hey guys......im currently in japan and im trying to source a way to get my car back to the states LEGALY. im not too worried about registering it but if anyone knows how to get it back without it getting crushed or exported back could you help me out.

if you know of a way to register it too that would also be helpful.

thanks

 

i wish i knew. but i am definitely interested in finding out too. so i will be keeping an eye on this post

 

i dont know if youve heard of these guys, but N1Concepts can help you with that. they can't import the full car, but they import the shell and chassis and then drop the correct engine in it. i do believe they can help you register it and everything, not too sure.

http://www.n1concepts.com/Default.asp

 

You have to get an importer (exporter over there) who should tell you the list of info/paperwork you need. They take care of the shipping. $$$$

You must import the car under one of these circumstances...

1.) Importing for off road use only
2.) Importing as auto parts (motor and body separate peices)
3.) You plan on legally obtaining a US title.

Importing for off road use only
Once you import the car for off road use only, it can NEVER obtain a US title to drive on public roads. (Youll never be able to legally drive it on public roads )

Importing as auto parts
If you import the car as automobile parts, you CANNOT put the motor back in it and obtain a US title to drive on public roads. You could make it a track car/off road use only vehicle but its technically contraband at that point. (importing an item for one reason and using it for another) But i doubt youll ever get it impounded at the track!

You plan on legally obtaining a US title
There is not ONE Honda Integra Type R driving on US public roads legally. PERIOD. In order to obtain a US TITLE and to get LEGAL vehicle state registration, you have to import the car for the purpose of getting "legalized" so to speak. Youre looking well into 6 figures to get it legal. Youll have to replace seat belts, air bags, door beams, glass, bumper supports, mirrors, head lights, taillights, get it EPA certified, and provide crash test ratings.

However, Honda of Japan will not provide you with crash test ratings for a Honda ITR. Youll have to be the one providing the DOT with crash test ratings. So youll need to import several more ITRs. (must be same model and year) It cost several thousand dollars to have a certified company crash your cars too. Did i mention youll have to install ALL of the US Spec safety equipment on each crash car too.

Dont beleive me? Make the calls yourself. Ive spent countless hours on the phone with EPA/DOT/and NHTSA. It sucks I know, Ive wanted my own 98 spec R since I was 10! Good thing is, once Honda R's are 25 years after their production, we can import them without meeting all these USDM safety standards and EPA standards! Until then you could just have a cool garage queen track *****.

If you have any more questions Ill try to answer them.

 

^^^This is illegal.

 

http://www.jdmlegends.com/

you could try these guys, they get mostly older stuff but im sure if you asked them they could help you out anyway they can

 

Sounds like you've done some homework. Thanks for the info! Do you know if this stands true for all 50 states? I know there are some restrictions, etc., etc. that vary from state DOT to state DOT.

 

Dr. DC2 Thank you for the info..... I have been wanting a JDM 98R......

 

Who wants my r im willing to part with it for the right price milano red to

 

the post with all the info is basically where it's at. the few jdm itr's i've seen are illegal. one i knew of had a vin swap. it's a felony and you can do time for it but basically you rob the vin info from a us spec car and transfer it to the jdm itr for registering. on paper your jdm itr is a 95 rs. the legal albeit time consuming way to do it is to use that 95rs frame and transfer everything off the jdm itr onto it. there are a few technically illegal things going on when you do this but it would be really hard to get caught, especially if you register the car LHD and swap the RHD in after you obtain a title. using an obd1 shell also makes the wiring easier since you can pass emissions with an obd1 ecu. obd2 cars that require the scan tool mean you would have to find a usdm p73 ecu which is somewhat hard to do and you would have to swap the cfs and vtec solenoid from a usdm car.

 

hmm some cool stuff here bump

 

see i knew about shipping the frame and motor seperate. i actually called nhtsb and thats what they advised me to do.

they also said if i wanted it road worthy i would have to bring back 4 cars of the same model year and 3 would be crash tested to deam what needed to be corrected so it could be registered.

then i would would have to have a registered importer do all the work and it would cost upwords of 20 thousand to get it registered and have it modified to meet dot standards. not including what it would cost to do the crash testing.

looks like ill be shipping the frame and motor seperate and have myslef a dedicated track car.

 

I want a 2000 PY Rx so bad, this is making me look into it further. Thanks for the info Dr.DC2

 

I don't believe j-spec integras have an obd system. Wouldn't you need to rewire a post 95 model year to n/a spec obdII systems?

 

why not just and import one and use it strictly as a track car...if you DD it, it'll just get stolen anyways

 

Pretty much the best way to do it. After 25 yrs, you can legally drive it elsewhere like any other vehicle. And yeah, daily drive it, it will most likely end up missing.

 

So every jdm itr that is in the usa and is registered is still an illegal car?

 

It just doesn't seem worth it to try to register one here. Way too many risks.

 

Pretty much. Even though it may be registered by a state, that doesn't mean anything. They can still confiscate it and charge you to crush it as well.

 

In Japan, most track events don't require the car to be street legal (although some do require that the car be registered)... For the track events that don't require registration, a lot people haul cars on trailers or use transporters.

Although illegal, some people go as far as getting temporary license plates (which are supposed to be used to transport to ad from inspection centers to be registered) to drive to the track. Is there like a temporarily license plate (like a dealer's plate) you can use to transport car from point a to b? If so, that's the route I'd go.

 

it's not one that a scan tool works with but they are compatible. i have a jdm itr ecu running a jdm itr motor in my integra. they are a direct plug in the 96-99 usdm gsr harness. when you try and access it with a scan tool it's dead but the car runs trouble free. this is why obd1 cars are wise if you have to put them through emissions. you can hondata a p72 ecu and have everything check out. obd2 requires the scan when most states do emissions testing.

 

the popular but illegal spin on this is to get a usdm base car of the same color, register it, they swap everything vin related to your imported for the track only jdm itr. instant presto you have a street car and most states it would fly with any cop that pulls you over.

the disclaimer is obviously this is another felony you're committing doing it if the wrong people find out. the hardest part is cutting the vin on the frame and welding it in the jdm itr, grinding down the welds and repainting.

 

if you are in the military they will ship 1 vehicl one a military boat to the states for you no charge.i knew a few people when i was in that did that

 

YessiR, I have done a lot of research. And yes, it’s ALL 50 states, no exceptions. These laws are all FEDERAL which all states fall under!

Ive put a lot of time looking into this topic, I feel ya! Ive wanted a Honda R most of my life!

I like giving this kinda info out! Good luck! My advice to you is to wait until the vehicle is 25 years or older and you can legally enjoy the caR here in the states.

YES… not a single one is legal!

There is no “temporary plate” you could use that would make it legal. Dealer plates illegal on a grey market vehicle. A dealer plate can only be used on a vehicle which meets US safety/emissions standards.

Not necessarily. Im in the Air Force and the gov will NOT ship a vehicle to/from any Asian country. They will only pay for vehicle shipments if it is to/from a European country.

If anyone has anymore questions feel free to ask. Ill be more than happy to try and help you out! thanks

 

i'd settle for a lot of things euro... lol