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| Importing a Motor Vehicle into the United States of America Warning Imported motor vehicles are subject to safety standards under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, revised under the Imported Vehicle Safety Compliance Act of 1988; to bumper standards under the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act of 1972, which became effective in 1978; and to air pollution control standards under the Clean Air Act of 1968, as amended in 1977, and 1990. If vehicles manufactured abroad conform to U.S. safety, bumper, and emission standards, it is because these vehicles are exported for sale in the United States. Therefore, it is unlikely that a vehicle obtained abroad meets all relevant standards. Be skeptical of claims by a foreign dealer or other seller that a vehicle meets these standards or can readily be brought into compliance. Vehicles entering the United States that do not conform with U.S. safety standards must be brought into compliance, exported, or destroyed. This pamphlet provides essential information for U.S. residents, military or civilian government employees, and foreign nationals who are importing a vehicle into the U.S. It includes U.S. Customs requirements and those of other agencies whose regulations we enforce. Since Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) requirements are subject to change, we recommend that you contact these agencies before buying a vehicle abroad. Our pages Know Before You Go and For International Visitors contain general information for persons entering the U.S. You may obtain copies from your nearest Customs office or by writing to: U.S. Customs P.O. Box 7407 Washington, D.C. 20044 Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards Importers of motor vehicles must file form HS-7 at the time of vehicle is imported to declare whether the vehicle complies with DOT requirements. As a general rule, motor vehicles less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in order to be imported permanently into the United States. Vehicles manufactured after September 1, 1978, must also meet the bumper standard, and vehicles beginning with model year 1987 must meet the theft-prevention standard. Vehicles manufactured to meet these standards will have a certification label affixed by the original manufacturer near the driver’s side door. If you purchase a vehicle abroad that is certified to U.S. standards, you may expedite your importation by making sure the sales contract identifies this fact and by presenting the contract to U.S. Customs at the time of importation. A vehicle must be imported as a nonconforming vehicle unless it bears the manufacturer’s label certifying that it meets U.S. standards. If it is a nonconforming vehicle, the importer must contract with a DOT-registered importer (RI) to modify the vehicle and certify that it conforms to all applicable FMVSS. The importer must also post a DOT bond for one and a half times the vehicle’s dutiable value. This bond is in addition to the normal Customs entry bond. Copies of the DOT bond and the contract with the RI must be attached to the HS-7 form. Before a RI can modify your vehicle, however, it must first be determined whether the vehicle is capable of being modified to comply with the FMVSS. If a vehicle has not previously been determined to be eligible for importation, it must go through a petition process to determine whether it’s capable of being modified for such compliance. If the vehicle under petition is not similar to one sold in the United States, the process of bringing it into compliance becomes very complex and costly. A list of vehicles that have already been determined to be capable of being modified to comply with the FMVSS may be obtained from a RI or from NHTSA’s website. ( List of Nonconforming Motor Vehicles that are Eligible for Importation (By or Through a Registered Importer) ) The cost of modifying a nonconforming vehicle and the time required to bring it into conformance may affect your decision to purchase a vehicle abroad. NHTSA strongly recommends discussing these aspects with a RI before buying and shipping a vehicle purchased overseas. Cleaning the Undercarriage To safeguard against importation of dangerous pests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that the undercarriage of imported cars be free of foreign soil. Have your car steam- sprayed or cleaned thoroughly before shipment. Your Car is Not a Shipping Container For your own safety, security, and convenience, do not use your car as a container for personal belongings. * Your possessions are susceptible to theft while the vehicle is on the loading and unloading docks and in transit. * Many shippers and carriers will not accept your vehicle if it contains personal belongings. * The entire contents of your car must be declared to Customs on entry. Failure to do so can result in a fine or seizure of the car and its contents. * Your vehicle may be subject to seizure, and you may incur a personal penalty, if anyone uses it as a conveyance of illegal narcotics. |
| Checklist What cars are able to import into the United States of America without any modifaction works: - As a general rule, motor vehicles more than 25 years old must NOT comply with all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards - Those imported by nonresidents for personal use not exceeding one year. - Those belonging to members of foreign armed forces, foreign diplomatic personnel, or other individuals who come within the class of persons for whom free entry has been authorized by the Department of State in accordance with international law. - Those temporarily imported for testing, demonstration, or competition, provided they are not licensed for use, or driven on public roads. - Import a Motor Vehicle for Show or Display Ask me for a list what vehicle has already been determined eligible for importation for purposes of Show or Display |