Ok, so unlike some, I got the "RHD" bug bite and it won't go away. I'm dead serious about this ****, I have to have it. I've done all the researching possible and this is what I've come up with:
-To import a car to the US all it needs is to comply with US DOT and EPA regulations.
-Any kind of imported CRX DOES NOT meet either.
-If you import to Canada, then here, you WILL meet the EPA regulations.
-Unless your imported CRX has stickers from Honda saying it complies (which it doesn't) then the only LEGAL way to bring it here is have an RI do nothing, but charge a boat load to "bring it into compliance" (even though they have a more technologically advanced brake system...)
-If you buy a foreign car before the paper work is completed with customs, it becomes a Grey market vehicle and cannot be titled by anyone other then an RI.
-You CAN LEGALLY import any kind of CRX (granted Honda gives you the letter of compliance) if you are a Canadian moving to the US.
-Honda WILL NOT give the letter of compliance to an American, plain and simple. The only way to get the DOT letter of compliance is to be a resident of canada, Honda does not encourage or aid in the importing of their foreign vehicles to US citizens for personal/recreational use.

-So I know I can do the kit car/race car thing, but there's a limit on the miles it can be driven/time it can be here, and then you must show proof it's been destroyed or returned to its place of orgin. So that's pretty much a no-no, I want a Daily Driver.
-If I try and bring it over from Canada and they seize it, it first must go up for review as to whether or not it can be brought to conformity. At that time I have to put up 150% of the car's value as a deposit, then either A.pay to destroy it B.Bring it to conformity, something estimated in the $10K range.

So pretty much the legal way's out of the ?
That leaves: VIN swapping, and having a hook up at the BMV.
Any new tricks?
Oh, and too all the people on here with "EF8's":
I always see your post, full of "check out my EF" pics n ****. I got 2 questions, how did you get it registered, and WHY THE HELL DO YOU PEOPLE NEVER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT IN THE THREAD?

 

Free bump for you, because it is true that nobody every says anything about how they managed to import their EF8's/9's haha...I guess importers need to make a living too .

 

Yeah it's just upsetting. You search for this kinda thing and all you get is:
"where/how do I import a SIR?" and the OP has done NO research whatsoever, and everybody responds "search you idiot"
or you find the
"check out my authentic ef8" posts. Where the person is pretty much claiming a car is theres without any kind of proof whatsoever. Then these HT members tend to not come back here??? hmm, wonder if THEY LIED?

but still, this is one of the last things to do as far as ground-breaking stuff in the EF world, nobody's figured it out and it's gotta be done. I'm sure if it were figured out, almost all of you would import one.

So yeah, anyone got any ideas? or anyone with a imported car in the USA not Canada, speak up and tell us how you got it.

 

Another thing I find funny:
All these people claim they know what their talking about and say "yeah dude, it's easier to register it in this state or that state"
When their really talkin a bunch of BS.
It makes no difference what state you live in, unless your state doesn't allow RHD cars or you have additional emissions requirements of your state.
Otherwise, the same rules apply to EVERYONE.

 

Bump because I'm interested too. I've also got the bug GoCRXGo...but just don't have the cash flow to back up my wants/needs. Hope you get some good info to make this happen.

 

Vin swapping is how its done from every car i've seen.
Just know the risks involved.
It's ******* stupid and will land you in jail never to see your rhd rex again but if your that dead set on a crx that has to back through toll booths it's what most imported cars are from ones i've seen.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by doitdub &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bump because I'm interested too. I've also got the bug GoCRXGo...but just don't have the cash flow to back up my wants/needs. Hope you get some good info to make this happen. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Let's hope. By the way it's lookin, the only way to do it legally is to have it modded by an RI or have a Canadian move down here, then sell it to you.
I'm currently in talks with an RI in Ohio here. If I can work something out with them, maybe in the future, HT'ers could import their CRX's through them aswell, have them titled in Ohio, and then just transfer them there.
Im just about enjoyin myself, and want others to do the same, and damn, I want to shift with my left hand.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ***-assin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Vin swapping is how its done from every car i've seen.
Just know the risks involved.
It's ******* stupid and will land you in jail never to see your rhd rex again but if your that dead set on a crx that has to back through toll booths it's what most imported cars are from ones i've seen.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yeah, $10K fine max or 5 years jail max. NO JOKE! (I dont want to do it!)
and they definitely destroy your CRX and mail you the bill...and then the disposal bill...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ***-assin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but if your that dead set on a crx that has to back through toll booths it's what most imported cars are from ones i've seen.</TD></TR></TABLE> E-PASS FTW

