I'm having a little bit of trouble with importing a type-r from japan. People think it is alot harder than what it really is but I have done my research and already have a specific R in sight. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone who has ever imported their car from Japan can let me know how they were able to get it cleared with Customs and/or E.P.A and how they registered it. I am pretty sure that it has to be registered as a grey market vehicle. SOMEONE PLEASE REPLY ON THE CUSTOMS CLEARANCE ISSUE....... THANKS

 

good luck with people telling you how to do that, usually they'll keep it to themselves or ask you to pay them some $, from what i heard its a long and tedious paper work and the ran around just my 2 cents! btw i have no info. how to

 

i try doin the same too but gave up on it, i gave up cuz they say i have to actually own the car first. but say if i did but one in japan and they dont appove and clear my **** than i'm expletive'd

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1512157

All in all its pretty impossible .

 

You are in for some headaches.

 

importing a grey market car now is impossible to legalize. u can bring them in, hock ur home for the bond they need and guarantee the govt that ur car will be 'federalized' in 6 months or so.
in the 80s, grey market thrived because of lax laws but now when u import a car, u will be considered a manufacturer and as such u have follow all their test such as crash test, 100k mile test etc.
there are several JDM cars for sale in SFO unregistered. search for the thread and ask them why they havent legalized it.