Thanks for your help iaink, the Civic SIR just isn't the same though. They seem to suggest though that any car as long as it complies with the regulation would be let in, it would seem that all I would need to add is daytime running lights, am I not reading this right?

The problem is certification of compliance with the regulations, the particular model of the car has to be tested, including crash tested, which is impractical for a single vehicle. The short of it is that, practically speaking, cars can be imported only if the exact model is sold in the US or if the car is fifteen years old.

No, youre not. the applicable headache is "bearing a statement of compliance label affixed by the original manufacturer"

Thats an insurmountable problem until its old enough to not come under the regs.

Old Minis are the easiest vehicle to convert from RHD to LHD, even the speedometer is in the middle. You may have to get some DOT marked lights for it too as they are now being checked on inspection.

Does it make any difference? Yes, it makes it way MORE difficult. How were you planning to drive it legally in the US? Formally import it, somehow get it titled, plated, and insured in New York state perhaps? If you did manage to do all that (and it would be a nightmare if you're simply a visitor to the US) you'd then have to do the same all over again in Canada - formally export from US, formally import to Canada, registration, plates, insurance. But since your car isn't on the list, it's all moot. Too much trouble for a 5 year old Civic IMHO. Sell it in the UK, buy a new one in Canada.

What would be the advantage in formally exporting the car from the US?

My recollection was that it was part of the required border dance when bringing a car from the US to Canada... of course I could be wrong about that. I was under the impression that US to Canada was more of a hassle than the other way around.

We have two US cars in Canada. One we haven't done anything about, we just drive it on the US plates. The other we imported properly, that didn't turn out to be too much hassle, $1000 for light switch disabling and half a day in Brampton for the customs inspection. We didn't export it from the US though, our thinking is that the Canadians don't care and should we move to the US not having exported it will save having to import it.

Just forget the idea. It's far more hassle than it's worth, you'll have problems finding insurance even if you could get it in, which you won't. Over 15 years only. Even some of the US cars are no good for import.

I had a 1979 1275GT before I came here. It got sold to help me emigrate sadly. Only after I sold it did my OH relent and say "We should have seen how much it would have cost to ship."

A real Mini would go down a treat here. There's a classic car parade in my town every year and there's usually a couple of Minis which pull just as many open-mouthed Canadians as the muscle cars. However - closer inspection reveals that things aren't as they seem. One guy's "1969 Cooper" looked suspiciously modern. Then I remembered from my Mini days back in the UK hearing that it was rather dubious practice for exporters to take the VIN and V5 from an older (usually scrap) car and stick them onto a newer Mini before selling them onto unsuspecting Californians (or in this case, Canadians).