UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Has anyone imported a UK car into the US?

Reasons - we have more diesels eg. Mercedes ,BMWs etc, and our cars hqndle better

So, anyone looked into this and done this?

Would like to do this.

thanks

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Its a bastard driving a right hand drive on the right side of the road...seen a few cars around the bay area, its weird you look in your rear view mirror and see the driver on the opposite side!

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Gotcha, I was going to buy a car from Germany or mainland europe that is left hand drive.

The plan is to import that to the us.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Well we have German cars here ;) (just being cheeky) BEWARE that different states have different emmision laws for each state CA is one of the worst, not sure where you are thinking of importing the car to!!

http://www.ehow.com/about_6399309_ca...ions-law_.html

Edit: I see you are in Florida sure someone will chime in :)

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

gotcha -have already been in touch with the DVLC equiv in the US and got loads of stuff on emissions, the legislation to bring a car in.

was keen to know which of you guys have done it?

pros and cons, beyond what i can read and assimilate from the US red tape guys.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

:lol:

No, seriously, :lol:

Unless it's a vintage car it isn't going to happen.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Simply put....it's not going to happen, unless you want to bring something over temporarily for 12 months.

It's unlike a motorbike where you can part it and rebuild it on a US frame, so it's simply not going to happen.

Not to mention the insurance would be mental and getting special parts will cost a fair bit...

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

If I may ask, are you actually planning on moving to the US? You've got 3 threads going that hint at the possibility... but no real substance as to the mechanism by which you plan to get to the US.

Ian

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Unless your car is older than 25 years, you might as well forget about bringing it into the US.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

I could buy a Mercedes fr Germany, the guy from the US authorities said it would pass all EPA emissions etc, and need to be LHD thus buying from Germany.

Every 12 months you get the paperwork renewed, but the US authorities agreed this IS done often, with good quality cars like mercedes and BMWs.

sounds like no one here has ever done this, which is what i was trying to find out. Experiences of people, beyond opinions of what people think.

I factually understand what is required and how to do and YES this can be done if one wants to bring in a LHD quality car.

Imagine a merc or bmw disel doing a standard 50 mpg yes, and handling on the road is perfect round corners.

That is perfection.

As to moving to fl permanently - no, Florida is perfect for long holidays several times a year.

Seems no one here has ever done this- as in brought ina UK car.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

I read a couple of web articles a while back about schemes that certain premium German car manufacturers ran whereby, as a package, you could order a car, have a holiday in Germany where you would tour the factory and then pick up said car and have time to drive it around Europe on your holiday. That drive would end at a pre-determined port where they'd hand over the car to you and ship it to you in the US. The cost of this was meant to compare favourably to purchasing certain models in the US, and you get a bit of an adventure out of it. I have no idea whether this is still available.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Could you specify the "US authorities". As mentioned a car 25 or more years old can be imported without issue. Less than 25 yrs old it can be imported on a temporary basis for 12 months but then has to stay outside the US for 6 months. For a car less than 25 yrs old to be permanently imported it must be a model already sold in the USA and modified to "comply" to the NHSTA standards. The work must be carried out by a "Registered Importer" ( RI) who will take your car from the docks, you can not touch the car till the work has been performed. If you have found a way to legally renew the paperwork every 12 months this is great as lots of people would love to import diesels.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

It seems like such a pain?

They have a fantastic selection of super safe cars here, many to choose from, and without the hassle.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

Just to clarify, you do know US gallons are smaller and after it is modified to meet local standards, performance may be different.

Re: UK cars in the US - anyone imported?
 

As others have said............don't bother.

If you import a car, and it doesn't have a US safety standards sticker, you will pay $1,000s to have it changed to fit US safety regulations.

Just not worth it - it will cost you more than the car is probably worth.