i want to ship mine back when i leave japan but ive been lazy into checking on the details. i have a number to a guy who does all the vehicle importing for us here. (his job is a government position assisting service members with such matters) not only importing japanese cars but USDM cars that service members brought with them. im not saying 100% that the FD can be shipped back but I asked another employee about it and he said that if the car is on the list then you can ship it back. i also know a couple of guys who have shipped back a couple of BMW's. they said the process wasnt easy but not a huge deal.

(i have been told that the USDM cars have to be modified to meet Japan standards so I would figure they have to be modified again to meet US standards before they get sent back to the states. my coworker had a bike that he brought here but could not drive it because he had not done any modifications to meet japan regs. he kept it in our shop for 2 years....so i am confident that the information i have and will get is correct.

some might say that things will be different because im in the military but i think the only difference is that i will not have to pay for shipping because we are allowed one vehicle to take back with us. the car will still have to meet US standards no matter who we are. I once called an importer from the NHTSA list and he said it would be a couple thousand dollars to get everything done. i find that a deal because yes, you can find a FD here for $4,500 US dollars....i bought mine for 4,000.

ill try giving the guy a call tomorrow and see what he says. if i get any information i will post it.

 

It's not on "that list".

 

Sigh....it just never ends, does it?

 

And that, my friend, is the catch-all phrase right there.
Unfortunately, if the car is indeed a RHD model for the Japanese market, it won't just be "a couple thousand dollars to get everything done." That is probably just the shipping or tariff costs he's talking about (for some reason-- probably because they just want your money-- it appears that alot of registered importers aren't really forthright with all the details to people who call and ask about this).
For what is probably the 1000th time on this forum on this subject: if the car is not on the list (and please note this post about RHD cars), it will be subject to meeting FMVSS standards, which includes minimum crash standards. This means you will have to pay:
1. the cost of the arranging and conducting the crash testing with a NHTSA-approved facility
2. the cost of buying and then shipping over two cars exclusively for the crash testing. You need two because the car must meet two standards: frontal and side impact.
3. the cost of various fees for registering it with NHTSA, then (for someone not in the military) the shipping costs, then (for everyone) all the various tariffs, etc., for importing the car you originally thought was going to cheap and easy to bring into the U.S. and drive legally on public roads.

Bikes are obviously a lot different, as they don't have FMVSS crash standards like all four-wheel vehicles. Even then, back in the '80's, grey market importing of Japanese and European market bikes was rampant because many models weren't available in the U.S., until the DOT and U.S. Customs started getting word of hordes of people trying to register them in the U.S. An immediate clampdown ensued, literally killing off the grey market motorcycle importation business overnight. Many importers had federal charges brought against them.

 

MAN, **** ths subject about a RHD...... now i know why people get FED up with sht....... go look at one of my adds... My boss import cars allll ******* day..... into the US.... he has a damn company so its easier for him.. I jst got 1 myself, is it possible to register here in the US yes... CAlifornia.. Hard as **** but its possible thats where i'm doing mine... Will cost you bread to do it but hey if u want it you'll pay for it..


here's Huge advice.... DO YOUR HOMEWORK GOOD bc, its not easy to get a damn car in here if you dont know what you're doing.. i know of a few people that tried and didn' succeed in their own!!!...... I SOLD 1 RHD bout a YR ago i think i posted it up on ths forum i got flamd so much.. people asking is ths possible is that possible do u have papers... AsWr. IF I DIDN'T HAVE PAPERS i couldn't have brought the ******* car in..... so of course I did.... and they cost so much once they get here bc.... you gotta pay for a got dam container that cost about almost $4k plus fees... bc the car it self is cheap in japan around 4-5 thou. but not every 1 can get them down here! .. ......................



ahhhhhhh I feel so much better now!!

 

Well, that was informative post...

 

if custom really wants to be a dick they'll hold your container and send it back. even if you got a company and all!! everytime people order cars they always get the lecture, There's a Possibility that you might not get the car!

 

Where are the people who have done it recently?

 

How youuuuuuuu doing ... did it thru my boss!!

 

**** dat dam yo it was mad informativz...

So how long does it take you to get one over here? Can you get a 96+?

Dave

 

This seems to be a common characteristic of people who have imported these cars. Lots of vague noises about how anything is possible if you put your mind to it, you need to know how to pull the right strings, etc. And often accompanied by condescending, dismissive noises about people who outline the actual legal importation process. But, of course, they supply NO ACTUAL DETAILS of this super sekrit process.

The reason, of course, is that you basically have to lie through your teeth when filing in forms for registering the car. These lies are also known as felonies.

This really needs a FAQ entry because the question is asked every week and the same misinformation is repeated pretty much every time.

 

"Will cost you bread"

Import company fees, shipping carton, purchase price,...

What else? What would the total cost be not including original purchase price?

Dave

 

Do you work for Barry Taylor?

 

sure anyone can ship/import cars to any country all day long... but its another thing to register, inspect and insure it and smog it as well.


and why would we want a RHD car? its no different than a LHD car and costs about the same anyway.

yeah you know someone, i know someone, you worked here doing this and that.... we've all played that card before.you must be that douche who tried to sell a blue RHD fd for $70k huh?

 

Agreed, although I think it should even be a sticky by itself, since this subject seems to appear more than any of the ones in the FAQ (with the possible exception of "I want to buy an FD, what/where/how...?") Most of the ones constantly posting these questions never bother to search, so if it's not in front of their noses, they'll never bother to read the FAQ.

