Taking Aussie car to USA

I am thinking of bringing my Hudson over to do some runs and need advice re registration and use on USA roads.I would bring it into LA but may drive over several states.What h***les would I have using the car there.It would need to be registered in say CA and would like input from other Aussies who may have done this or researched the possibility.

 

I think you have 90 days before you actually have to register it...I do know there is such a thing as a "temporary" registration in California. Let me do some research...

 

i had a bit of a look into this recently and from what i can see you can run it on your own registration if it is registered in australia, just need an international drivers permit.
and there are no duties etc but the car must be out within thwelve months..

some new zealand guys did it, they might be on here..

 

We sent a 1969 Dodge Daytona up there recently its was imported temporarly and driven across to Florida and back, drop me a PM if you want and I can put you in touch with our guys in L.A.

 

A car can be imported for personal use and run on its original plate for one year. The owner must possess an International Driver's License.

Can't remember where i read that, but I'm pretty sure it was the US Dept of Trans site.

 

Thanks guys.Seems like it may be easier than I thought.

 

Hudson?

 

Is it regestered in austraila? I don't see why you would have to register it in the states. I have seen cars from mexico,canada ??

 

I did not need an International drivers license when I rented/drove in Australia and I really don't think you'll need one here. I have Aussie friends visit all the time and none of them have it.

 

But you were driving an Australian registered vehicle in Australia, and your friends from Oz were driving American registered vehicles in America...Apples and oranges.

 

This one

 

If I can drive with Aussie registration I think I will still be wise to have additional insurance coverage and maybe that is compulsory anyway.

 

As far as insurance goes, I have Grundy and it covers my car no matter what country I drive it in and it covers it during over the ocean transport as well.

 

Dear god! That car is wonderful! Were are you going in the U.S.? I would love to see it in real life.

 

insure the **** outa it for the trip over.........you should do fine here,

 

Call Grundy about the insurance but let them know you have a Base your startin at that HAS a garage.........they dont have a mileage thing but have a thing about a garage

 

As long as it has valid AU registration it good to go. A buddy of mine drives his AU cars here on the AU paperwork, changed to show the US adress, untill it runs out, @ least that's my understanding of it. Any AU car over 25 years old can be permanently imported & sold.

 

I hooked my client up with Grundy too, they were great to deal with.

 

Rod Hadfield shipped his Model A pickup with the blown V12 Lincoln flattie and drove the wheels off it over here. There was a Brit who shipped a French registered LHD but British built deuce tudor sedan over here and drove it everywhere. Check with U.S. Customs about temporary importation. I don't see that you should have any problems, but you can contact Becky at Grundy - she is here on the HAMB.

 

I've seen some crazy plates driving around here: Mexico, Brazil, this place called "Canada" So I'd venture to say run your Aussie plates and if you get pulled over just go all-Mad-Max on the cop and you'll be fine.

 

Weasel thanks for reminding me about Rod Hadfield.I will contact him for more info.

 

Yup. The United States has this website.............

Home > Citizens > Topics > Travel > Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.
Foreign Visitors Driving in the U.S.

Quick facts for foreign visitors about driving in the United States




An International Driving Permit (IDP) translates information contained on your driver's license into 10 languages so that officials in foreign countries are able to interpret your license. An IDP supplements a valid government-issued license--it does not serve as a replacement for a license. If you are stopped by law enforcement, you will most likely be asked to produce both your IDP and your official driver's license. The United States does NOT issue International Driving Permits to foreign visitors, so you will need to obtain this do***ent before traveling to the U.S.

If you are going to reside in the U.S., you can get a U.S. driver's license once you are in the U.S., but it may take several months to obtain a U.S. driver's license.

Foreign visitors who become U.S. residents can only obtain a driver's license from the state in which they reside (not from the federal government). Each state has its own driving rules and regulations. Check with your state's motor vehicles department to find out how to apply.

Once you receive your U.S. driver's license from a state motor vehicles department, you will be permitted to drive in all other U.S. states. The laws in each state vary from one to another. It is your responsibility to know and obey the laws of that state while driving.

The residency requirement for obtaining a U.S. driver's license varies with each state. Consult the motor vehicles department in your state for more information.

If you are a foreign student coming to the U.S. to study, contact the university or college you will attend, as most ins***utions provide students with additional driving information.

The U.S. government has issued warnings about Internet vendors of worthless international driver's licenses/permits. It is important to educate yourself about the dangers of these costly and illegal operations. See International Driver's License Warning from Federal Trade Commission.



And the link for your viewing pleasure. http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Foreign_Visitors_Driving.shtml

 

I have been in the USA several times now and even when renting a car they only ask to see your Australian licence.Never been asked for an International Licence,although I did get one on the last trip as we were going to Italy for 3 weeks on the way.And then no one asked for it.
Never been stopped by a cop in USA so don't know what they expect.

I don't think the driving is a problem as long as you are licenced somewhere.

My main concern is registration,insurance and being covered when driving in several different states.

 

I dont think driving or registraton would be an issue with that car, unless your doing something really stupid.
Ins. may be an issue being out of country so I would check that to make sure you are covered or get some here just incase something happens.The ins. here is where the international license would come into play . If you recieve a citation, what are they going to do if you dont pay it, come all the way to Brizzy to get you for a lousy $75 fine