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dr_latino999 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> E-PASS FTW </TD></TR></TABLE>
BK will still own you

 

why dont you just buy a crx that has already been imported to the us??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ***-assin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BK will still own you </TD></TR></TABLE> Touche.....looks like Sonics or Checkers only for me

 

Why dont you look for a "JDM spec" Si or SiR up in canda and then bring it down here.
There are issues ( the compliance letter) with bringing a car from canada if the car was originaly imported to canada. Its sopposed to be easier if you buy the car that was originaly from canada.

And have you look at possibly importing a UK EF?

I looked into it awhile back with a guy up in canada and that was as far as we got before I my host crashed with his contact info on it.

This was something I never looked into...ITs just about what you said earlier about a guy from canada moving down here and then selling it. There are canadians who are resident in the US and canada or used to be. But thats just a huge mess sending a car through 2-3 people...

I did not know that about the kit car...thats interesting. Where did you find this at?

 

hat about a RHD conversion from ebay or some ****? and you can import it if it does not have the motor right?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Angry &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why dont you look for a "JDM spec" Si or SiR up in canda and then bring it down here.

And have you look at possibly importing a UK EF?

I did not know that about the kit car...thats interesting. Where did you find this at?</TD></TR></TABLE>
If I wanted a JDM spec CRX, I'd have kept my siR clone. and there are no Canadian siR's.

Im looking at importing a VT (european siR) but it doesn't matter where your importing it from. Where it's coming from has absolutely no effect on bringing it into the country, unless its from Canada, and then you only get to skip emissions, which doesn't help one bit, safety regulations is what stops it from coming into the country.

You can get all the information from the DOT, EPA, and US Customs websites, or your state BMV site, or you can just call your local BMV.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nicks_jdmstyle_ef9 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">why dont you just buy a crx that has already been imported to the us??</TD></TR></TABLE> Oh, IDK..........oh wait, no one has one, thats why (hence this thread)

And for anything regarding to tolls, drive throughs etc, I dont give afuck about leaning over to the passenger window, or even getting out of the car.
Do you really think I'd be going through all this trouble to import it, and be discouraged by a once in awhile inconvvenience?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by gsxr1k05 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hat about a RHD conversion from ebay or some ****? and you can import it if it does not have the motor right?</TD></TR></TABLE>
There are regulations for importing engineless chassis or parts in general. IDK what they are, I haven't considered importing a shell....
I dont want a RHD conversion b/c it's not just about the RHD
Do you have any idea how much time, trouble, and money I can save by buying a real EE8 or EF8?
I get all those "lame" JDM options (leather interior, back seat, maplight, spoiler, siR dash, siR door panels, pwr windows pwr mirrors) at once and at a cheaper price then I could ever find them here or on eBay, not to mentions everything's pre installed by Honda.
Also, it comes with stock B16: no wiring, no after market mounts, none of that.
So I get a clean CRX with a B16 in it installed by the greatest people who could've done it, no boatload of money or time in the RHD conversion...
It's not logical for me to spend so much time and money getting my CRX the way I want it, when I can spend less money, and have it now. I don't have time to do a ton of work, I have to work for $$$ and I wont be able to afford everything individually, and plus, the stuffs getting harder to find.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G0crxG0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Im just about enjoyin myself, and want others to do the same, and damn, I want to shift with my left hand.....</TD></TR></TABLE>
Amen my brutha...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G0crxG0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Let's hope. By the way it's lookin, the only way to do it legally is to have it modded by an RI or have a Canadian move down here, then sell it to you.
I'm currently in talks with an RI in Ohio here. If I can work something out with them, maybe in the future, HT'ers could import their CRX's through them aswell, have them titled in Ohio, and then just transfer them there.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not far from Ohio...I'd be very tempted to take out a loan if you can get this stuff figured out
Need any assistance on my part?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by STREET STYLER &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">we import them in and register them for customers if they want it done</TD></TR></TABLE>
And how do you do this?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by doitdub &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Need any assistance on my part?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Wanna move to Canada with me? then we can both get em! LOL
No but seriously, I'm about out of options here. I have a local RI checking it out.
Other then that, Im all outta options. Basically its a thing like: If you can pay, it can be done. Otherwise, it's too hard.
I'm about to post a write up I did on Importing to the US, just look for it.

