Legalizing Skylines
SnufF15E
04-18-2005, 03:20 PM
I'm going to be returning to the US in a little under a year after being stationed in the UK. I have one Skyline back in the UK, a 1992 R33 GTS-T, with another on a boat from Japan to the UK which is a 1995 R33 GTR. I am thinking about bringing them both back to the US since the military imports one free and I'll pay for the other. Does anyone know where I can get these legalized and how much money are we talking. I appreciate any help.
Snuff
Snuff
thegladhatter
04-18-2005, 08:07 PM
....a 1992 R33 huh (http://www.j-garage.com/2110.htm)....
Okay, pal, we will play along. The military will ONLY ship a daily driver. If your car is NOT US legal....it CAN'T be a daily driver. Don't count on free shipping. The US won't ship from Japan if you are in UK and won't ship from UK if you are in Japan.
Okay, pal, we will play along. The military will ONLY ship a daily driver. If your car is NOT US legal....it CAN'T be a daily driver. Don't count on free shipping. The US won't ship from Japan if you are in UK and won't ship from UK if you are in Japan.
Skyline69
04-19-2005, 08:12 AM
I'm going to be returning to the US in a little under a year after being stationed in the UK. I have one Skyline back in the UK, a 1992 R33 GTS-T, with another on a boat from Japan to the UK which is a 1995 R33 GTR. I am thinking about bringing them both back to the US since the military imports one free and I'll pay for the other. Does anyone know where I can get these legalized and how much money are we talking. I appreciate any help.
Snuff
I'm not even going to waste my time on explaining :grinno: . You need to read all the posts on this site.............especially the ones marked IMPORTANT. :banghead:
Snuff
I'm not even going to waste my time on explaining :grinno: . You need to read all the posts on this site.............especially the ones marked IMPORTANT. :banghead:
Skyline_BNR34
04-19-2005, 03:56 PM
Yea I guess he doesn't know they really can't import them know. I wonder when a RI will be able to import skylines. Cause I want one but will never have one. Or I'll just buy a Viper instead, be about the same price and is really fast stock.
nismo_power
04-19-2005, 04:43 PM
Yea I guess he doesn't know they really can't import them know. I wonder when a RI will be able to import skylines. Cause I want one but will never have one. Or I'll just buy a Viper instead, be about the same price and is really fast stock.
dude...he doesnt even own the car. he doesnt know what hes talking so why should we waste our time.
dude...he doesnt even own the car. he doesnt know what hes talking so why should we waste our time.
SnufF15E
04-21-2005, 08:07 PM
Ok, so I can't remember the year of my R33 GTS-T 93/94 somewhere in there. I only had it for a month before I shipped to the sandbox. Seems like everyone in here is a little rude. I just bought the Skyline and I wasn't sure about importing laws for the Skyline because I don't have 69 f*@$ing hours to sit in front of a computer and read all the threads because I'm kind of in the middle of a war and time doesn't allow me to surf that much. All I wanted was a little info. No thanks to anyone here, but I just decided to go ask a professional at the NHTSA.
If anyone cares to read:
This responds to your e-mail asking about importing a 1995 Nissan Skyline. You have asked how this can be accomplished.
The vehicle that you describe was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the United States if 1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and 2) it is imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards within 120 days of entry. You would therefore be unable to import the vehicle strictly on your own.
Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the 1990-1999 versions of the right-hand drive (RHD) Nissan GTS and GTR ("Skyline") are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-17 to those vehicles. (The import eligibility number is to be entered on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be given to Customs at the time of entry, and alerts Customs that the vehicle may be lawfully imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer, even though the vehicle is not certified by its manufacturer as complying with all applicable FMVSS.)
To learn the modifications the petitioner stated were needed to conform the 1990-1999 Skyline to the FMVSS, you should go to the DOT Docket Website at dms.dot.gov and enter docket number 5507 in the appropriate block on the simple search screen. A list of registered importers can be found on our website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import. You should consult the importers on that list to see whether any are willing to conform the vehicle that you seek to import to all applicable safety and bumper standards, and if so, what they would charge for that work.
