Temporary car import into the US
Jul 10th 2008, 8:34 am
#1
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Temporary car import into the US
Is it true that one can bring a foreign-registered car into the US, for up to one calendar year, as a tourist?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Jul 10th 2008, 11:39 am
#2
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 68,280
Re: Temporary car import into the US
Is it true that one can bring a foreign-registered car into the US, for up to one calendar year, as a tourist?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Jul 10th 2008, 12:28 pm
#3
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Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Beaverton, OR 97006
Posts: 71
Re: Temporary car import into the US
Is it true that one can bring a foreign-registered car into the US, for up to one calendar year, as a tourist?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Jul 10th 2008, 1:54 pm
#4
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
Driving through Yellowstone, recently, I followed a German RV. I have also seen German Coaches (Mercedes with German Plates) carrying tourists through the USA & Canada.
About 5 years ago, an "L" Reg Mondeo passed me on I-80, in Iowa. I also recently chatted with members of a British Motorcycle Club, who had their bikes shipped over for their ride through the South Eastern US.
Insurance would be you major problem to overcome.
Jim.
Jul 10th 2008, 2:02 pm
#5
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Posts: 172
Re: Temporary car import into the US
It can be done.
I knew someone who had a property management company in Kissimmee and he was driving a UK registered Jag.
Saw an Irish plate on an Isuzu outside the Tag office in Kissimmee too.
As you say, quite what a Trooper would make of it if he stopped you I have no idea!
I knew someone who had a property management company in Kissimmee and he was driving a UK registered Jag.
Saw an Irish plate on an Isuzu outside the Tag office in Kissimmee too.
As you say, quite what a Trooper would make of it if he stopped you I have no idea!
Jul 10th 2008, 2:34 pm
#6
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
You see it occasionally, but don't be surprised if you get pulled over in some tiny little town where they don't know the legality of this. I've been pulled over for incorrectly displaying tags from one state in another state (eventhough the way they were displayed in the original state was legal).
Cops have a hard enough time trying to keep up with 50 different states, so you might occasionally run into a few cops who would want to talk to you about your tags.
Cops have a hard enough time trying to keep up with 50 different states, so you might occasionally run into a few cops who would want to talk to you about your tags.
Jul 10th 2008, 3:54 pm
#7
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
To answer Ray's question: I have a 2007 European-specs. VW, and since getting it modified for US registration costs a bomb (USD 4000 and up), I might as well get some extra miles out of it as a "tourist" for one year.
Jul 10th 2008, 4:09 pm
#8
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
Jul 10th 2008, 4:16 pm
#9
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
How are you going to be able to stay for one year ..
Jul 10th 2008, 4:29 pm
#10
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
I did this in 2002. I imported European spec Chevrolet Corvette that I had in UK. I ran it on it's UK registration plate for 12 months (just to avoid tag/title fees for a year) then took it to the FL DMV for an 'inspection'. All they did was make a note of the VIN and commented on the rear fog lights (how weird they looked). I thought that at the very minimum, I'd need to replace the headlight lenses, side repeaters, indicator lenses and possibly the aftermarket exhaust system that was on the car.
I think I paid around $300 for a title document, new tag and admin fee. All done within a fortnight.
As an aside, I was never 'pulled' for having an unconventional license plate, strange coloured turn-signals or relocated reversing lights. Maybe cops in other states are more vigilant - the whole process was a bit of a non-event really.
Jul 10th 2008, 4:42 pm
#11
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: USA! USA!
Posts: 4,186
Re: Temporary car import into the US
Is it true that one can bring a foreign-registered car into the US, for up to one calendar year, as a tourist?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
Somehow, I cannot imagine some provincial Cop in Florida accepting a car with European license plates driving on the road, even though the US DOT and US Customs may.
Has anyone had any experience with this?
I've seen this occasionally, although it's not commonplace. Nonetheless, I have seen legitimate European and Middle Eastern-reg cars on US streets, in addition to the more common Mexican and Canadian cars.
The DOT and EPA don't deal with temporary imports. That's the whole point -- cars here for less than a year do not need to meet US safety or emissions standards.
For permanent imports, the situation is quite different. The feds have a series of hoops for one to jump through that are intended to discourage you from bringing them in the first place. If you are thinking of this as a gateway to a permanent import, then that probably isn't going to work.
Jul 10th 2008, 5:19 pm
#12
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 172
Re: Temporary car import into the US
What modifications are you referring to?
I did this in 2002. I imported European spec Chevrolet Corvette that I had in UK. I ran it on it's UK registration plate for 12 months (just to avoid tag/title fees for a year) then took it to the FL DMV for an 'inspection'. All they did was make a note of the VIN and commented on the rear fog lights (how weird they looked). I thought that at the very minimum, I'd need to replace the headlight lenses, side repeaters, indicator lenses and possibly the aftermarket exhaust system that was on the car.
I think I paid around $300 for a title document, new tag and admin fee. All done within a fortnight.
As an aside, I was never 'pulled' for having an unconventional license plate, strange coloured turn-signals or relocated reversing lights. Maybe cops in other states are more vigilant - the whole process was a bit of a non-event really.
I did this in 2002. I imported European spec Chevrolet Corvette that I had in UK. I ran it on it's UK registration plate for 12 months (just to avoid tag/title fees for a year) then took it to the FL DMV for an 'inspection'. All they did was make a note of the VIN and commented on the rear fog lights (how weird they looked). I thought that at the very minimum, I'd need to replace the headlight lenses, side repeaters, indicator lenses and possibly the aftermarket exhaust system that was on the car.
I think I paid around $300 for a title document, new tag and admin fee. All done within a fortnight.
As an aside, I was never 'pulled' for having an unconventional license plate, strange coloured turn-signals or relocated reversing lights. Maybe cops in other states are more vigilant - the whole process was a bit of a non-event really.
Jul 10th 2008, 11:58 pm
#13
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Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: Temporary car import into the US
Cost of shipping it to and from would take away any saving on a proper import wouldn't it?
If it's only a VW, I'd flog it and get something over here instead, unless it's a special motor, not worth it.
If it's only a VW, I'd flog it and get something over here instead, unless it's a special motor, not worth it.
Jul 11th 2008, 1:37 am
#15
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Re: Temporary car import into the US
It is do-able, although I'm not too sure about the number of hoops you have to jump through to achieve it.
Driving through Yellowstone, recently, I followed a German RV. I have also seen German Coaches (Mercedes with German Plates) carrying tourists through the USA & Canada.
About 5 years ago, an "L" Reg Mondeo passed me on I-80, in Iowa. I also recently chatted with members of a British Motorcycle Club, who had their bikes shipped over for their ride through the South Eastern US.
Insurance would be you major problem to overcome.
Jim.
Driving through Yellowstone, recently, I followed a German RV. I have also seen German Coaches (Mercedes with German Plates) carrying tourists through the USA & Canada.
About 5 years ago, an "L" Reg Mondeo passed me on I-80, in Iowa. I also recently chatted with members of a British Motorcycle Club, who had their bikes shipped over for their ride through the South Eastern US.
Insurance would be you major problem to overcome.
Jim.