Shipping a Car to the U.S.

[kingdomcome]

Have any of you had experience with this?

Thanks

[xbusman]

Short answer... cant be done. Long answer, the cost of getting it DOT, EPA and FMVSS certified greatly outweighs the value of the car.

If its a US car, titled and registered in the US, you can send it back using standard container services.

[kingdomcome]

Thanks. I should have been more specific. The car is American, and it's over 50 years old, so the emission restrictions don't apply. I just want to find out what it would be like getting it through customs.

Thanks

[Langsuan Man]

Probably pretty easy, since it was manufactured in the US, it is not an import so no duties would apply. Not that duty is a serious consideration when purchasing an imported car in the US

It can be registered in most US states as an antique or collectible vehicle and will qualify for low insurance rates

The entire US federal government used to run on only import duties but then they passed the personal income tax so import duties are no longer a major revenue stream, especially for individuals

[ozyjon]

Interesting, what about the left hand drive v's the right hand drive,, any issues there or is it already left hand drive?

[IAMSOBAD]

I want to ship a Honda PCX150... anyone ever ship a motorcycle made here back to the USA?

Any advice?

[NeverSure]

Interesting, what about the left hand drive v's the right hand drive,, any issues there or is it already left hand drive?

Shouldn't be a problem. It's classified as an antique. I've seen several right hand drive Rolls on the roads in the US. I can't say for cars that are newer but I believe they are illegal and would have to be changed.

Never forget that most cars made for 3rd world countries can't pass US crash safety tests. So any newer vehicle is out. None of the smaller pickups are made or sold in the US for that reason. Chevy is going to introduce a mid sized pickup which will meet standards but Ford quit making the Ranger for the US market.

In my state, 30 years old is the cut-off point for meeting emissions and safety standards. Anything newer than that is grandfathered, but it must still meet its original emissions standards.

I think just about any 50 year old car would sail right through customs. (after they checked it for a bomb 555)

Edited December 4, 2013 by NeverSure

[Langsuan Man]

Interesting, what about the left hand drive v's the right hand drive,, any issues there or is it already left hand drive?

The only vehicles manufactured in the US that have right hand drive are specialty produced for the US Postal service for rural mail delivery

I want to ship a Honda PCX150... anyone ever ship a motorcycle made here back to the USA?

Any advice?

That will be a problem since emissions testing will be required as well as modifications to the speedometer (kmph vs.mph) and there may be some difference in the headlight

[iamariva1957]

Depends upon where you will be shipping it to and where it comes into the States. Certainly do it by standard container service. Cheaper that way. Given its age and its original point of purchase, there will be no import duty in the US. But to get it registered there will depend upon the particular State's regs (CA will be harder). As for Left hand drive verses Right hand drive... no problems there at all with the US. Except for head light focus. But the biggest will be the emission standard and so the vehicle will require a test of that and repair if needed to meet the regs (given the car's age and registration category... in this case in CA "Historical").

[lucjoker]

can i import a 10 y old Peugeot from Belgium?

Or is the income tax 200%?

I bought it for 3000 eu so the tax would be 6000 eu ?

The car is worth it.

[Skint]

can i import a 10 y old Peugeot from Belgium?

Or is the income tax 200%?

I bought it for 3000 eu so the tax would be 6000 eu ?

The car is worth it.

The answer is yes, no and no if it was a simple as that more UK cars would be there.

Have you tried looking for one already there? Taldrod and thaicar would be a start.

[lucjoker]

can i import a 10 y old Peugeot from Belgium?

Or is the income tax 200%?

I bought it for 3000 eu so the tax would be 6000 eu ?

The car is worth it.

The answer is yes, no and no if it was a simple as that more UK cars would be there.

Have you tried looking for one already there? Taldrod and thaicar would be a start.

Thanks,

there are a few peugeot 307 for sale in Bkk,

but they go over a milj bht for a 5 y old car,so i will forget it.

thanks again for the good car sides.

[IAMSOBAD]

Anyone ever ship a motorcycle to US?

[Crossy]

Anyone ever ship a motorcycle to US?

See post #8 in response to your first post.

[xbusman]

Okay, one more time......

If it is a US car, and you can provide documentation that it had been registered and titled in the US at some point in its history, you can just ship it. There are companies (brokers) that specialize in importing vehicles into the US. They should not charge you much more than a regular broker and I would highly recommend you use them.

If you cannot prove that it had been US titled and registered at some point in its history then it is going to be highly dependent on the make, model and year. It gets more complicated but still possible depending on the car.

Its a bit of a job to prepare a car for shipment and import. I am pretty sure the fuel tank needs removed, cleaned and sealed. The under carriage requires special cleaning and certification. Nothing too onerous. Your import broker will give the list. Be careful that over the fifty years it has been on the road here that modifications were not made to the car. For example, if the engine was replaced, that changes the EPA requirements. If glass has been replaced with aftermarket stuff it has to meed current US standards which glass here does not. I mention glass because its etched with information that can catch you up. Again, your specialist import broker will give you the list where most cars get caught up. Those things are usually pretty easy to fix in the bonded warehouses they use but remember you are paying those mechanics around $200 per hour and they are non too fast. Changing out the glass in a standard sedan there will probably run around $5000 so its best to make sure everything is back to factory specs here before it goes into the container. The point is, for a US car if you have problems they can be fixed on the dock by your Certified Vehicle importer which you wisely chose to work with before shipping.

You have not provided enough information for a process that is very complex and expensive so the best answer for what you have provided is YES it can be done BUT contact a professional auto import company and be prepared to spend some money.

[NeverSure]

I think some of the thoughts here are overboard. Each state has it's own motor vehicle laws and departments. The Feds have laws regarding new cars, but California's are more strict than the Feds.

I would call the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for the state I wanted to import it to, and simply ask. In the states I know about a car is considered an antique when it is 30 years old. After that it no longer has to meet emissions standards. If the car was built in the US and nothing major has been changed, it should sail right through. I'm surprised by the $5,000 glass number, because I just had a new windshield put in my Ford F150 4X4 pickup and it was $195, all in, installed. Yes it meets federal standards. The original got a big rock chip.

Geez, guys build hot rods out of cars that are more than 30 years old and they can do anything they want with engine, tranny, wheels, tires, chop the top and alter the glass, change the suspension and brakes, and they don't need a permit or inspection to do it.

So while I'm not absolutely positive, I'd just ask.