Importing a 2002

[Stephen V]

Is this a feasible option to buying a cool square taillight car? I have taken a look at a few in England and I have taken a fancy to a few of them. I read on the US transportation website that cars older than 25 years old do not need to be federalized. This makes me think that it would not be as difficult as importing a newer car that needs to be federalized. Is anyone familiar with the process of importing one, and if so how much would I be looking at in terms of actual shipping from Europe?

Regards,

Stephen V.

[BMW02]

Link to website please :)

[Stephen V]

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/graymarket_RI_list01092006.html
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/

They aren't very clear about registering an older vehicle however... I guess I could always contact them.

[Dickfruster]

So why would you bring the car from England? Is it some rare car? RHD?

[Stephen V]

Not a rare car, just one that already has Euro bumpers and a bonus would be RHD (only one around besides real Mini Coopers) It seems, however, that in the last few weeks that the value of the US dollar with respect to the British pound is dropping, not in the US's favor. Maybe I should just stick with the local offerings with no rust and I am being a dreamer? Dunno, but I am evaluating all my options (other types of cars as well) at the moment. I would like to stick with a 2002 mainly because parting my car out (which got rear ended) would take a very long time. At least if I got a decent running 2002 I could transfer all of the good parts from mine to the other one.

[Dickfruster]

English cars rust very fast due to weather. And RHD is only good for the Minis.

In my opinion, it will be expensive if you have not done it before and dont know what you are doing. Go to Cali and $5000 will get you a nice car.


Do it only if thats some rare euro model car. Not just tii rare, really rare car made for Euro market only. Maybe a turbo 02?

Good luck.

[Stephen V]

Thanks, that's probably what I needed to hear, besides I already live in California!

[Dickfruster]

If you do want to bring something from there. Bring a nice Mini!!! People want em. A fine all restored example might be worth a fortune.

I also thought of BMW 2000, 1800, all four door cars.



I,myself, want to bring a motorcycle from Europe to make a complete WW2 BMW R24 bike with a sidecar replica. The chinese Chang-Jiang is the most precise version of the bimmer bike (still used)+ the older ones come with machine gun mounts and ammo boxes. But thats a different case, since it can shipped part by part.

[02Les]

I brought my '74 Touring over from the UK, but it was 6 years ago.
Roll on-Roll off was $600 then (Southampton to Galveston). Duties/taxes was about $100 from memory.
Rust can be a problem, more due to salt air than anything else, but get one with a NEW MOT (Ministry of Transport Test) certificate. The MOT in the UK is much more stringent than anything i've seen over here (in 6 years Texas inspection hasn't spotted my left dipping headlights) and a check of rust in important structural areas is part of the test. If the car does not have a new certificate, leave it alone.

[Dickfruster]

I heard that cars without MOT worth 600 pounds. Older cars may be exempt from MOT and there is also a vintage car duty. I paid one when I brought mine from the US to Canada.

[Stephen V]

I brought my '74 Touring over from the UK, but it was 6 years ago.
Roll on-Roll off was $600 then (Southampton to Galveston). Duties/taxes was about $100 from memory.
Rust can be a problem, more due to salt air than anything else, but get one with a NEW MOT (Ministry of Transport Test) certificate. The MOT in the UK is much more stringent than anything i've seen over here (in 6 years Texas inspection hasn't spotted my left dipping headlights) and a check of rust in important structural areas is part of the test. If the car does not have a new certificate, leave it alone.

How did you go about registering it?

[02Les]

I applied for a Title in Texas, and for that had to surrender the UK equivalent (V5 Registration Document). If you bought a car in the UK the previous Owner would hand over to you the V5. It would be in the P.O.s name though, but I would guess with a bona fida Bill of Sale the authorities in your State would accept that. To be honest i'm not real clear on this; it was easy for me as I owned the car (since '86) so all the car's documentation was in my name anyway.