Getting an MKIII From Canada to the US

[dumbo]

Again is it really that big of a deal to drive on the right hand side...
What a wast of time, money,and effort to have to get outta the car to get McDonalds

Not to mention passing people, or left had turns at a green light with the car across from you turning left blocking your view, kinda dumb IMO. But he does want a LHD drive.

Seriously call a registry or DMV, I'm sure theres lots of speculation here....

 

[Evilempire1.3JZ-GTE]

each car manufacturer has unique types of rivets used to hold the vin plates in place. In particular, the ones under the windshield. Those rivets are nearly impossible to obtain for obvious reasons.

One example he gave is that during a traffic stop, IF for some reason the officer inspects the under windshield vin to compare it to the vin on your registration and sees 'Generic' type rivets, he is likely to clue in on that and it all goes down hill from there.

The easiest way to do this is disconect the plate by removing the dash then completely take off the vin & rivets & backplate bracket off in one piece with out seperating them.

Then do a weld like factory placing the plate back on the firewall as for the other vin and plate issues if you take your car down to DMV & have them inspect the car they can do a legit plate re-atachment due to repainting the car or switching parts over due to an accident. like say if your car had a damaged front end from rust or an accident and you had to repair the section the plate was on, or say you did a RHD conversion where you told you took your registered US car and were to install a RHD firewall in it or use the parts from a RHD car I think GM even made some firewalls ambidextrous to keep mfg prices down thats why even the dashes are the same and the gauge clusters are mounted in the middle of the dash.

 

[CajunKenny]

Either I guess; but, I'd prefer a LHD.

Also, learning to shift with my left hand would prove to be a chore. I'm like lefty retarded! :biglaugh:

 

[mattsplat72]

LHD no problem. Just have to declare it and pay taxes on it. It is the JDM that are the issue

 

[Altezza576]

I just went through this .... I imported my 87 from canada to the US. Albeit, my car was a LHD, it was a super easy process. I would suggest you read the US Customs and Border Protection websites about importing a car to the US.

All that Customs requested from me was a letter from Toyota Motors Corp. (USA) that the Car being imported be certified by the manufacturer to meet all US Emissions and Safety standards by VIN# checking.

I called Toyota in Torrance CA, and I spoke to some very helpful folks. and in about 3weeks I had the original letter on Toyota letter head in the mail.

I took that letter, with the ownership paperwork with matching VIN# and the officers at CBP were very courteous the inspection lasted about a minute. they just checked the Vin number on windshield and door jamb to verified the title was matching and gave me all the necessary approved paperwork to take to the NYS DMV for registration and NYS title.

I hope this info helps.

 

[SUPERIUM]

^Exactly what my friend did when he imported his 84 into the states. They didnt even charge him duty fees when inspected at the border but he did spend $500+ just to register a $2500 car.
As long as its a north american lhd car and you fill out the paperwork and get the letter from toyota your good. Even if you get a jdm supra in the states you wont be able to legally register it. Once our cars reach 25yrs. old, then they can be registered in the US.

 

[Poodles]

Registration depends a LOT on the state, really best to check your local laws...















































































































"Getting a MKIII from Canada to the US....it's MARK, not emm kay

 

[PureDrifter]

just a note to all those telling the OP to vin-swap.....it is in every way a Felony to swap the vin plates from car to car, in ADDITION to the felony of removing the vin plates in the first place.

and all the states that register JDM vehicles don't speak for the EPA and the NHTSA, so if the NHTSA finds out you're running a nice little Sunny GTi-R in florida (through an accident or whatever) you have every potential of getting the vehicle taken away or forcibly exported.

 

[Justin727]

I know of one fellow here in my state whom imports his Jap cars from canada to his business. He doesn't swap vin plates or anything silly like that. He fills out the correct paper work, takes the vehicle to the courthouse, lady comes out looks at it make sure the basics work then bam it's registered.
He gets a tag in the mail 2 weeks later then turns around and slap for sale signs on them. He hasn't done any lately because demand in our area has gone down and no one has the money to buy anything. He just recently sold a white GTR that he has had for little over a year.

We also have alot of those cute little small white jap trucks with flat beds. Just as bad as a smart car when it comes to wrecks. But they're all over in my area.

 

[PureDrifter]

I know of one fellow here in my state whom imports his Jap cars from canada to his business. He doesn't swap vin plates or anything silly like that. He fills out the correct paper work, takes the vehicle to the courthouse, lady comes out looks at it make sure the basics work then bam it's registered.
He gets a tag in the mail 2 weeks later then turns around and slap for sale signs on them. He hasn't done any lately because demand in our area has gone down and no one has the money to buy anything. He just recently sold a white GTR that he has had for little over a year.

We also have alot of those cute little small white jap trucks with flat beds. Just as bad as a smart car when it comes to wrecks. But they're all over in my area.

again, just because your state titles the car doesnt mean its federalized (and therefore not legal technically). this will especially be a problem if you try to take the car/sell the car out of state.

 

[ma71supraturbo]

My first MK3 (87t) was a Canadian car. According to the Carfax, it was brought into the US in 1989 and registered in NY before making its way across country and being sold to me in CA in '97. I got a great deal on it too because people saw 130,000 "miles" on the odometer and thought the guy was bullshitting when he said it was only 80,000. My idiot friends used to flip out seeing me go "120" on the freeway, apparently not realizing I wasn't going any faster than the rest of traffic. Fun times....

 

[LAYZORBEEMZ]

Lmao, I love kilometers, it's so confusing.
Edit: omg 100th post