I know all of the laws are speculated by alot of us here, but I was curious if anyone has any legitimate knowledge about importing from there to here. I know some people import to Canada, but im not near Canada.

I know one law that is for sure, is that the vehicle has to be 20 years old to be eligible to go from Japan to CA legally.

So, does anyone have anything to share?

EDIT: Looks like its 25 years or older...
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/elig092210.pdf

More links
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/420b10028.pdf

How to Register a Foreign Car in CA
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr9.htm

 

Honestly not trying to start an arguement or be rude, but i've always legitimately wondered what the big appeal is with stuff from Japan? Is it just the bragging rights of saying JDM or is it just to be considered different? Hope this doesnt **** you off i've always just seriously wondered

 

I've owned quite a few USDM honda/acura's. I'm just about done with the scene all together due to the youngsters thinking they're all badass with their B16a2, thinking its the same as a B16a siR.

Anyway, i wanted to get something that was NOT some teenagers sloppy seconds. No more motors coming from an unknown background "probably" from Japan.

I want something complete, with everything intact, mileage on the odom actually belonging to the motor under the hood. I dont really care if its RHD, but i like the JDM extras that EF's come with. If i could ever find a true EF2, i'de pick it up.

But i kind of have my heart set on an 92-95 siR2.

 

hahah if you're done with teenagers sloppy seconds you should get out of Hondas all together lol. I was into them when I was a teenager and now after 7-8 years after the fact I got back into it. I wouldnt so much say i'm into the "scene" though. Don't really hang out with Honda kids around where i'm at, I just work on mine and see it as personal preference. Although i'm not so much into it as a DD car though so I don't have to worry about the condition cause i'm overhauling literally everything anyhow. To be honest theres not alot these days that you can get into that teenagers havent raped already. It seems like every kid on the street now has parents with money. Hondas have always been one of the most popular with kids though because of the cheapness and overall availability. If you wanna get away from kiddie rapped vehicles you should move to a truck lol. My DD is a Chevy Avalanche and that thing is pure luxury and I LOVE it. It's a 7000lb full size 4 dr. truck and rides better than any car ive ever owned. However, it wasnt cheap haha. Well I actually have NO idea about import laws so I guess I can't really add to your actual question but good luck and the only thing I really do know for sure is I hope you have deep pockets.

 

I get what you're saying, but i wasnt speaking figuratively about the teens sloppy seconds, i literally meant i will not buy another honda/acura from someone here in socal.

I understand that people over in Japan will do most of the same things kids here to do their cars. But for the most part, then japanese dealers will sell the "stock" honda/acura. That is what i want. I probably wouldnt even touch it very much except for suspension/wheels.

I have a DD, which is a 97 Jetta GLS. I have to get the tags up to date but that is my DD at the moment. Im not into the whole "scene" thing either, i've only been to a few meets myself. I'm 26 with 3 kids, so i have other things to do haha.

 

ya its expensive man, it has to conform to safety and smog laws, i know the windshields and other glass needs to be laminated and as for the smog part idk

oh and to answer buddies question on the jdm hype...lol its not really a hupe but its more about what the other guy said about teenagers raping cars and thinking theyre cool with there 99 si motor, your right theres really nothing to special other than there were more models in japan and some of the motors there arent available here, i dont know about braggin rights but i do know you can make an ef look good from some stock jdm body pieces, and you can also make a pretty mean one (like the sir ef's in japan)

 

All of the inspection stuff comes along when you take the car to be registered with a foreign vin, and a pink from another country. Getting it here is the part im curious about.

Once it gets here, i could swap glass all day long with something USDM, not a problem there, then stick USDM exhaust system on the bitch and go to the REF.

But yea, im not trying to import something so i can show off to people on HT. I just want it for my own gratification. The siR II is probably my favorite Civic out there, so if i could get a legit model i'de be happy.

 

i dont see why you couldnt i mean they way i think it goes down is you find a place in japan that can ship it, then i guess you put that bad boy on a shipping container and send it to cali, to port, then (not sure but ive been told) customs looks in the crate, inside the car might even take it apart etc. then after its been through customs its yours

 

I would talk with someone from Hmotors. You don't live to far from there so either call or show up. I'd ask them about it. They import their lots every two weeks from what I can gather.

