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Thread: How much/How to legalize a jap car here in U.S

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    ^IA's most loved^ UpSideDownDesi's Avatar
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    Default How much/How to legalize a jap car here in U.S

    Need to know how much is to legalize a jap car here in U.S....tag, title, etc etc. What are some of the cars that can't be legalized? From what i know Jap cars same as U.S like Integra, civic, Silvia (other than S15)....probably won't be as hard as some of the cars that weren't sent to U.S like S15 and Skyline R34 (i am thinking impossible on R34). Some please give me a link or some good info on what are some of the step required to make a Jap car U.S street legal and how much all that would cost? Thanx
    Last edited by UpSideDownDesi; 05-14-2006 at 01:53 AM. Reason: edit

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    the old man NAIZBST's Avatar
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    I would say motorex but I think that is gone down the tube.

    I would call the DMV or your insurance agent to find out where to look and go for answers

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    ^IA's most loved^ UpSideDownDesi's Avatar
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    will do....any other info?

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    ^IA's most loved^ UpSideDownDesi's Avatar
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    bump

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    Jay G. 1439/2000's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by UpSideDownDesi
    Need to know how much is to legalize a jap car here in U.S....tag, title, etc etc. What are some of the cars that can't be legalized? From what i know Jap cars same as U.S like Integra, civic, Silvia (other than S15)....probably won't be as hard as some of the cars that weren't sent to U.S like S15 and Skyline R34 (i am thinking impossible on R34). Some please give me a link or some good info on what are some of the step required to make a Jap car U.S street legal and how much all that would cost? Thanx
    Listen, are you really going to do this? A thread comes up every couple weeks about it. Just buy an integra and make it rhd if you want to be "cool".

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    Drifter/Kneedragger
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    this has been discussed in depth many many many times. it's not easy or cheap, and most cars you'd actually want from Japan are not able to be legalized at all. you'll end up spending at least 3 times what the vehicle is worth to do it properly at the very least, so it's really not worth it unless you're independently wealthy and have money to burn.

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    Cobra KAI AznTraitor's Avatar
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    What hipsi said.


    How soon do you want it? Because no matter how much money you have, it's gonna sit in customs for at least 1 solid month before even getting looked at sitting in a container. Seriously....if it was that easy, dont you think EVERYONE would already be doing it? It's costly and time consuming, and in the end not worth it. Sure you could probably get a RHD Teg or Hatch for next to nothing, but shipping costs, inspection costs, etc....equals $$$$

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    ^IA's most loved^ UpSideDownDesi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 1439/2000
    Listen, are you really going to do this? A thread comes up every couple weeks about it. Just buy an integra and make it rhd if you want to be "cool".
    i got a integra and it's not about being cool (converting LHD to RHD isn't easy either). I am not stupid, not wealthy, and not gonna burn money into it if it's too much $$$$. I am trying to get info on exactly how much will it end up costing.....don't really care about time ( i am patient). Well thanx for the input. I'll dig up some stuff on my own and if i need some help......there's always IA.

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    The JDM Man Cool Cat GTR's Avatar
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    If you want to do it as right as possible, you need to budget $17,000.00 for OBD1 cars and $25,000.00 for OBD11 cars. Shipping will cost you an additional $1,500.00 for roll on-roll off if you can get on a schedule or $4,000.00 to use a container which is quicker and safer. Plan on six to nine months once the car is found and purchased. The above amounts will be used for de-registering the car in Japan, bonding for the states, customs fees, DOT fees, NHSTA fees, and EPA fees. That's to do it right.

    Or you can go to some less reputable companies who disassemble the cars and ship them to the states in parts. The cars clear customs with no problems and you put them back together and tell the state DMV that you built a kit car and the state gets their fees and there you go. That can back fire on you if somebody gets sand in their vagina and reports you. Also, some of the cars that enter the states as I just described are cars that were stolen in Japan with no de-registration so you could ultimately be found guilty of receiving stolen goods.

    There are all kinds of ways to do it but it all depends on how much risk you want to take.

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    ^IA's most loved^ UpSideDownDesi's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cool Cat GTR
    If you want to do it as right as possible, you need to budget $17,000.00 for OBD1 cars and $25,000.00 for OBD11 cars. Shipping will cost you an additional $1,500.00 for roll on-roll off if you can get on a schedule or $4,000.00 to use a container which is quicker and safer. Plan on six to nine months once the car is found and purchased. The above amounts will be used for de-registering the car in Japan, bonding for the states, customs fees, DOT fees, NHSTA fees, and EPA fees. That's to do it right.

    Or you can go to some less reputable companies who disassemble the cars and ship them to the states in parts. The cars clear customs with no problems and you put them back together and tell the state DMV that you built a kit car and the state gets their fees and there you go. That can back fire on you if somebody gets sand in their vagina and reports you. Also, some of the cars that enter the states as I just described are cars that were stolen in Japan with no de-registration so you could ultimately be found guilty of receiving stolen goods.

    There are all kinds of ways to do it but it all depends on how much risk you want to take.
    Good info .

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    Got a 95 GTS-T titled and registered in GA..Passed emissions. $16K. Also other cars for sale in Mississippi, NOT KIT CARS, R33 GTS-T (2 of them) R33 GT-R (one) and a Silvia Aero Spec R (one). PM me if you are interested. don't screw around, just to the point.

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