K
shipping
dssur
+1y
its not that the prices get jacked way up, it is the EPA and customs federalization procedure.
So when a company makes a model of truck, they have to have it federalized for sale in the US. It costs around 5 million dollars and they have to supply 4-5 of the trucks for crash and emissions testing. They have to do this for EVERY MODEL of truck. SO if they want to sell a std and ext cab, thats 10 million and 10 trucks destroyed. And spending the money does not guarantee the trucks will even pass crash and emission standards. Manufacturers therfor decide which models will sell well, and import them. If a model will likely not sell enough over its life to recoup the 5 million investment, they just dont import it. Thats why Mazda went to the ford body for the US market and kept Mazda bodies in production for everywhere else, because the US made body was alreay federalized.
So what you pay when you bring in a unique model is the cost of federalizing a single model. You cant just pick what you want to bring in, it has to be similar enough to a model sold in the US for the same production year to even be able to import it. If it can be shown to be close enough to the US model, it costs about 8-10k to import and get an EPA and Crash cert. Most of the cost goes to the RI (reistered importer) who assumes all liability for making the vehicle meet standards. If it didnt have side impact door beams, they have to be installed. You have to install NEW catalysts and exhaust pieces, cant use used. You have to switch the gauges to US mph and odometer. BUmpers have to meet the 5mph standard. Etc etc, ther are a lot of things, seat belts, gas tank filler flap, stuff you would never think would matter in a million years.
What happens if you try to bring in a whole vehicle without using an RI? All vehicle shipments are routed through the same ports and every container is inspected by customs. A vehicle from a foreign market without importing paperwork is held at customs till you get an RI to work out the paperwork, or one of two things will happen. You can either pay to have it sent back to its country of origin, or it can be crushed.
You can try to bring in a whole cab to swap over to a US model truck, but be careful. It is easy to cut a truck in half and remove the engine and import it as parts. But when you out driving your creation, a savvy cop who realizes they didnt make a 4 door Isuzu in 1993 for the US market can call for a VIN inspection to be done and if the cab did not have US federalization history, same deal, exported or crushed. And guess what, if you ever SELL it the feds will trace it back to who built in and you will be liable. Even 10 years down the road.
Vehicles over 25 years old are not subject to any import restrictions, you can bring in as many as you like for usually just over the cost of frieght.
And if you dont think I know what I am talking about and that you can sneak it in, remember what I said when you get a call from customs! I'm also into BMW's and have owned a couple foreign market cars. THere was a tense moment at the tag office when I tried to register my European market 323i, until they found the RI badge in the door jamb. Then it was smoooth sailing.
So when a company makes a model of truck, they have to have it federalized for sale in the US. It costs around 5 million dollars and they have to supply 4-5 of the trucks for crash and emissions testing. They have to do this for EVERY MODEL of truck. SO if they want to sell a std and ext cab, thats 10 million and 10 trucks destroyed. And spending the money does not guarantee the trucks will even pass crash and emission standards. Manufacturers therfor decide which models will sell well, and import them. If a model will likely not sell enough over its life to recoup the 5 million investment, they just dont import it. Thats why Mazda went to the ford body for the US market and kept Mazda bodies in production for everywhere else, because the US made body was alreay federalized.
So what you pay when you bring in a unique model is the cost of federalizing a single model. You cant just pick what you want to bring in, it has to be similar enough to a model sold in the US for the same production year to even be able to import it. If it can be shown to be close enough to the US model, it costs about 8-10k to import and get an EPA and Crash cert. Most of the cost goes to the RI (reistered importer) who assumes all liability for making the vehicle meet standards. If it didnt have side impact door beams, they have to be installed. You have to install NEW catalysts and exhaust pieces, cant use used. You have to switch the gauges to US mph and odometer. BUmpers have to meet the 5mph standard. Etc etc, ther are a lot of things, seat belts, gas tank filler flap, stuff you would never think would matter in a million years.
What happens if you try to bring in a whole vehicle without using an RI? All vehicle shipments are routed through the same ports and every container is inspected by customs. A vehicle from a foreign market without importing paperwork is held at customs till you get an RI to work out the paperwork, or one of two things will happen. You can either pay to have it sent back to its country of origin, or it can be crushed.
You can try to bring in a whole cab to swap over to a US model truck, but be careful. It is easy to cut a truck in half and remove the engine and import it as parts. But when you out driving your creation, a savvy cop who realizes they didnt make a 4 door Isuzu in 1993 for the US market can call for a VIN inspection to be done and if the cab did not have US federalization history, same deal, exported or crushed. And guess what, if you ever SELL it the feds will trace it back to who built in and you will be liable. Even 10 years down the road.
Vehicles over 25 years old are not subject to any import restrictions, you can bring in as many as you like for usually just over the cost of frieght.
And if you dont think I know what I am talking about and that you can sneak it in, remember what I said when you get a call from customs! I'm also into BMW's and have owned a couple foreign market cars. THere was a tense moment at the tag office when I tried to register my European market 323i, until they found the RI badge in the door jamb. Then it was smoooth sailing.
fatboysS1O
+1y
Russ-D, i think youve done everything except give birth! i know this is off subject but i enjoy seeing youve posted just to see what i can learn!
Idragit
+1y
thats pretty cool..I never knew all that went into it..I've heard the glass has to be changed too..