Making real Japanese cars legal?

[Maniaç]

Is the only reason why they're iligal cause they can't pass USA's emission's test?

or is there something else? And what can make it legal? I thought that it only had to do with the emission, but is there something else? reps if you give a good answer...

this is for a friend of mine thats not on IA. thanks

[GSRteg®]

I thought it was just the emission standards bro.... or the reason it cost to much to import and register legaly.

[Maniaç]

I thought it was just the emission standards bro.... or the reason it cost to much to import and register legaly.
reps. So you have to do something else to get it registered? right? and also worry about it passing the emissions test..




You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to GSRteg again.

[Maniaç]

bump

[thepolecat]

They have to pass emissions and meet all safety requirements. The safety stuff is little things like reflectors in headlights and taillights that older Japanese cars did not have. Emissions is by far the largest part and most essential. Certain ports are easier to get through like New Orleans. A friend of mine got an R34 and had to wait 6 months to get it through customs. There are companies you can buy from in Japan that will do all the legwork at a cost to you.

/end

[Z32redondo]

It also has to do with safety testing as well. There are a few site that have legal cars but most are not. there cars have different safety standards. I tried to get a twin turbo MK3 supra imported from canada (was originally from Japan) but registering office said I would have to have numerous safety test done costing tes of thousands of dallors to get done. Like when you see cars getting the side impact ratings and shit. If you bought a JDM car that isnt approved already then you would have to get the side impact test's and all that BS done. It also has to do with emissions as well.

[Z32redondo]

They have to pass emissions and meet all safety requirements. The safety stuff is little things like reflectors in headlights and taillights that older Japanese cars did not have. Emissions is by far the largest part and most essential. Certain ports are easier to get through like New Orleans. A friend of mine got an R34 and had to wait 6 months to get it through customs. There are companies you can buy from in Japan that will do all the legwork at a cost to you.

/end

Posted it before I did but ya that basically sums it up

[Maniaç]

Nice, thanks guys.

Is there anything anyone else can add?

[IDriveToast]

There's a TON of stuff actually.

Most japanese cars haven't been US tested for safety standards. This means that there will need to be multiple models of the same car brought over and then will all need to be front, side, and rear safety impact tested.

Other things include...seat belts, headlight, windows, reflectors, mirrors, if a seat doesnt have enough bracing.

Once all the safety tests are completed (which costs a lot of money and why *most* of the companies that used to do this went out of business) then the actual car can be brought over. At that point all items not USDOT approved will need to be removed before making it to a US port. At that point the container with the vehicle will be unloaded, vehicle and parts inspected.

When the car undergoes work done to become us legal.....all emissions sytems will have to be put in. All USDOT approved items will need to be put in (tires, lights, windows..etc). And THEN if there is any extra bracing needed based upon the side, front, rear impact test...that will need to be added also.

It's a ton of work, and a ton of money. There used to be 5 or 6 places that did all the work...but now many of them have been shut down or have gone out of business. You can also not do the work yourself unless you are business approved by the government to do this kind of work.


Cheapest way out is buy yourself a RHD clip if they make the car here and RHD swap the vehicle.

[Maniaç]

thanks for the info

[Z32redondo]

There's a TON of stuff actually.

Most japanese cars haven't been US tested for safety standards. This means that there will need to be multiple models of the same car brought over and then will all need to be front, side, and rear safety impact tested.

Other things include...seat belts, headlight, windows, reflectors, mirrors, if a seat doesnt have enough bracing.

Once all the safety tests are completed (which costs a lot of money and why *most* of the companies that used to do this went out of business) then the actual car can be brought over. At that point all items not USDOT approved will need to be removed before making it to a US port. At that point the container with the vehicle will be unloaded, vehicle and parts inspected.

When the car undergoes work done to become us legal.....all emissions sytems will have to be put in. All USDOT approved items will need to be put in (tires, lights, windows..etc). And THEN if there is any extra bracing needed based upon the side, front, rear impact test...that will need to be added also.

It's a ton of work, and a ton of money. There used to be 5 or 6 places that did all the work...but now many of them have been shut down or have gone out of business. You can also not do the work yourself unless you are business approved by the government to do this kind of work.


Cheapest way out is buy yourself a RHD clip if they make the car here and RHD swap the vehicle.

Yep basically. Before most of the companies got shut down they tested a few cars and approved them. there is a list somewhere on the net though.

[ranj]

yeah i remember my friend wanted to import a prelude and he told me something about having to replace a whole bunch of parts and one thing was the wind sheild, i think, but yeah like they said, emmissions and safety equipment.

[RandomGuy]

there are other ways around it ;)

as i'm sure you can think of


just like how citizenship works in the US... lolol there are illegal ways around it that get the job done blahahhaha yoou know this first hand, Alex. ;)

[IDriveToast]

There are other ways around it, yes. I've had 2 friends succeed, and 4 fail. You fail...you lose alllllll that money you just paid for shipping and the car. Not to mention once a company gets flagged for bringing over working cars...they are flagged for life. All their containers (open or closed container) will be checked.

[GSRteg®]

Sounds about right. :yes:


They have to pass emissions and meet all safety requirements. The safety stuff is little things like reflectors in headlights and taillights that older Japanese cars did not have. Emissions is by far the largest part and most essential. Certain ports are easier to get through like New Orleans. A friend of mine got an R34 and had to wait 6 months to get it through customs. There are companies you can buy from in Japan that will do all the legwork at a cost to you.

/end

[sullen]

you can still import the car for a track car and not have to worry about safety standards and emissions. its only to register the car for street use where you run into most of the problems.

[Humphrizzle]

didnt read anyone else's posts but the fully exhaust system, windows, saftey components all need to be changed.

the seat belts are different, the windows arent shatterproof, exhaust doesnt pass emissions.

[BuBBa DRiFT]

register your 180 as a racecar, get 240 vins, and slap em on. you win. all for under 15k :D

[stillaneon]

Talked to one of the guys from Top hat. To get a skyline over her, you have to go to Japan and buy the car, pay someone to take the car apart. Pay to ship the body, and pay for a seperate container for the motor. Then pay to get it through customs. Once it gets here, pay for shipping from port, pay (or do it yourself) to get the car put back together. And then pay over a grand to get it legalized. You CAN drive a skyline (or whatever) the way it is from Japan but you have to get specialized insurance and a whole bunch of other stuff.. Most companies on the west coast charge about 100,000 to do all this or to "legalize" it with exhaust and shit. I would say the amount of money that you would have to put into the car would make me want to run...

[SiGuy]

remove engine and transmission and ship them seperate from car.....(bypasses the emissions)
remove headlights/taillights ship them seperate from car (bypasses the lighting requirements)
remove all windows and ship seperate from car(bypass safety requirements)

import the car as a show car

now these are just some loop holes that i think i figured out while doing some research....i dont know if they are right but from just reading i came up with those....idk

[Maniaç]

Reps all around..

[§treet_§peed]

or from what i read.. find one here already legallized in the states.. but like randomguy said.. there aree always ways to get around certain things.. if you are in the know

[zoborax]

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/...tosd072003.html

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/racing/box7form.pdf

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/TempInfo.html

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/Racing/Index.html

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/..._list010807.htm

http://nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG_Canada07032.html