To everyone interested in importing a car into the United States:

At first, the prospects seem to be overwhelming. How exactly does one bring a car into the states? What is involved to LEGALLY get the vehicle in, cleared through customs, and finally registered in your state?

I have semi-investigated this and can give this summary taken from Federal publications. I think that the best thing to do is for you to make the same sort of phone calls I did and get the info for yourself. The following is merely to give you hope that it can be done.

First, call both customs and the EPA. From Customs, get a brochure entitled "Importing a car and pleasure Boats". This may be obtained from the nearest customs office free by mail (your tax dollars at work). From the EPA, get the "Automotive imports fact sheet" and also helpful may be "Buying a car overseas? Beware!"

The bottom line, in my humble opinion is that customs wants your money for importing something with a value. You will have to pay a duty. As far as that goes, get things in writing. I have heard different explanations for the different import duties and would rather be charged 2.5% duty than 25% duty (these seem to be your only choices!)

As far as the EPA goes, they are going to be certain that no vehicle gets in that will pollute. If you import a vehicle that is gasoline fueled and manufactured prior to Jan 1, 1968, you can claim "EPA form 3520-1 declaration category R exemption". If you import a diesel fueled light duty vehicle originally manufactured prior to Jan 1, 1975, you have "EPA form 3520, exemtion S". GET THE DEFINITION OF LIGHT DUTY VEHICLE FOR EVERYONE< PLEASE> If you import a diesel fueled light duty truck originally manufactured prior to jan 1, 1976, you have "EPA form 3520, exemption T" AS ABOVE, GET THE DEFINITION OF LIGHT DUTY TRUCK< PLEASE>.

If you want to import something newer, you are going to have to go through an approved independent commercial importer (ICI). (Unless the vehicle has a US certfication sticker on it, meaning it was probably imported here for sale anyway) The EPA has a list of these, there are about 6 in the whole united states. The ICI will recieve a car from customs and modify to meet u.s. emissions and then certify it and then you may have it. Of course, you pay for all this. Check it out before hand. The ICI must agree to do your car. He doesn't have to. Diesels are not popular from what I've heard.

If you get past all this, there are at least two other stumbling blocks. The IRS and the DOT. If you want to import an old car with an epa exemption, the DOT will not care. I was told this over the phone by EPA. Check it out for yourself. When in doubt, send the DOT all the details by mail and get a response from them. The IRS was not as easy. They told me over the phone that old cars still had to meet the gas guzzler tax provisions. However, after reading the material they sent me, I found a summary that said "this revenue procedure is effective with respect to 1980 and later model year automobiles". Thus, old rovers are (should not be?) no problem.

If you get serious, put a note on the rover list or perhaps the british car list and solicit help from people who have actually done this. Alternatively, check for advertisements in car magazines.

I hope this helps someone. I hope to soon complete the purchase of a vehicle that was imported by someone else as a business venture and thus will not go through it personally.

PS in california, 1966 and newer cars need to go through a smog check. What standards they have to meet are published in a state book. I just checked the local 76 station and 1968 2.6 liter 6 cyl is listed, so I'm OK on that front. From a little state book, it would appear that if things are not up to state standards, the most I will have to pay to fix it is $50 (due to the age of the vehicle).

Cheers, John Hess, jfhess@ucdavis.edu