If you decide to import the vehicle, one potential complicating factor is that the registered importer who petitioned NHTSA to determine the 1990-1999 model Skyline eligible for importation requested, and was granted, confidentiality with respect to the modifications needed to conform the vehicle to certain of the standards. As a consequence, that importer (Motorex of Gardena, California) has claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications covered by the confidentiality grant. This does not preclude other registered importers from attempting to modify the vehicle. However, should those importers not gain access to the modifications covered by the grant of confidentiality, they will have to demonstrate to the agency, at the time they submit a conformity certification package for a Skyline, that they have made equivalent modifications that permit the vehicle to comply with the standards covered by the confidentiality grant.
Please note that we determined the vehicle eligible for importation based on its capability of being modified to comply with all applicable standards. We did not approve Motorex, or any other registered importer as the "exclusive" importer of the vehicle. As previously indicated, another registered importer is free to import the vehicle, but will have to demonstrate in the conformity package submitted to the agency to obtain release of the conformance bond furnished at the time of importation that the vehicle has been brought into conformity with all applicable standards, including those covered by the grant of confidentiality to Motorex.
You should note that if you were to import the vehicle, the necessary modifications would have to be made by a registered importer, and that importer would have to certify to us that the vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on its date of manufacture before the vehicle could be released to be licensed or registered for on-road use. One of the reasons that a registered importer is required to import and modify a vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is because the registered importer stands in the stead of the vehicle's original manufacturer to provide the vehicle's owner with notification and remedy in the event that the vehicle is determined to contain a safety-related defect or a noncompliance with an applicable safety standard. Because the original manufacturer would not be responsible for the vehicle being in the Untied States, it would have no legal obligation to perform this important safety responsibility.
I hope this information is helpful.
Coleman Sachs, Chief
Import and Certification Division
Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance
If anyone cares to read:
This responds to your e-mail asking about importing a 1995 Nissan Skyline. You have asked how this can be accomplished.
The vehicle that you describe was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the United States if 1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and 2) it is imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards within 120 days of entry. You would therefore be unable to import the vehicle strictly on your own.
Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the 1990-1999 versions of the right-hand drive (RHD) Nissan GTS and GTR ("Skyline") are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-17 to those vehicles. (The import eligibility number is to be entered on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be given to Customs at the time of entry, and alerts Customs that the vehicle may be lawfully imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer, even though the vehicle is not certified by its manufacturer as complying with all applicable FMVSS.)
To learn the modifications the petitioner stated were needed to conform the 1990-1999 Skyline to the FMVSS, you should go to the DOT Docket Website at dms.dot.gov and enter docket number 5507 in the appropriate block on the simple search screen. A list of registered importers can be found on our website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import. You should consult the importers on that list to see whether any are willing to conform the vehicle that you seek to import to all applicable safety and bumper standards, and if so, what they would charge for that work.
If you decide to import the vehicle, one potential complicating factor is that the registered importer who petitioned NHTSA to determine the 1990-1999 model Skyline eligible for importation requested, and was granted, confidentiality with respect to the modifications needed to conform the vehicle to certain of the standards. As a consequence, that importer (Motorex of Gardena, California) has claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications covered by the confidentiality grant. This does not preclude other registered importers from attempting to modify the vehicle. However, should those importers not gain access to the modifications covered by the grant of confidentiality, they will have to demonstrate to the agency, at the time they submit a conformity certification package for a Skyline, that they have made equivalent modifications that permit the vehicle to comply with the standards covered by the confidentiality grant.
Please note that we determined the vehicle eligible for importation based on its capability of being modified to comply with all applicable standards. We did not approve Motorex, or any other registered importer as the "exclusive" importer of the vehicle. As previously indicated, another registered importer is free to import the vehicle, but will have to demonstrate in the conformity package submitted to the agency to obtain release of the conformance bond furnished at the time of importation that the vehicle has been brought into conformity with all applicable standards, including those covered by the grant of confidentiality to Motorex.