 

To address the original topic, the NHTSA, US Customs, and your state DOT have importation and grey-market information on their websites.

Dave

 

ok, i just spoke with the personal property guy here on base. it was a strange conversation but this is what i gathered:
1. the vehicle musr be deregistered before being allowed to leave the country
2. a contract must be made with RI (registered importer) before any paper is started to ship the vehicle (i think this is on military side since military will pay for shipping)
3. the vehicle will arrive at port of entry (under bond) and be subject to customs and port fees while its there. (obviously) he did not know how much the fees are as every port and customs agents are different
4. the vehicle must go directly from port to RI facility for inspection and modifications to conform with DOT and EPA standards.
5. once the vehicle meets these standards then it will stay with RI for 30 days (i think thats what he said) or until they receive a letter from NHTSA for release
6. the vehicle will then have to be registered...which we did not to that part in our conversation. if the vehicle has gone through all of this and is DOT and EPA labeled then registering it should be a piece of cake.

i did ask ask him about the eligibilty list and he said that those vehicles have already been imported in the past so the modifications should be known. he said that just because the RX7 is on the list does not mean it will meet FMVSS standards. (federal motor vehicle safety standards) this is where the modifications come in play. but the list shows vehicles that are eligible to be shipped if they meet US standards......not just being shipped and ready for use on public roads.

i thought about it and was like "well then that means we can ship any vehicle if we get it to meet US standards!" but then thought that those vehicles not on the list will need to have extra cars crash tested which would make them not-eligible because they have not been tested yet....which would make sense why they are not on the list.

the guy (sorry, cant pronounce his name) said that it could be risky because of the hidden fees (customs and port and such) so it could be expensive. he also said something about the RI having to conform the vehicle within 3 months or it will get confiscated and crushed....i didnt quite understand that part because he kept laughing and talking about the pictures being put on NHTSA website or something like that. i didnt bother to ask him to repeat himself because my wife had breakfast ready and was waiting for me to get off the phone.

This guy has been doing this for 20 years he said. he also said 10 years ago guy wanted to ship his RX7 back to the states but was quoted at $10,000 just fromt he RI so the guy gave up. he currently has one service member who is taking his motorcycle back and was quoted $2,000 from the RI but was charged an additional $1,000 from customs. Not that bad a deal if the bike was worth it.

so this is the info i got. i trust this guy since this is his job and has been doing it for a long time. i will say that he did sound like going through all of this might not be worth it because of all the hassles and fees but if you have time and money then do it to it.

his last words to me were "i hope you make a good choice!"

i hope this information helps and im still gonna try to take mine back

 

thanks for all the info fddragon

 

One of the interesting twists is whether it's a non-US LHD or a RHD. If RHD, you'll have to petition that the FMVSS testing is the same in RHD and LHD. It's not automatically assumed to be the same because on many cars it's not the same.

The emissions will not pass on an RHD because you need a stock downpipe with precat to pass, and to my knowledge there are no precatted downpipes that fit an RHD layout.

Dave

 

i forgot to mention that the RI could have his/her own customs agent to go to the port when your car arrives. this could be good or bad. the RI's own customs agent could hook you up (not be a *****) or be another way to get a few more bucks out of you. i would ask the RI about their agent if they have one.

also, i cant remember the name of the importer but i called one about 6 months ago (i was on duty and was like 2 a.m. for me so i was a little tired and bored) but i was quoted $2,000-$5,000 for mods and registering so just call around and see what they say. i also called a couple of places asking about my skyline r32 gt-r and was told "nope, not possible", "yeah man, it will be around $22,000", "mmm, maybe about $11,000"

i did call one place who first said "im sorry, we dont do skylines" then i call him back because he was referred to by some guy i met and then was told "oh, you know ######, aw man, i thought you was like a cop or something. yeah man, we can hook it up"

prices will vary and im sure the work will too so do your homework and go through someone good.

 

That says everything.

 

From the NHTSA "List of Non-conforming Cars That Are Eligible for Importation":
"Vehicles that have been determined eligible for importation are assigned a vehicle eligibility number.
All eligibility numbers are for left-hand drive motor vehicles except where the initials “RHD,” signifying right-hand drive, appear in the model type column. While there is no specific restriction on importing a right-hand drive vehicle, these may not be imported under eligibility decisions based on the existence of substantially similar U.S.-certified left-hand drive vehicles. Our experience has shown that the safety performance of right-hand drive vehicles is not necessarily the same as that of apparently similar left-hand drive vehicles offered for sale in this country."

 

you make it sound like you cant import cars now. we are talking about a R32 Skyline that is NOT on the list.

how is this saying everything?

 

If you're looking to import something exotic or Japanese market unique, and your goal is to have something exotic and are willing to pay, go for it.

If your goal is to get an FD cheap, you'd be an idiot to try this. There's no free lunch.

You'll easily pay the equal of a U.S. car getting the thing legal to drive, and then at the end of the day, all you got was an RX7 that you bought sight unseen. Just quit pipe dreaming and spend your effort saving some money to buy a car.... this reminds me of those "I can get a 20B shortblock for $2,500, so what else do I need?". About another $30k, that's what.

 

this would definately be possible in my state if there was just a way to get it to my house.

Can you not ship a car as a "track car only"


Swap the vin tag in the windshield and go to the DMV. In alabama we dont have emissions and the ignorant dmv people just come outside glance in the window and write down the number

Also, insurance does not come out and register the car in person nor do they search for vin numbers etc when the evaluate

could you not drive one in from canada?

seriously if we have 50 million illegal people in this county there should be ways around owning a jdm fd