my3AWDgst Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 What is the procedure to import and registar vehicles from Europe to US? I'm looking in to 89 Ford Escort RS Turbo. Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nm1 Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 The short answer for that car is "You can't, until next year" The long answer is for cars newer than 25 years old you need paperwork from the manufacturer stating that the car conforms to all DOT and EPA standards for the USA (which that RS turbo most certainly does not) and to file paperwork with US customs upon entering the country with the car. The form you need (among others): https://docs.google.com/file/d/1F0SicukgNiqVTCZfW17SOufjhoU3GBJSh-UlHdWZDtUgbLlWkbCuAIHL8xi_/edit?usp=sharing You could try to find what is called a "registered importer" to modify the car to meet US standards, but this is very expensive nowadays and not practical for affordable "normal" cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrethx Posted August 5, 2013 Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 here's a chart car & driver did a year or two ago: as i understand it, if you are importing an older car, there are importers that you can use (not the federalizer guys that nm1 and item #1 in the chart are referring to) who will do the paperwork, arrange transportation and help with customs, etc. but nm1 is right, for a car less than 25 years old, you are looking at a lot of expense & hassle. IIRC, the age of the car is based on the date of manufacture, not the model year designation. andré Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2013 Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Are you looking for a Cosworth one ? If you want it this year you can take a 1988 ? By the way the importation is not that difficult especially if you are on the coast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 I live in Sacramento (West Coast CA) Cosworth model was not available in 89 it just RS turbo model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norcal505 Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Savo, You may already be able to bring the car over, if it was built in late 1988.. Otherwise, just wait a year, and you can bring the thing over, no problem.. But keep in mind, you're going to have to de-tune it a lil' bit to get it ref'd and passed through CA smog. Sina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norcal505 Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Yo - I think you MAY be able to avoid the smog crap if you have it registered in Placer county, or if not, just buy a house on NV side of Lake tahoe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 I can always buy good quality Catalytic converter and new O2 sensor and not worrie about failling SMOG. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Yo - I think you MAY be able to avoid the smog crap if you have it registered in Placer county, or if not, just buy a house on NV side of Lake tahoe! I got my DSM registered in CA county where is no SMOG :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norcal505 Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 I got my DSM registered in CA county where is no SMOG :-) Can you by chance please e-mail me the info on how you did that? My buddy in Oakland with a m3 swapped e30 Bimmer is dying to do the same thing. (He actually owns a DSM too) He's failed in front of the Alameda county state ref TWICE now. Let me know! Cheers, Sina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 I live in Sacramento (West Coast CA)Cosworth model was not available in 89 it just RS turbo model So you want the Cosworth ?! Well it is nice you can even pick it up at the harbour... Let me know if you need help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 So you want the Cosworth ?! Well it is nice you can even pick it up at the harbour... Let me know if you need help. Yes some day I will own 92-96 Escort Cosworth and EVO VI 1/2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Can you by chance please http://gmail.com/'>e-mail me the info on how you did that? My buddy in Oakland with a m3 swapped e30 Bimmer is dying to do the same thing. (He actually owns a DSM too) He's failed in front of the Alameda county state ref TWICE now. Let me know! Cheers, Sina I'm sorry but I was told not to share this info... Cough google... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrethx Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 motoiq published an article on the 25 year rule a couple of days ago... andré Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 motoiq published an article on the 25 year rule a couple of days ago...andré Well not easy as I thought.Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrethx Posted August 14, 2013 Report Share Posted August 14, 2013 well, there are two issues -- getting the car into the country and getting it titled and licensed. for us, savo, that second issue is the real killer because we live in california. i've read about all sorts of different ways around this, from semi-legal methods like title laundering to outright illegal methods like VIN swapping, but however you do this, it adds to the trouble/expense of doing this. i've read in numerous places that the US is trying to work with the europeans and the japanese to harmonize automobile regulations, such that it will be easier for manufacturers to make cars that can be sold in more markets. if those come to pass, and the rules regarding importation of older vehicles do not change, we could find ourselves in a situation where one could buy new cars that are not as safe/fuel-efficient/highly-regulated as some older cars! that seems anti-consumer, to say the least... andré Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N9TE Posted August 15, 2013 Report Share Posted August 15, 2013 One thing to consider is insurance. If your insurance company can't find you car in their VIN lookup they may decline to insure it. If you 'sneak' it through, they could very well deny you in it came to a claim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrethx Posted August 16, 2013 Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 here is a photo of the US customs & immigration service destroying a land rover defender that was illegally imported into the US through the port at baltimore -- apparently, the owner was trying to get this non-US spec recent car in through VIN-swapping... andré Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2013 ^^^^ohhhh nooo^^^^ Funny thing is just about 45 minutes ago I almost got run over by Defender here in Croatia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryfaetheus Posted August 19, 2013 Report Share Posted August 19, 2013 I recently imported a 25 year old Peugeot 205 GTI. It was pretty simple to get it titled and registered, however I now need to sell it due to financial committments. It is currently for sale on ebay, if anyone is interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Peugeot-205-GTI-1988-Peugeot-205-GTi-1-6-very-rare-registered-in-USA-restored-and-super-clean-/281153535415?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item41760e7db7&vxp=mtr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my3AWDgst Posted August 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2013 I recently imported a 25 year old Peugeot 205 GTI. It was pretty simple to get it titled and registered, however I now need to sell it due to financial committments. It is currently for sale on ebay, if anyone is interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Peugeot-205-GTI-1988-Peugeot-205-GTi-1-6-very-rare-registered-in-USA-restored-and-super-clean-/281153535415?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item41760e7db7&vxp=mtr Did you use some other company to handle paperwork or you got it all done your self? Good looking 205,GLW the sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryfaetheus Posted August 22, 2013 Report Share Posted August 22, 2013 Did you use some other company to handle paperwork or you got it all done your self?Good looking 205,GLW the sale. I did use a customs agent to handle the import paperwork, as this was the first time. However, I think if I was to do it again, I would probably just do the paperwork myself. It is not that complicated for a 25 year old car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.