that term because it sounds more "legit" and "DOT APPROVED" that way.

But it's real simple to check, because per the guys in the NHTSA office who sign off on *EVERY* grey-market car to come in to the US, only the Motorex cars they've signed off on are legal.
If a seller can't show you a NHTSA Bond Release form, or at the very least the CA "BoMR Certifcation" sticker, it's not a legal import, not matter how much they cry that it is.

From my car, the BoMR sticker:

And it would also have the standard "Vehicle Information Sticker" that all makers put on the car door frames, only it'll say "Imported by Motorex" on there:

So if someone claims to be selling a legal Skyline, and they even hesitate to show those two stickers, be wary.
(a truly legit seller would probably make a point of showing those to you, so you know right away it's legal)

Originally Posted by trix4me
so let me get this straight the only way to get a rhd car from japan is through MOTOREX??

The only legal way to have a SKYLINE in the US is to have a Motorex-imported one.
Clarification: That's for a private owner & be legal to be titled, insured and registered for public road driving.
Companies that are involved in motor-vehicles in some way (like a performance shop, or parts manufacturer) can get 1-year exceptions to bring over an uncoverted car for "exhibition and demonstration only". But they're technically not legal to be driven on public roads and are supposed to be taken back out of the country after 365 days.

*ANY* car not manufactured for the US market, and imported specially in the "Grey Market" category most jump through a ton of hoops (and conversions) for Customs, NHTSA and EPA.

Not only does the vehicle have to have NHTSA importation approval, it has to be brought in by a Registered Importer......and the R.I. has to also have specific authorization for that exact chassis to do the safety and emissions conversions.

The NHTSA recinded the Import Authorization that they had originally issued for the Skylines, and replaced it with a more accurate authorization for just the 95-99 R33 models (they intentionally don't allow 95 R33's, because of OBD-II fraud.....see below about Motorex). But again, it's not only got to be on the list, but each R.I. must get specific authorization for the converstion before they're allowed to import that chassis, and as of right now the NHTSA has not given ANYONE that authorization.
Techincally, the company that did the crash-testing for Motorex, and the guys at RB Motoring could get it, as they actually know Motorex's converstion process. But they both know the NHTSA intentionally stonewalls any attempts and both companies gave up trying to get it a couple years ago. (that tidbit comes straight from the source at RB Motoring)

Quote:
But cant you like get one from canada and legalize it yourself, or im guessing that would be to hard to do...

Customs is super-anal about people trying to sneak a canadian-imported R32 into the US. Within a month or so of Canada allowing some R32's to be imported there without converstions, at least 2 people were arrested by US Customs for trying to sneak one across the border.

Again, I work for a bunch of Canadians....we looked into it, even having the company buy it and "assign" it to me as a Company Car.
It's been done, but again, not legally.

Like I said, I spent almost a year researching things before I lucked out and snagged my legal R32, and have learned even more since then, chatting with other Skyline owners.

It's amazing the amount of mis-information about illegally imported Skylines out there, most put out by people who are either the ones trying to sell the cars or people who are a bit too idealistic and actually believe the sales pitches.

But again, no single owner has ever gotten in trouble (yet) for having one, just the "importers" who are bringing them in.
And none of the 170 of us legal owners (that I know of) would "rat you out"...hell, we all associate together.
For me, I just didn't want to take the chance of being that first person to get nailed for 5+ Federal fraud charges, or even just the trouble with the insurance company if I had an accident (god forbid!)

I'm just of the firm opinion of making sure someone knows the accurate situation with the cars, instead of rushing off with bad info.
But seriously, if anyone wants to get one, I'm more than happy to help out if I can. (but it'd be easier to get one of the ones brought in through the caribean and titled in FL and GA than to try to sneak one down from Canada)

.Smitty. · Post by **.Smitty.** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:17 pm

:drool: 2008 Civic Mugen RR. I wantttt: http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/5490/ ... -sale.html

UMR Racer · Post by **UMR Racer** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:33 pm

.Smitty.;101619 wrote::drool: 2008 Civic Mugen RR. I wantttt: http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/5490/ ... -sale.html

2nd omg that would be awesome

99BlackHatch · Post by **99BlackHatch** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:34 pm

Evolution VI and an FTO is what I would import for fun.

H0NDA-MAN · Post by **H0NDA-MAN** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 2:39 am

Dealers license + dealer plate = good to go. Still illegal but Adrenaline does it so why not you.

risktypes · Post by **risktypes** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:11 am

UMR Racer;101621 wrote:2nd omg that would be awesome

buy an 06+ si and buy the mugen stuff that's all it is. It's just an overpriced si. Nothing was done to the motor.

Black95gsr · Post by **Black95gsr** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:50 am

I want this bute. http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/2448/Honda/Integra/car-for-sale.html

getteg · Post by **getteg** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 4:12 pm

Black95gsr;101664 wrote:I want this bute. http://www.japan-partner.com/Auto/2448/Honda/Integra/car-for-sale.html

Ya that makes 2 of us I have been watching her for a few months now. She is the reason I am interested in figureing out how to legaly import these cars.