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Imported motor vehicles are subject
to U.S. safety standards, bumper standards, and air pollution control
(emission) standards. Most vehicles manufactured abroad that conform
with U.S. safety, bumper, and emission standards are exported expressly
for sale in the United States; therefore, it is unlikely that a
vehicle obtained abroad meets all relevant standards. Be skeptical
of claims by a foreign dealer or other seller that a vehicle meets
these standards or can readily be brought into compliance. Nonconforming
vehicles entering the United States must be brought into compliance,
exported, or destroyed.
NOTE: lmports from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, or North
Korea, or that involve the governments of those countries, are generally
prohibited. See Prohibited
Imports
for more information.
CONTENTS:
Prior Arrangements
The owner must make arrangements for
shipping a vehicle. Have your shipper or carrier notify you of the
vehicle's arrival date so that Customs can clear it. Shipments are
cleared at the first port of entry unless you arrange for a freight
forwarder abroad to have the vehicle sent in bond to a Customs port
more convenient to you.
Customs officers are prohibited by
law from acting as agents or making entries for an importer. However,
you may employ a commercial customs broker to handle your entry.
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Documentation
For Customs clearance you will need
the shipper's or carrier's original bill of lading, the bill of
sale, foreign registration, and any other documents covering the
vehicle. You will also need written prior approval from the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), which will be evident to the Customs inspector
at the port of entry in the form of an approval letter from the
EPA, or a manufacturer's label in the English language affixed to
the car, stating that the vehicle meets all U.S. emission requirements.
Or, you may make arrangements to import
your vehicle with an Independent Commercial Importer (ICI). In this
case, the ICI will import your vehicle and perform any EPA-required
modifications and be responsible for assuring that all EPA requirements
have been met. ICIs can only import certain vehicles, however, and
in general, their fees are very high.
See below for Department of Transportation
(DOT) requirements and for
driver's
license and tag requirements.
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Cleaning
the Undercarriage
To safeguard against importation of
dangerous pests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that
the undercarriage of imported cars be free of foreign soil. Have
your car steam-sprayed or cleaned thoroughly before shipment.
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Your
Car is Not a Shipping Container
For your own safety, security, and
convenience, DO NOT use your car as a container for personal
belongings.
- Your possessions are susceptible
to theft while the vehicle is on the loading and unloading docks
and in transit.
- Many shippers and carriers will
not accept your vehicle if it contains personal belongings.
- The entire contents of your car
must be declared to Customs on entry. Failure to do so can result
in a fine or seizure of the car and its contents.
- Your vehicle may be subject to seizure,
and you may incur a personal penalty, if anyone uses it as a conveyance
for illegal narcotics.
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Dutiable
Entry
Foreign-made vehicles imported into
the U.S., whether new or used, either for personal use or for sale,
are generally dutiable at the following rates:
Autos. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 2.5%
Trucks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25%
Motorcycles. . . . . . . . . . 3% or 3.4% |
Duty rates are based
on price paid or payable. Most Canadian-made vehicles are duty-free.
As a returning U.S. resident, you may
apply your $400 Customs exemption and those of accompanying family
members toward the value of the vehicle if it:
- Accompanies you on your return;
- Is imported for personal use; and
- Was acquired during the journey
from which you are returning.
For Customs purposes, a returning U.S.
resident is one who is returning from travel, work, or study abroad.
After the exemption has been applied, a flat duty rate of 10% is
applied toward the next $ 1,000 of the vehicle's value. The remaining
amount is dutiable at the regular duty rate.
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Free
Entry
NONRESIDENTS may import a vehicle duty-free
for personal use if the vehicle is imported in conjunction with
the owner's arrival. Nonconforming vehicles must be exported within
one year and may not be sold in the U.S. There is no exemption or
extension of the export requirement. Conforming vehicles imported
under the duty-free exemption are dutiable if sold within one year
of importation. Duty must be paid at the most convenient Customs
office before the sale is completed.
U.S. CITIZENS employed abroad or government
employees returning on TDY or voluntary leave may import a foreign
made car free of duty provided they enter the U.S. for a short visit,
claim nonresident status, and export the vehicle when they leave.
MILITARY AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES of
the U.S. government returning at the end of an assignment to extended
duty outside the customs territory of the U.S. may include a conforming
vehicle among their duty-free personal and household effects. The
auto must have been purchased abroad and be in its owner's possession
prior to departure. Generally, extended duty is 140 days or more.
Navy personnel serving aboard a U.S. naval vessel or a supporting
naval vessel from its departure from the U.S. to its return after
an intended overseas deployment of 120 days or more are entitled
to the extended duty exemption.
Conforming vehicles so imported may
remain in the U.S. indefinitely once a formal entry is made for
EPA purposes. (See below, "Emission
Standards.")
