how do you regester a rhd car? or you cant. I NEED TO KNOW THIS ASAP!! BEFORE I BUY THE CAR!!!!

 

you can drive a rhd car...it depends on what car it is though...

 

yes you can.

 

kool thanks

 

are you gonna bid on that crx on ebay.?

 

call the DMV.

 

my friend bought a 1972 mini cooper and its being imported from england right now so i guess you can legally have them....ive also seen a RHD fairlady Z (imported 240z datsun) that was driven around alot when i lived in atlanta

 

Unless the vehicle is older than 25 it must meet NHTSA and EPA standards if it is to be driven on public streets. In order to meet those requirements an "RI" or Registered Importer must perform the modifications and certify the vehicle. Joe Mechanic need not apply, RIs are the only ones licensed by the gov't to perform such work.

In the case of the Nissan Skyline, Motorex (RI) has apparently done crash testing and otherwise demonstrated that they can make a Skyline conform with the FMVSS and EPA standards. They've probably created several proprietary solutions to the Skyline's specific deficiencies, i.e. lighting, restraints, smog, etc. But I believe the underlying really expensive data (crash testing, etc.) is now public record. Meaning they footed the bill to prove to the gov't that the Skyline chassis is safe the first time and now no one else has to repeat it. I think. I'd have to put on my 1-800 Mr Legal hat and really read the Federal BS to know for sure.

That's not to say there aren't other ways. If your not a resident of the US you can import a car for 1 year without the BS, but then the car MUST be exported or destroyed. Option 2 is called "For Show or Display," where-by you can import a car of "great technical or historical significance" without modification. You have to prove to the gov't a Skyline is a technical marvel. Limited to 2.5k public road miles per year. Option 3, go thru Canada first. Some provinces have loose importation laws and some US states have even looser importation from Canada laws. Option 4, cut it up, front clip, middle and rear. Importing 'scrap' is much easier, once it's here find a good TIG welder, put it back together and convince the Nevada DMV it's a Stanza.

(BTW, the once in a lifetime, no mod thing IS dead. But there is a similar zero duty program still in effect.)

 

You can drive a LHD car that has been modified to RHD legally in the states, rural letter carriers do it all the time. I honestly assume lots of these "RHD" conversions are just LHD cars with switched VIN plates though.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The AntiRice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">call the DMV.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thats the one!

 

i see an rhd hatchback and a skyline it looks like an R32 driving sometimes around the area, so i guess it is legal

 

go buy a car similar style to the one your importing (if there is such a thing) or just a same make and switch the VIN's on em. When you go to register the car tell them a RHD conversion was done on the car. only prob i can see is insurance cuz if you get in an accident your screwed cuz replacement parts will expensive and hard to get unless you know someone in japan lol