Temp import to permanent import to the USA questions

[GMC Typhoon]

Well, great news!

I got a job in the USA and have got my visa, the volcano has calmed down and the airspace is open and my flight is confirmed. Gordon Brown may be about to remain in power so now is as good a time to leave as any and I'm off!

I'm shipping my vehicle to the USA under a temporary import banner so I believe I am exempt for a year in complying with FMVSS.

This is under the assumption that I'll be leaving the USA at the end of my contract.

Does anyone know if I can import the car permanently during that year if I am offered a permanent role?

It is a GMC Typhoon so it is originally from the US but it has UK lights on it and a UK registration. I don't think it will be that hard to import it as a permanent vehicle.

I just don't want to get into the position where in 12 months I have to export the vehicle as I didn't import it permanently in the first place.

If I can defer the permanent import until I know that I can remain indefinitely then that would be ideal solution.

Thanks in advance for the help!

Mark

[Matt Harper]

The state into which you are importing the vehicle may have some bearing - but I did this into Florida with a Euro-spec 2000m/y Corvette, back in 2001. It was very straightforward.
The temporary import was plain easy - but I did have it insured on a company (blanket, so not vehicle specific) policy with Progressive. Not sure how it would have worked with an individual policy. I suspect that no US title or tag # might cause a rejection by the ins. co.
At month 11, I took the car to the DMV with proof of ownership (V5) and the original import paperwork (manifest, carnet doc and shipping invoice) for a 'tag inspection'. This consisted of the 'inspector' noting the VIN and checking the tyre tread depth. No mention was given to the vehicles' lighting, emissions control or safety systems.
I paid them the title, tag and registration fee (I paid a little extra for a vanity plate) and FL sales tax on the estimated value of the vehicle on that day - which we kind of negotiated to a LOT less than it's true value.
10 days later the tag and vehicle title document arrived in the mail - and that was it.
I'm sure it would be more cumbersome with a non-US vehicle that was not available in this country, but I think you will be pleasantly surprised just how easy it is.
Welcome, by the way!

[GMC Typhoon]

Great Matt, thanks!

I cannot wait to get there. I'll be in Delaware and have been reading on the DOT laws but your experience is what I was hoping for!

Maybe see you round?

[dvs_dave]

How do you reckon this would work with a TVR Tuscan? I'm going to be starting a new Job in Chicago, pending my green card and would love to bring my Tuscan with me. I know you can bring it in for 12 months pretty easily, but after that what options are there? Have it as a show car with a 2500 mile limit or are there other ways around it without having to do loads of modifications to it?

Or is it possible to import the car temporarily for 12 months, export it back to the UK (say over the winter for a service/fettle etc.) and then re-import it again for another 12 months and keep doing this?

Edited by dvs_dave on Tuesday 11th May 09:50

[GavinPearson]

dvs_dave said:

How do you reckon this would work with a TVR Tuscan? I'm going to be starting a new Job in Chicago, pending my green card and would love to bring my Tuscan with me. I know you can bring it in for 12 months pretty easily, but after that what options are there? Have it as a show car with a 2500 mile limit or are there other ways around it without having to do loads of modifications to it?

Or is it possible to import the car temporarily for 12 months, export it back to the UK (say over the winter for a service/fettle etc.) and then re-import it again for another 12 months and keep doing this?

Edited by dvs_dave on Tuesday 11th May 09:50

If you are a visitor you can do this. You cannot do this as a Green Card holder. For show and display the rules are here:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/ShowDisplay...

I have also put a copy of the general import rules here:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/

Edited by GavinPearson on Wednesday 19th May 10:44

[GMC Typhoon]

dvs_dave said:

How do you reckon this would work with a TVR Tuscan? I'm going to be starting a new Job in Chicago, pending my green card and would love to bring my Tuscan with me. I know you can bring it in for 12 months pretty easily, but after that what options are there? Have it as a show car with a 2500 mile limit or are there other ways around it without having to do loads of modifications to it?

Or is it possible to import the car temporarily for 12 months, export it back to the UK (say over the winter for a service/fettle etc.) and then re-import it again for another 12 months and keep doing this?

Edited by dvs_dave on Tuesday 11th May 09:50

Sounds like you'd be as well off buying one car for each country at that rate!!!

[Zed Ed]

I may be in the position of moving to the states

If I take a car there for a year, I just roll around on UK plates with my GB sticker , right?

Anyone have any idea how insuring it would work?

It's an 09 GTR, wonder what work would be required for conformance, if I stayed longer

Ed

[Matt Harper]

Yes, for first 12 months you may run on the UK plates - and in most states you can lose the front one entirely.
As long as you are legally entitled to be in the country and have an SSN and a legit address, insurance should be straightforward also.
Where you may run into trouble is permanently importing it. I assume it's RHD and that may well cause an issue with a non-antique import. Is the US spec car identical to yours, other than RHD vs LHD and rear and marker lens colors? The closer to US spec, the fewer problems you are likely to encounter.
Why wouldn't you just sell your UK car there and buy a US market car here? You'd probably make a profit on the deal and have no import issues to worry about.
This process is only 'simple' with re-importation of American cars.