Help With US Car Importing Regulations

[UKjohnnycobra]

I brought my car from the UK into the US in 2004. I had an import agent check the details and the summary was that vehicles are subject to the regulations of their year of manufacture. So you can import, say a 1966 Jaguar and it is not subject to 2009 emssions or safety regulations. It does have to have DOT compliant components where specified; glass, lights, wheels and tyres etc.

My car was registered overseas as a 2004 cobra replica and so would have been subjected to all of the requirements of a 2004 vehicle, including emissions, to which it was absolutely not compliant. So I removed the engine and drivetrain and imported as an "incomplete vehicle assembly" and then sourced a new motor and drivetrain once here. One thing the EPA agent told us was that if you do remove the engine, and then ship it separately as, say, part of your household shipment and then match it back up with the vehicle on arrival, you are subject to a $25000 fine. It was however, a roller. On wheels with suspension attached.

Then, once here, the vehicle has to comply with state regulations, which in most cases means you have emissions, safety, DOT/state compliance of components and proof of ownership of components. You had better be sure that all your overseas receipts and documentation are acceptable at the state level too. If they are all in a foreign language and currency you might want to get them notarized and translated just in case.