VEHICLE IMPORTATION GUIDELINES
(Imported From a Country Other Than Canada)
2-97




The following provides information concerning the importation of a vehicle (passenger car, truck, trailer, motorcycle, moped, bus, or MPV) built to comply with the standards of a country other than the U.S. or Canada. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is responsible for improving safety on our Nation's highways. As part of the overall effort to achieve this goal, NHTSA develops and enforces Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) which require minimum levels of safety performance for motor vehicles. A part of our enforcement program is the monitoring of vehicles imported into the United States to ensure that they comply with applicable FMVSS.

As a general rule, all motor vehicles less than 25 years old, must comply with all applicable FMVSS and be certified by the original manufacturer to that effect in order to be imported into the United States on a permanent basis. Federal law prohibits importation of a motor vehicle not certified as conforming to the standards, except under the conditions prescribed below. The regulations defining the requirements for importing a vehicle can be found at Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 591 (49 CFR 591), "Importation of Vehicles and Equipment Subject to Federal Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention Standards."

If a vehicle that is not certified to meet U.S. standards is less than 25 years old and entering on a permanent basis, it must be imported by a Registered Importer (RI) or the importer must have a contract with an RI. A vehicle imported in this manner must enter under a DOT bond in an amount equal to 150% of the dutiable value. The bond will be released after the RI brings the vehicle into conformance with all applicable FMVSS and bumper standards.

Since the cost of modifications or the time involved to bring a vehicle into conformance may affect your decision, we recommend that these aspects be discussed with an RI before cars are bought and shipped to the U.S. You may wish to contact one or more to discuss the specifics of your situation.

Federal regulations concerning emission control devices are under the purview of the Environmental Protection Agency, Manufacturers Operations Division, EN-340, 401 M Street SW, Washington, DC 20460, (202) 233-9660. Information concerning duty or other Customs matters can be obtained from the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs Service, Washington, DC 20229, (202) 927-0300, or the nearest U.S. Customs port.

For information regarding registration or operation of a properly imported vehicle in a specific state, we advise you to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles or other appropriate agency in that state since the requirements vary by state.



REGISTERED IMPORTERS WHO SPECIALIZE IN EUROPEAN OR "GRAY MARKET" VEHICLES 2-97




G & K Automotive Conversion *
(714) 545-9503
3231 South Standard Avenue FAX: (714) 545-7667 Santa Ana, CA 92705
Northern California Diagnostic Lab. *
(707) 258-1753
2748 Jefferson Street
FAX: (707) 258-1611
Napa, CA 94558
Sun International Racing *
(310) 546-5801
1308 Manhattan Avenue
FAX: (310) 546-1343
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Atlantic ICI, Inc
(407) 298-3500
2605 Clark Street, Unit C
FAX: (407) 298-9911
Apopka FL 32703
Pierre Enterprises Southeast *
(407) 465-4001
4413 South US 1
FAX: (407) 465-3950
Fort Pierce, FL 34982
ICI International
(407) 239-7987
11409 Pumpkin Seed Court
FAX: (407) 239-7987
Orlando, FL 32821
JK Motors *
(410) 366-6332
P.O. Box 178
FAX: (410) 366-7655
Kingsville, MD 21087
Automotive Res & Design (CXA) *
(Primarily Citroen XM model)
(908) 271-9440
190 Egel Avenue
FAX: (908) 271-9442
Middlesex, NJ 08846
Europa International
(Primarily Mercedes Benz Gelaendewagen)
(505) 984-8888
1570A Pacheco Street
FAX: (505) 982-4121
Santa Fe, NM 87505
LPC of NY *
(516) 588-8288
17 Trade Zone Drive Ronkonkoma NY 11779
Champagne Imports *
(215) 361-1304
200 West 5th Street
FAX: (215) 361-1308
Lansdale, PA 19446
Wallace Environmental Testing Lab. *
(713) 956-7705
2140 Wirtcrest
FAX: (713) 956-0104
Houston, TX 77055
British Promotion
(804) 622-1456
716 Cecelia Street
FAX: (804) 623-0307
Norfolk, VA 23504


* Registered with DOT and EPA