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Cars Imported
for Other Purposes
Nonresidents may import an automobile
or motorcycle and its usual equipment free of duty for a temporary
stay to take part in races or other specific purposes. However,
prior written approval from the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is required and such approval is granted only to those racing
vehicles that EPA deems not capable of safe or practical use on
streets and highways. If the contests are for other than money purposes,
the vehicle may be admitted for 90 days without formal entry or
bond if the Customs officer is satisfied as to the importer's identity
and good faith. The vehicle becomes subject to forfeiture if it
is not exported or if a bond is not given within 90 days of its
importation. Prior authorization must be obtained from DOT if the
vehicle does not conform to all applicable Federal motor vehicle
safety standards.
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Safety, Bumper,
and Theft Prevention Standards
Motor vehicles not more than 25 years
old must conform to the Department of Transportation (DOT) motor
vehicle safety standards that were in effect when these vehicles
were manufactured. Passenger cars manufactured after September 1,
1973 must also meet bumper standards. The importer must file form
DOT
HS-7 (this link is a .pdf
file; click here for free download software) at
the time of entry, indicating whether the vehicle conforms to applicable
safety and bumper standards. The original manufacturer is required
to affix a label to the vehicle certifying that these standards
have been met if the vehicle is intended for sale in the United
States. Vehicles that do not bear a certification label attached
by the original manufacturer must be entered as a nonconforming
vehicle under a DOT bond for one and a half times the vehicle's
dutiable value. This is in addition to the regular Customs entry
bond.
Unless specifically excepted, the importer
must sign a contract with a DOT Registered Importer (RI),
who will modify the vehicle to conform with all applicable safety
and bumper standards and who can certify the modifications. A copy
of the RI's contract must be attached to the DOT HS-7 form and furnished
to the Customs Service with the DOT bond at the port of entry. A
list of RIs
is available from DOT and should be obtained before you decide to
import a vehicle. Furthermore, DOT requires that the vehicle model
and model year must, prior to entry, be determined eligible for
importation. A DOT RI can advise you whether your vehicle is eligible;
if it is not, the RI can submit a petition in your behalf to have
your vehicle considered for eligibility, if you so desire. Understand,
however, that fees must be paid at the time such petitions are filed.
For additional information or
details on these requirements, see DOT's National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration website,
or call (202) 366-5313 or fax (202) 366-1024, or write: U.S. Department
of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Director of the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (NEF-32), 400
7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20590.
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Federal
Tax
Certain imported automobiles may be
subject to the "gas-guzzler" tax. The amount of the tax
is based on a combined urban/highway fuel-economy (miles per gallon)
rating assigned by the EPA for gas-guzzler tax purposes. This EPA
rating may be different from fuel-economy ratings indicated by the
manufacturer.
If the EPA has not assigned a gas-guzzler
fuel-economy rating for the model automobile you import, a rating
must be independently determined. No tax is imposed on automobiles
that have a combined fuel-economy rating of at least 22.5 miles
per gallon.
Additional information may be
obtained from your local district office
of the Internal Revenue Service.
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Emission
Standards
The following passenger cars, light-duty
trucks, heavy-duty engines and motorcycles are subject to Federal
emission standards:
- Gasoline-fueled cars and light-duty
trucks originally manufactured after December 31, 1967.
- Diesel-fueled cars originally manufactured
after December 31, 1974.
- Diesel-fueled light-duty trucks
originally manufactured after December 31, 1975.
- Heavy-duty engines originally manufactured
after December 31, 1969.
- Motorcycles with a displacement
of more than 49 cubic centimeters originally manufactured after
December 31, 1977.
Beginning with the 1974 model year,
vehicles that were originally manufactured to meet U.S. emission
requirements, if driven outside the United States, Canada, Mexico,
Japan, Australia, Taiwan or the Bahama Islands, may be required
to have their oxygen sensor and/or catalytic converter replaced.
You may import your U.S.-version vehicle under a Customs bond and
have any qualified mechanic perform the necessary work. You should
contact the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) directly for detailed
requirements and options before shipping your vehicle.
Nonconforming vehicles must be imported
for you by a currently certified Independent Commercial Importer
(ICI), a list of which is available from the EPA. This list should
be obtained before you decide to import a car. The ICI will be responsible
for assuring that your car complies with all U.S. emission requirements.
(As of July 1, 1988, EPA no longer has the one-time exemption for
vehicles five or more model-years old.) Be aware that EPA will deny
entry to certain makes, models, and model years if an ICI is not
certified or is unwilling to accept responsibility for the vehicle(s)
in question.
