[FVM3]

I am located in CA, can i drive it legally and get it insured

[P1]

In order to be lawfully manufactured or imported for sale in the U.S., a motor vehicle must comply with all applicable FMVSS issued by NHTSA. It is possible for a right-hand drive (RHD) vehicle to be manufactured in compliance with the FMVSS.

A motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, and/or was not so certified by its original manufacturer, in the form of a label permanently affixed to the vehicle, cannot be lawfully imported into the U.S. unless it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA. The agency makes these decisions on the basis of a petition from an RI. These are business entities that are specifically approved by NHTSA to import nonconforming vehicles and to perform the necessary modifications on those vehicles so that they conform to all applicable FMVSS. The petitions must specify that the vehicle is substantially similar to a vehicle that was certified by its original manufacturer as conforming to all applicable FMVSS and is capable of being readily altered to conform to those standards, or, if there is no substantially similar U.S.-certified vehicle, that the vehicle has safety features that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, the FMVSS based on destructive test information or other evidence the agency deems adequate.

As previously indicated, an import eligibility decision can be based on the substantial similarity of a non-U.S. certified vehicle to a vehicle manufactured for importation and sale in the United States, and so certified by its original manufacturer. If the vehicle you are seeking to import is a RHD, even if there were a U.S.-certified left-hand version of that vehicle, it might not be considered "substantially similar" for import eligibility purposes. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of RHD vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country. However, NHTSA will consider the vehicles "substantially similar" if the manufacturer advises the agency in writing, on the manufacturer’s letterhead (and not that of an authorized dealership or other such entity affiliated with the manufacturer) that the RHD vehicle would perform the same as the U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicle in crash tests. Absent such evidence, the petitioning RI would have to demonstrate that the vehicle, when modified, would comply. In this case, you might want to contact one or more of the RIs listed on our website to obtain their opinion on the feasibility of conforming the RHD vehicle to the FMVSS, and the costs involved in conforming the vehicle and petitioning NHTSA for a determination as to whether the vehicle is eligible for importation.

[P1]

Also, how old is the car you're looking at importing? I've only exported cars to Europe, which wasn't too difficult. However, when importing a vehicle that's LESS than 25 years old, it becomes increasingly more difficult than a car that's 25 years or older, as it will be registered as a classic. It will be exempt from having to modifying it to get it up to US safety, emissions or crash standards.

[MFL]

You can import them for Show and Display purposes, you can drive a limited amount of miles per year. Here's an allowed list.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...esMay2013.xlsx

[FVM3]

Originally Posted by P1et

Also, how old is the car you're looking at importing? I've only exported cars to Europe, which wasn't too difficult. However, when importing a vehicle that's LESS than 25 years old, it becomes increasingly more difficult than a car that's 25 years or older, as it will be registered as a classic. It will be exempt from having to modifying it to get it up to US safety, emissions or crash standards.

its a 2008

[P1]

Originally Posted by FVM3

its a 2008

What 2008 are you so interested in importing?

[FVM3]

Originally Posted by P1et

What 2008 are you so interested in importing?

its a van , toyota

[P1]

Originally Posted by FVM3

its a van , toyota

They have plenty of Toyota vans on Craigslist mate...

[FVM3]

Originally Posted by P1et

They have plenty of Toyota vans on Craigslist mate...

its only available RHD, called vellfire, go check it out

[Rotorocious]

I wanted to bring in a reliant robin

[Maestro]

Since your in CA, CA laws trump many of the US fed laws especially on emission. Even BMW has a special version of their 3 series for CA. as someone pointed out new cars are a complete nightmare to bring into the US and it get worse with CA. Older cars less so, but CA emission requirements go back to the 60's and do not get an exemption even if the car is 25 yrs old.

When I move to CA right out of college I bough a brand new car then drove it to CA. I played the game of not registering for a yr since I had a valid PA registrations and plate. I was about 9 months in and got stop by CHP and got the 3rd degree about having out of state plate and got a fix it ticket which required me to register the car in CA. Well it was not easy, I had to jump through hoops to keep them from registering the car that required it to be a CA car which had to meet the more strict emission requirements. I have to show them the car was older than 6 months and did not live in CA when I bought the car and a few other things.

I even ran into issue with an older car when I was out there. I had a 66 mustang project car I pick up and restored. Drove it a few years and had it emission tested once before doing the work and then again when it was done and the second time the test station had a new computer systems which required the VIN to be put in and it flagged the car as failing. As it turned out my mustang was a CA version of the mustang which had a smog pump and other things on the engine to meet CA 60's requirements. They made me put it all back on to meet the requirement even thought without all the stuff it passed the test even better than after I put the junk back on.

[P1]

Originally Posted by FVM3

its only available RHD, called vellfire, go check it out

Forget it. That car was never available for purchase in the US. In order to get it through the safety tests, you'd have to supply three of them so they can crash them. It'll cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

You can always sneak one in through Canada, then register it in Montana. Had a friend who did that for his Maserati.

[Maestro]

Originally Posted by P1et

Forget it. That car was never available for purchase in the US. In order to get it through the safety tests, you'd have to supply three of them so they can crash them. It'll cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars.

You can always sneak one in through Canada, then register it in Montana. Had a friend who did that for his Maserati.

Not sure this is still can be done, I had friend who was in the military and station in Europe back in the day, he shipped back 3 Ferrari this way since they would not pass US crash and emission tests at the time. The deal was he sold 2 of them which cover his costs on the 3rd and he kept. At the time there was a holding period before he could bring them into the US.

My understand is this loop hole has been closed, but I could be wrong

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by FVM3

vellfire

oh God, the US should explicitly ban this car.. it's worse than Asian carp

[P1]

Originally Posted by grimlock

oh God, the US should explicitly ban this car.. it's worse than Asian carp

Asian carp? Like the fish?

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by P1et

Asian carp? Like the fish?

yes, an invasive species..
siting behind the wheel of one automatically raises you 3 douche levels.. do not let the Asian get a hold of these.. you have been warned.

[KingOfJericho]

It looks like a toaster.

[MrPrena]

USPS delivery vehicles.

[Red Bread]

Just buy a Ford Transit or the Nissan Fivehead.

[FVM3]

Saw RHD gtr though . How they did it

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by FVM3

Saw RHD gtr though . How they did it

You may have seen it but that doesn't necessarily mean it was brought in legitimately or is still legal. Every few years Customs does a massive sweep of vehicles like that and the owners have no real recourse to get them back. Here's an article on the topic: http://jalopnik.com/5775509/feds-lau...skyline-owners

eBay also chimed in on the Skyline: http://www.ebay.com/gds/How-to-Legal...6110167/g.html

[Templar]

I'm not sure I am seeing the appeal of this vehicle, or at least why it's worth it to go through the trouble of importing it...