 

or you could do that, just where i live its a major bitch to get anything cool like that

 

i got outta jail. i wish r34 was legal!

 

ive seen one or two here at car meets, but i think they came from canada not sure ive seen more r32's and 33's than anything, but yeah i kinda want to find out to because id love to have an SiR II

 

im from canada and i bought my ef6 off a guy who already had it imported. there are alot of places that import around here. for the car to come here it has to be older than 15 years and has to simply pass an out of province inspection. thats all i know about the import laws in canada. in alberta there aren't to many strict laws against modifying cars etc. i guess something you can look into is to find a place with a civic thats already landed so you can see it in person rather than just pictures. that way you dont have to worry about shipping customs etc.

 

I imported to Canada, flew up, and drove the 1,000 miles home. This was in 2006 - not sure if the laws have changed since then.

 

you should be able to import anything really, just depends on how much you wanna spend.
ive seen a few r34's here, ctr's, itr's(dc2 and dc5) amongst other newer models.

 

go to someone who imports cars. one of my friends bought a s14 from a importer in long beach or somthan like that he spent like 15k all together. it was registerd and all untill it got stolen lol

 

ahh that sucks have a nice car just to have it jacked

 

What I read (not an expert).You would have to find a importer like Hmotors. That way they take care of all paper work, taxes, shipping, etc. Then the easiest way to get it in to the states you would have to have the car taken apart. That way the paperwork shows parts not a whole car. Pay your fees wait 3 or more months and pick up your pile of parts at the importer. Or you could find a importer in Canada pick your car (some have cars in stock) take a truck and trailer and pick up your car in Canada. After all that you have the task of registering it in the states (cali being the hardest).

 

If a car imported then title in canada, would it be eazier to get it titled in the states with a title from canada and not japan?

 

You would have to be an resident of Canada to get a Canadian title.

 

I have minimal knowledge and experience importing a car..from another country, THIS much I do know...I have 1999 BMW 738 (The ONLY model 7 Series BMW that was made in a Manual, the same exact model used in The Transporter, was availible with a 5 or 6 speed transmission, and I barely drive it, infact I keep it in another state (PA) because i'm scared to break something on it..IE:Transmission)

Now I bought the car in germany through the dealer, and THEY handled all of the shipping,paperwork, ect...so if you are infact going to purchase this car I would infact A)Try to get it through a dealer, they pay LESS to ship then you would if you tried to just have it shipped from a private owner or if you just covered the cost of shipping.

DEPENDING on the state, some of the ports can "LEgalize" your car right there at the marina. I live in Jersey, when My car came in the the marina handled my emissions, ect and associated hardware (BMW's in Europe are sold completely unrestricted, govenors off, Free Flowing less restrictive exaust, ect, ect) it was at that point that I recieved a form saying that the car was LEGAL to register and operate in US soil....(Even though I wound up later on taking the govenor BACK off and putting the original exaust back on)

OR...

You could go the illegal way...SHIP it as Furniture..take the vin # from some civic in the junkyard and register the car keeping the information you use (COlor, vehicle type, model type, ect) in synch with the car and pay NOTHING as far as getting it emissions/US regulations safe <-----I was joking, don't do that...it CAN be done, but in the long run if they find out they not only take ur car but u get hit with a huge fine and criminal charges get pressed..they took my cousings Japan Sourced, Mugen Built NSX from him because he did the same thing, charged him a $100,000 fine and took the car from it, he had to pay another 20K to get the car BACK, and even after that he still couldn't drive it.



HONESTLY man..it's not worth it.

Buy yourself a car over here, and if you're THAT adamant about getting something fresh, do the car from the ground up, brand new, JDM everything..RESTO-MOD as they call it.

 

I bought my Honda Beat from an importer in Canada. He promised a Georgia title, clean papers, etc. I picked up the car (in fantastic condition) and had a temporary 30 day canada tag on it, and drove it home. He ended up screwing me on the paperwork and never gave me what I needed to get it registered. I know two other Honda Beat owners that went through him and got theirs registered - not sure why he decided to screw me. I ended up selling the car to a museum 3 months later since I could not legally register it.