Is there really no way we can import?

[Blokko]

FIAT. Fix It Again, Tony :-)

[Apex]

You have read the rules I assume? 4 basic ways:

1) 25 years or older

2) race car

3) show and display

4) Federalize on import

 

 

Any other way is going to be exposing you to risk. You can roll the dice and rely on being lucky but I don't think that is a good discussion topic for a public forum.

 

Having imported more cars than nearly everyone on this forum, I would not roll the dice. I have always been subject to the optional special inspection. Given I did not take risks on my imports, I have always passed the inspections with flying colors. I like to sleep well at night.

 

What was the process like for race cars? I looked into importing a car from canada (bmw) which met US standard and had all the body stickers for the easiest import, but it looked to still be a bit of a pain.

[Croc]

What was the process like for race cars? I looked into importing a car from canada (bmw) which met US standard and had all the body stickers for the easiest import, but it looked to still be a bit of a pain.

 

Race cars require pre-approval of EPA prior to import process physically happening. The USCIS also like to ask questions and get documentation on what race series/category the car will be racing in, copies of driver's race license, etc. There is also a temporary race car import category but then you have to export after the required period is up.

 

If you have a saloon race car with VIN plates then the over 25 year option for a road car is still open. The catch is whether its engine or emissions system has been radically altered to make it no longer a road car. The intent of the import law is to have cars that have not been modified. So if you had a carb fitted to what was previously a fuel injected vehicle then that would technically disqualify an import from going down the over 25 year import route.

[Apex]

Ah, It seemed like you were saying race cars wouldn't be subject to the red tape. Kind of stupid they still require environmental stuff if they are race only not to be registered.

[lucky dawg]

Ah, It seemed like you were saying race cars wouldn't be subject to the red tape. Kind of stupid they still require environmental stuff if they are race only not to be registered.

 

It's to make sure that someone doesn't use the exemption to get a car into the country and then try to license it for the road. Fines are $25,000 per day and possible jail time. Odds of getting caught may not be high, but is it really worth it?

[Croc]

Odds of getting caught may not be high, but is it really worth it?

 

And that is the real question! When I started my first import, it took forever to work out exactly what was allowed and what was not allowed. I found the odds of getting caught are very high since every one of my over 25 year imports was subject to the offsite special inspection. Very helpful for better understanding the rules but there were moments of farce in the process which make you realize you are sometimes have risk from inspectors who do not know their rules or even what is being imported. Having an experienced import agent makes all the difference in that type of situation as they know when to step in and anchor discussions based on the rules and stop you from being unwise. The level of inspection rate I experienced is unusual but I have since learned that they tend to focus on occasional importers rather than businesses.

[Apex]

It's to make sure that someone doesn't use the exemption to get a car into the country and then try to license it for the road. Fines are $25,000 per day and possible jail time. Odds of getting caught may not be high, but is it really worth it?

 

I get the idea behind it, but I just think it's stupid since I can go buy a smog bellowing race car from any number of US manufacturers without having to go through any special process. Of course I shouldn't be able to register it either. I just think it's stupid to try to combat that for imports and not the other way, but really they should just leave it be and rely on enforcement during registration like they already do for us cars.

[panamericano]

Don't get me started...but I'll give one example. I've brought about 30 cars across, one way or another. Inspections?

 

We brought in a Lambo Countach, through a familiar customs broker, on a temporary in-transit bond. The car was in Nuevo Laredo, and the wheels had been stolen while sitting in another customs broker's lot. I checked the junk yards, with no luck for the $4000 worth of wheels. Bought 4 Gran Marquis wheels and had the holes opened up to the metric size, roughly. With the bond arranged, the car went on a tiltbed and we headed to the bridge. Sat in the US Customs impound lot for about 6 hours. I hung around the truck and car till we were given the go ahead to leave. I thought we would have some deep search, as I could not imagine this looked like anything but a drug dealer's car, on black steeles. The lot is huge. No official ever came out within 100 yards of the car!

[Croc]

Inspections?

 

We brought in a Lambo Countach,

 

 

Figures that they would ignore the drug deal you had going down in your Lambo while they waste time inspecting me who is as clean as a whistle! No sense at all in the process.

[BruceBe]

For importing a race car, you are given an EPA exemption. Therefore, there are no emissions requirements per-se. We have done this (check out the Caterham G7 race cars we have for sale in the sub-forum) - it was an arduous, difficult process requiring a lot of documentation. And in the end, it is all approved by one individual, who is *very* predisposed to say "no". When importing a race-car, one must present signed documentation on the manufacturer's letterhead, stating that the *specific* vehicle with the *specific* VIN was originally produced for the purpose of racing. This provision is intended to dissuade folks who want to bring in production cars by slapping numbers on the side. As Croc mentioned, the importer is also required to provide race license credentials, along with the sanctioning bodies and classes that the car is legal to compete in.

 

The importer is also required to sign an affidavit stating the vehicle(s) will not be titled/registered for street use, and if sold, this restriction must be documented with the buyer. Upon sale, the importer is also required to notify the USDOT of the buyer's name and address.

 

Fun stuff.

-Bruce