WTF??!? EPA and DOT Import Bonds??

[firefighter81]

Is this true? I read on a site that when you import a car you have to post bonds to the EPA for 100% of the value of the vehicle, and another bond to the DOT for 150% of the value of the vehicle! WHAT THE F***?!?!?! Granted they say the money is returned once the vehicle is legalized, but again, WTF!?!?

So if I bring back an R32, with a Japanese market value of $8000, I have to pay $8000 to the EPA, $12000 to the DOT, $17000 to Motorex, and ~$5000 in various fees to the US Govt?

Uh, that adds up to $42k in up front costs, not counting the car even! Is there any way to do this without paying that stupid bond? Does it work like bail bonds, where you just have to pay 10%? I don't think it is, but I hope it is! Would a bail bond company front the money for me? Because I'm not gonna be able to save up $50k over the next 3 years.



Thanks,
Jason

[Kinerry]

I was under the notion that motorex pays all those bond fees (part of why it costs so much)

[firefighter81]

Interesting, I'll give Motorex a call today, see what they say.

[RBXDETT]

Yes, Motorex does pay for the bonds. It's a part of their service in making the car legal.

[firefighter81]

Thank you for the definitive answer RBX. Took some weight off my chest for sure

Jason

[Gtr2.7L]

Originally Posted by RBXDETT

Yes, Motorex does pay for the bonds. It's a part of their service in making the car legal.

Technically they pay a bonding agency to front the money. In other words, Motorex borrows the 50k (or whatever the required amount) for the bond from a bonding agency, and pays them a set rate to borrow that money. When the car is legalized, Motorex gets the cash back, then repays the bonding agency.

[firefighter0143]

if you get the car in canada..do you still have to pay a bond fee?......does anyone know?

[RazorGTR]

Originally Posted by firefighter0143

if you get the car in canada..do you still have to pay a bond fee?......does anyone know?

You can't do it that way unless it is a car that the manufactured date is 15 years old for the date of import. Then you STILL have to do the same thing.

[VQuick]

Originally Posted by RazorGTR

You can't do it that way unless it is a car that the manufactured date is 15 years old for the date of import. Then you STILL have to do the same thing.

Right. Just because you get the car in Canada and it is legal to their rules, doesn't mean you can just bring it over to the US. The car still isn't legal for the US, and by bringing it to the US, you're still...importing it.

[RazorGTR]

If I correctly understand Canada's importing laws for it to bypass their compliance it has to be a classic or antique which means 15 years old from date of manufacture or older hence the 15 year old clause I mentioned.