You should note that if you were to import the vehicle, the necessary modifications would have to be made by a registered importer, and that importer would have to certify to us that the vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on its date of manufacture before the vehicle could be released to be licensed or registered for on-road use. One of the reasons that a registered importer is required to import and modify a vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is because the registered importer stands in the stead of the vehicle's original manufacturer to provide the vehicle's owner with notification and remedy in the event that the vehicle is determined to contain a safety-related defect or a noncompliance with an applicable safety standard. Because the original manufacturer would not be responsible for the vehicle being in the Untied States, it would have no legal obligation to perform this important safety responsibility.
I hope this information is helpful.
Coleman Sachs, Chief
Import and Certification Division
Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance
thegladhatter
04-21-2005, 08:56 PM
Ok, so I can't remember the year of my R33 GTS-T 93/94 somewhere in there.
1995.1
The vehicle that you describe was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the United States if 1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and 2) it is imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards within 120 days of entry. You would therefore be unable to import the vehicle strictly on your own.
Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the 1990-1999 versions of the right-hand drive (RHD) Nissan GTS and GTR ("Skyline") are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-17 to those vehicles. (The import eligibility number is to be entered on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be given to Customs at the time of entry, and alerts Customs that the vehicle may be lawfully imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer, even though the vehicle is not certified by its manufacturer as complying with all applicable FMVSS.)
To learn the modifications the petitioner stated were needed to conform the 1990-1999 Skyline to the FMVSS, you should go to the DOT Docket Website at dms.dot.gov and enter docket number 5507 in the appropriate block on the simple search screen. A list of registered importers can be found on our website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import. You should consult the importers on that list to see whether any are willing to conform the vehicle that you seek to import to all applicable safety and bumper standards, and if so, what they would charge for that work.
If you decide to import the vehicle, one potential complicating factor is that the registered importer who petitioned NHTSA to determine the 1990-1999 model Skyline eligible for importation requested, and was granted, confidentiality with respect to the modifications needed to conform the vehicle to certain of the standards. As a consequence, that importer (Motorex of Gardena, California) has claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications covered by the confidentiality grant. This does not preclude other registered importers from attempting to modify the vehicle. However, should those importers not gain access to the modifications covered by the grant of confidentiality, they will have to demonstrate to the agency, at the time they submit a conformity certification package for a Skyline, that they have made equivalent modifications that permit the vehicle to comply with the standards covered by the confidentiality grant.
Please note that we determined the vehicle eligible for importation based on its capability of being modified to comply with all applicable standards. We did not approve Motorex, or any other registered importer as the "exclusive" importer of the vehicle. As previously indicated, another registered importer is free to import the vehicle, but will have to demonstrate in the conformity package submitted to the agency to obtain release of the conformance bond furnished at the time of importation that the vehicle has been brought into conformity with all applicable standards, including those covered by the grant of confidentiality to Motorex.
You should note that if you were to import the vehicle, the necessary modifications would have to be made by a registered importer, and that importer would have to certify to us that the vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on its date of manufacture before the vehicle could be released to be licensed or registered for on-road use. One of the reasons that a registered importer is required to import and modify a vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is because the registered importer stands in the stead of the vehicle's original manufacturer to provide the vehicle's owner with notification and remedy in the event that the vehicle is determined to contain a safety-related defect or a noncompliance with an applicable safety standard. Because the original manufacturer would not be responsible for the vehicle being in the Untied States, it would have no legal obligation to perform this important safety responsibility.
....so...what's your point? You will not be able to ship this puppy via TMO.
1995.1
The vehicle that you describe was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS). Such a vehicle that is less than 25 years old can only be lawfully imported into the United States if 1) it is determined eligible for importation by NHTSA and 2) it is imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer to bring the vehicle into compliance with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards within 120 days of entry. You would therefore be unable to import the vehicle strictly on your own.