 

I was actually thinking about moving to Canada just for this reason...then I thought about it. It's Canada... I want to go South.
Maybe move to Mexico and import there.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G0crxG0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I'm about to post a write up I did on Importing to the US, just look for it.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Hopefully this will come AFTER you get the CRX imported

 

I added a bunch of info to your "OFFICIAL how to import" thread in the EF forum. The info really applies to any car, not just an EF though.

Look at my sig and see the list of cars that I have owned. I am here in the US, not in a foreign country.

Even if you do buy a JDM/EDM car that is imported to Canada, it can not legally be brought into the country for anything except a brief visit, and it has to maintain Canadian plates and registration. By law the only Canadian cars that can be imported are those that are originally manufactured for the Canadian market, and even then there are some restrictions.

Okay, that is the whole legality of the situation...

This is what the reality of the situation is however... 99.9% of people that own imported JDM/EDM cars in the US are either VIN swapping (HIGHLY illegal and you get in big trouble), or they are finding some other way to first get the car into the country like not declaring it all to customs and hiding it in the back of a big container (customs only visually inspects about 10% of all incoming cargo into the US), or by removing the motor, suspension, front sheet metal, etc... and declaring everything as "parts" which is actually legal to do, or if the car is wrecked pretty bad it can be declared as "parts." Then once the parts or the wrecked car or the non-declared car have cleared customs and are on US soil in your possession, you can re-assemble, or repair if necessary.

This is why people say that some states are easier than others... If you take a imported vehicle to your DMV and ask a DMV worker how to register it, 99% of them have never dealt with anything like that ever before, and though there may be official procedures they are supposed to follow, some are ignorant and don't know them, or they try and do it another way, and they will let you register the car even though according to federal law it should not be used on the streets, or not even be allowed in the country on a permanent basis.

Some people will go to the DMV and not mention anything about the car being RHD, or being JDM/EDM, or being imported. They fill out their registration and new title paperwork with the JDM VIN and will just play dumb at the DMV, and ask the DMV what they need to do. The hard part about doing this is that you won't have US title to turn in which will raise suspicion with the DMV about legitimate ownership of the car. If you have a Canadian title your DMV might not even look twice.

Some DMV's and DMV employees will tell you that they require customs paperwork, HS7, NHTSA bond release, EPA 3520-1, etc... If they employee gets nervous, they may ask their supervisor to come help, and the supervisor can look up the proper procedure in the handbook. If this happens you are screwed.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YumVTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you have a Canadian title your DMV might not even look twice.
If this happens you are screwed.</TD></TR></TABLE>
That was the initial pretense I figured I'd import my CRX by. Just hope I can walk it through as a Canadian car. But it's just such a toss up, like you said, if something goes wrong, your screwed.

For the rcord, almost everything you said above and on my other thread, I either listed or summarized it.

 

The difference is that I have actual first-hand experience.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YumVTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The difference is that I have actual first-hand experience. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Would you like a cookie?

I've got first hand experience to: Going through all the BS to find it won't be happening.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G0crxG0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Would you like a cookie?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes actually, that would be nice. Thanks for offering.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by G0crxG0 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I've got first hand experience to: Going through all the BS to find it won't be happening.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Come talk to me when you daily drive a JDM/EDM car that you titled and registered yourself. As you know it's not as easy as some people think. Good luck and best wishes to you dude.

Have you called your DMV to ask them about how you can register a car without a title? That's the one hint I will give you.