For importing motor vehicles,
the EPA has an Information Faxback
System: 202-564-9660, and additional Voice Help: 202-564-9240. Ask
for a copy of the Automotive Imports Facts Manual (order #EPA420B94006),
which describes emission requirements for imported vehicles. You
may also contact the EPA by faxing (202) 565-2057, or writing: U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Manufacturers Operations Division
6405-J, Investigation/Imports Section, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington,
D.C. 20460.
Individual state emission requirements
may differ from those of the federal government. Proper registration
of a vehicle in a state may depend upon satisfaction of its requirements,
so you should contact the appropriate state authorities prior to
importation. Be aware, however, that EPA will not accept compliance
with a state's emission requirements as satisfying EPA's.
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A Word of Caution
Both the Department of Transportation
(DOT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advise that
although a nonconforming car may be conditionally admitted, the
modifications required to bring it into compliance may be so extensive
and costly that it may be impractical and even impossible to achieve
such compliance. Moreover, some vehicle models are prohibited from
importation. It is highly recommended that these prohibitions and
modifications be investigated before a vehicle is purchased for
importation.
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Exceptions
The following vehicles need not conform
to emission or safety requirements but may NOT be sold in the U.S.
and may require EPA and DOT declarations:
- Those imported by nonresidents for
personal use not exceeding one year. The vehicle must be exported
at the end of that year-no exceptions or extensions.
- Those belonging to members of foreign
armed forces, foreign diplomatic personnel, and members of public
international organizations on assignment in the U.S. for whom
free entry has been authorized by the Department of State.
- Those temporarily imported for research,
demonstration, or competition, provided they are not licensed
for use, or driven, on public roads. Parties responsible for such
vehicles must submit proper documents-that is, forms EPA 3520-1
and DOT HS-7 to Customs at the time entry is made. Also, applicable
written approvals from these agencies must be obtained in advance
and presented to Customs along with these forms. Remember, the
cost to return vehicles that have been refused prior approval
can be very high and must be borne by the vehicle's owner(s).
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Driver's
Plates and Permits
Imported cars should bear the International
Registration Marker. The International Driving Permit, issued in
five languages, is a valuable asset. Consult an international automobile
federation or your local automobile club about these documents.
- FOREIGN NATIONALS employed in the
U.S. may use their foreign license tags from the port of entry
to their destination in the U.S.
- NATIONALS OF CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN
countries that have ratified the Inter-American Convention of
1943 may drive their cars in the U.S. for touring purposes for
one year or the validity of the documents, whichever is shorter,
without U.S. license plates or U.S. driver's permits, provided
the car carries the International Registration Marker and registration
card, and the driver has the International Driving Permit.
- MOTORISTS VISITING THE UNITED STATES
as tourists from countries that have ratified the Convention on
International Road Traffic of 1949 may drive in the U.S. for one
year with their own national Iicense plates (registration tags)
on their cars and with their own personal driver's licenses.
- MOTORISTS FROM CANADA AND MEXICO
are permitted to tour in the U.S. without U.S. license plates
or U.S. driver's permits, under agreements between the United
States and these countries.
- MOTORISTS FROM A COUNTRY NOT A PARTY
to any of the above agreements must secure a driving permit in
the U.S. after taking an examination.
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Prohibited
Imports
lmports from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya,
or North Korea, or that involve the governments of those countries,
are generally prohibited pursuant to regulations issued by the Treasury
Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC). Prior to any attempt to make such an import,
information concerning the prohibitions and licensing policy should
be obtained by calling (202) 622-2500, faxing (202) 622-1657, or
writing: Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department
of the Treasury, 2nd Floor ANX, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20220.
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HELP!
All regulations of Customs and other
agencies are not covered in full, and they are subject to change.
Before importing your vehicle, be sure to contact the Customs
Attaché or Commercial Officer at your
nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy, or the appropriate agency below
(particularly DOT and EPA):
Customs Service
If you are outside
the United States, contact the Customs Attaché or Commercial
Officer at your
nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
U.S. Customs Service
Washington, DC 20229
Telephone (202) 927-6724
http://www.customs.gov
Department of Transportation
(DOT)
DOT's
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website
Telephone: (202) 366-5313
Fax: (202) 366-1024
U.S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration
Director of the Office of Vehicle
Safety Compliance (NEF-32)
400 7th Street SW
Washington, DC 20590
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA)
EPA
Office of Transportation and Air Quality
Telephone: 202-564-9240
Faxback System: 202-564-9660
Fax: (202) 565-2057
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Manufacturers Operations Division
6405-J
Investigation/Imports Section
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Find your local IRS office at this
website
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The information
provided in this website is not legal advice and should not be interpreted
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of this information in summary form. This information may not be
comprehensive, is subject to change, and may not apply to all individual
circumstances. Any information received here should be confirmed
with the appropriate government agencies or with an attorney, particularly
as it relates to your individual circumstances. Your use of this
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