Import eligibility decisions are made on a make, model, and model year basis. NHTSA has determined that the 1990-1999 versions of the right-hand drive (RHD) Nissan GTS and GTR ("Skyline") are eligible for importation and has assigned vehicle eligibility number VCP-17 to those vehicles. (The import eligibility number is to be entered on the HS-7 Declaration form that is to be given to Customs at the time of entry, and alerts Customs that the vehicle may be lawfully imported by a registered importer or by a person who has a contract with a registered importer, even though the vehicle is not certified by its manufacturer as complying with all applicable FMVSS.)
To learn the modifications the petitioner stated were needed to conform the 1990-1999 Skyline to the FMVSS, you should go to the DOT Docket Website at dms.dot.gov and enter docket number 5507 in the appropriate block on the simple search screen. A list of registered importers can be found on our website at www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import. You should consult the importers on that list to see whether any are willing to conform the vehicle that you seek to import to all applicable safety and bumper standards, and if so, what they would charge for that work.
If you decide to import the vehicle, one potential complicating factor is that the registered importer who petitioned NHTSA to determine the 1990-1999 model Skyline eligible for importation requested, and was granted, confidentiality with respect to the modifications needed to conform the vehicle to certain of the standards. As a consequence, that importer (Motorex of Gardena, California) has claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications covered by the confidentiality grant. This does not preclude other registered importers from attempting to modify the vehicle. However, should those importers not gain access to the modifications covered by the grant of confidentiality, they will have to demonstrate to the agency, at the time they submit a conformity certification package for a Skyline, that they have made equivalent modifications that permit the vehicle to comply with the standards covered by the confidentiality grant.
Please note that we determined the vehicle eligible for importation based on its capability of being modified to comply with all applicable standards. We did not approve Motorex, or any other registered importer as the "exclusive" importer of the vehicle. As previously indicated, another registered importer is free to import the vehicle, but will have to demonstrate in the conformity package submitted to the agency to obtain release of the conformance bond furnished at the time of importation that the vehicle has been brought into conformity with all applicable standards, including those covered by the grant of confidentiality to Motorex.
You should note that if you were to import the vehicle, the necessary modifications would have to be made by a registered importer, and that importer would have to certify to us that the vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards in effect on its date of manufacture before the vehicle could be released to be licensed or registered for on-road use. One of the reasons that a registered importer is required to import and modify a vehicle that was not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards is because the registered importer stands in the stead of the vehicle's original manufacturer to provide the vehicle's owner with notification and remedy in the event that the vehicle is determined to contain a safety-related defect or a noncompliance with an applicable safety standard. Because the original manufacturer would not be responsible for the vehicle being in the Untied States, it would have no legal obligation to perform this important safety responsibility.
....so...what's your point? You will not be able to ship this puppy via TMO.
SnufF15E
04-22-2005, 11:28 AM
Thats the answer I was looking for the whole time. Too bad we all had to go through this diatribe of crap to get to that conclusion.
GTES-t
04-22-2005, 06:17 PM
1995.1
He's talking about an R33 GTS25t which started production late 1993.
The military will ONLY ship a daily driver. If your car is NOT US legal....it CAN'T be a daily driver. Don't count on free shipping. The US won't ship from Japan if you are in UK and won't ship from UK if you are in Japan.
....so...what's your point? You will not be able to ship this puppy via TMO.
Again, before correcting people, have the correct information.
The "Daily driver" rule applies to people trying to get the car in the US under race/show car rules. In that case TMO will not ship it because it's not a daily driver.
SnuffF15E, TMO will ship a Skyline, or any car for that matter (I have spoken with them), however you have to have a signed contract with the RI prior to them shipping the vehicle. Right now, the only legal importer, Motorex, has only gotten about 2 thru in the last 2 years.
Your best bet is to contact Motorex or RB Motoring (who deals with Motorex) and find out everything from them. If by some rare chance they say that can do it, I think you'll find that it's not worth it. The last prices I saw were $15K for the '93 and $16K for the '95. That's not including any shipping/dock fees.
He's talking about an R33 GTS25t which started production late 1993.
