does any body know about importing cars from England to the US ? It is up and running, tested and regestered. I am english and it will be for my use. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks Gengis
Gengis: You need to get permission from two different US Gov agencies. The NHTSA (vehicle and ch***is regulations), and the EPA (engine, exhaust emission controls). Check out this site which is the US Gov's National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) agency. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/ ***uming your rod is registered as a car/truck that is more than 25 years old, it's exempt from all of the usual requirements that prevents us Americans from getting the neat stuff from Europe (crash standards, airbags, door side beams, etc, etc.) Specifically, the FAQ's describe how to get permission to import before you ship the vehicle. This link takes you directly to the "over 25 year old vehicle" info http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FAQ%20Site/pages/page2.html#Anchor-28852 Download the "HS-7" form and follow the instructions for submitting it (best to send it in by mail/fax before you ship and follow-up to make sure it is approved. Otherwise, they can impound your car or make you ship it back if it doesn't meet the detailed requirements.) You'll also need a customs broker in the US to clear the shipment (and your household goods, too?). You may have to pay duty, but car duty is only about 3 % of value, truck duty could be up to 25% of value. This is changing, so best to ask customs broker for details. So think through the whole process and be aware of the value you declare as this impacts the cost of shipping insurance, duty, and maybe even the broker fees. As for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), see this link for the form you'll need. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/ EPA allows vehicles more than 21 years old to be imported without meeting engine requirements. They have a form as well, located here http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/forms/3520-1.pdf I ***ume you are moving to the US permanently, but if not, there are diplomatic options or temporary import options for you as well. Basically, NHTSA is the primary agency to work with, and then the EPA will be able to approve engine import or waiver based on the import category approved by NHTSA. I imported 2 WRC rally cars from Japan several years ago, so I went through this procedure. Mine went very smoothly, but in the end Customs deemed them race cars so they can't be (legally!) used on the street. Hope this helps. Bruce
Are you and the car coming over to stay or just tour? Check with some vintage car clubs on your side to see how things are done. Shipping cost should be around one thousand dollars each way.
oh boy.... for some reason i can imagine that our governmant makes *importing* our old steel back into the country a *****.... but then we can send **** out of here pretty easily. *** backwards. Cool that you wanna cruise around here w/ your own car. That's *****en. -scott noteboom
Genghis, I know of several Brits who have shipped their rods into the USA for extended tours. A couple of years back Mike Key the photographer took his '32 roadster over, he used a shipping co called Imorex. Also, well known UK rodders Chris and Ali shipped their '32 out to California where it is still stored to use when they go out. Chris goes under 'Happydaze' on the UK NSRA forum. John Golding from Homegrown recently shipped his 3-window out and plans to use it on vacation thru 2008. I'm sure any of them would help if you asked them. Hope this helps. L.P.
I heard it took 2 months for the Honky Tonkin 57 Chevy race car to get here and cost 6000 U.S. dollars.
That sounds like the price for the return ticket Shakey, cars imported from the West Coast one way to Blighty usually cost half that in a container. The ships usually get across in about 3 weeks but then the ships often make several ports en route which take 'em longer. L.P.
If this is an International Move, you can take your car with you. As long as its old enough to be exempt of all the US only Emissions & Safety rules. Same goes for your Furniture, etc.. There is some paperwork involved, and you'll have to agree to not sell it for 5 years after you brought them in.
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