The military will ONLY ship a daily driver. If your car is NOT US legal....it CAN'T be a daily driver. Don't count on free shipping. The US won't ship from Japan if you are in UK and won't ship from UK if you are in Japan.
....so...what's your point? You will not be able to ship this puppy via TMO.
Again, before correcting people, have the correct information.
The "Daily driver" rule applies to people trying to get the car in the US under race/show car rules. In that case TMO will not ship it because it's not a daily driver.
SnuffF15E, TMO will ship a Skyline, or any car for that matter (I have spoken with them), however you have to have a signed contract with the RI prior to them shipping the vehicle. Right now, the only legal importer, Motorex, has only gotten about 2 thru in the last 2 years.
Your best bet is to contact Motorex or RB Motoring (who deals with Motorex) and find out everything from them. If by some rare chance they say that can do it, I think you'll find that it's not worth it. The last prices I saw were $15K for the '93 and $16K for the '95. That's not including any shipping/dock fees.
thegladhatter
04-22-2005, 11:42 PM
He's talking about an R33 GTS25t which started production late 1993.
Okay...you got me there. I was wrong....you are right.
BUT...
TMO will NOT ship a car that is not verifiable as a DAILY driver on the delivery end of the shipment. If said vehicle is NOT VERIFIABLE....it will NOT be TMOed. PERIOD.
The United States Government is NOT in the business of shipping cars for people's pleasure. They are in the business of national security. The US Military is a concern that ships their people all over the world. As a consecquence. Many of those uprooted people bring their daily transportation with them as a CONVENIENCE. They do NOT bring their motorsports toys with them at the US governments expence unless they can be proven to be daily driven vehicles. TMO just doesn't work that way. The same goes for John Q Marine who decides a week before his pack out that he wants to take a special car with him and he goes out and buys it. If he hasn't had it for a certain amount of time to verify that it is an indespensible daily driver....he's leaving it behind.
Okay...you got me there. I was wrong....you are right.
BUT...
TMO will NOT ship a car that is not verifiable as a DAILY driver on the delivery end of the shipment. If said vehicle is NOT VERIFIABLE....it will NOT be TMOed. PERIOD.
The United States Government is NOT in the business of shipping cars for people's pleasure. They are in the business of national security. The US Military is a concern that ships their people all over the world. As a consecquence. Many of those uprooted people bring their daily transportation with them as a CONVENIENCE. They do NOT bring their motorsports toys with them at the US governments expence unless they can be proven to be daily driven vehicles. TMO just doesn't work that way. The same goes for John Q Marine who decides a week before his pack out that he wants to take a special car with him and he goes out and buys it. If he hasn't had it for a certain amount of time to verify that it is an indespensible daily driver....he's leaving it behind.
GTES-t
04-23-2005, 04:48 AM
TMO will NOT ship a car that is not verifiable as a DAILY driver on the delivery end of the shipment. If said vehicle is NOT VERIFIABLE....it will NOT be TMOed. PERIOD.
That's why you have to present a signed contract with the RI (which usually requires a down payment) before they will process the shipping. The contract shows that the car will be conformed to US standards and legally be a daily driver.
I have personally spoken with TMO at my previous base in Japan and this one (where you are SnufF15E), and that is all that is required to ship the vehicle.
Of course, that means you have to be able to afford the legalization cost!
That's why you have to present a signed contract with the RI (which usually requires a down payment) before they will process the shipping. The contract shows that the car will be conformed to US standards and legally be a daily driver.
I have personally spoken with TMO at my previous base in Japan and this one (where you are SnufF15E), and that is all that is required to ship the vehicle.
Of course, that means you have to be able to afford the legalization cost!
SnufF15E
04-25-2005, 02:00 PM
GTES-t,
Thanks for the help. I checked with Motorex and it is triple what I paid to legalize . I think I'll just have fun in the UK and sell when I leave.
Thanks for the help. I checked with Motorex and it is triple what I paid to legalize . I think I'll just have fun in the UK and sell when I leave.
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