JDM evolution to the states

[JojoSteez]

Hi, I'm in japan right now and I may be buying an older evo. DO you think it would be very hard to get one in the states now that mitsubishi sells the evo in the states? I still got a couple years before I get back to the states anyway.
-Jojo

[NSX]

Well, there will be safety regulations & such, emmissions; RHD-->LHD
May be a hassle...but if you want the car, go for it!

[Twist]

Sadly, I don't believe that the fact that Mitsubishi sells a newer version will help you get an older version in the country. It still has a the same safety/emissions "problems." not to mention as NSX did about RHD and LHD. There's a loophole if you're in the military. You can bring the car over unaltered.

Since it's a couple years and you have the chance buy an Evo. They're awesome cars!

[JojoSteez]

Yeah, I know it still has the same emissions and all that problems. I just figured it would be slightly easier now that mitsu sells them in the states. I know for a fact that you don't have to convert to LHD. I have had friends that took their cars unaltered in that sense. Also, I am in the military and we cannot bring cars back unaltered. They still have to conform to safety and emissions standards. Trust me, i know. I have already tried to bring a skyline back. It was wrecked recently so I'm on to the evo for a change, heh. thanks though

[Twist]

Yeah I've seen a RHD drive car in America before. But could you tell me more about the conditions for bringing over cars if you're in the military. I thought you could bring them over pretty much JDM, but apparently that's not true. More info, please.

[JojoSteez]

yeah, basically there isn't a difference for us and civilians. When we move back to the states we can get the car shipped with the rest of our property for free. Other than that we have to comply with all US standards for autos. There are a few exceptions though. apparently for some cars that you own for so long in europe you can take back unaltered because they will be considered grandfatherd. It's only so many cars and a lot of years you have to own them. It's really complicated but other than that we have to fix them to comply with US standards too.

[flylwsi]

the free shipping sounds worth it to me though....

[JojoSteez]

Yeah, the free shipping is a plus. It's still a pain to try to import JDM cars that aren't sold in the US. Especially skylines which i tried before.

[Moppie]

Getting the car to the US is easy, especialy if your in the Military.
I don't how the privlages work with rank, but I know a few ppl who have had cars shipped around the world for free.

The problem is getting the car registered in the US.
I think if you have owned the car X number of years outside of the US and you never sell it for a X number of years when back in the US you can import most cars and have them road legal.

Otherwise the car has to go through a very complex and VERY expensive compliancing procedure, or you need to find some way of getting it classed as a special, or kit car, or you can get a 6mnth registration, but after 6mnths the car is no longer and never will be again legal.

All the information is on US govt websites, you just need to do a little searching to find it.

[HobieKopek]

Have a blast. I spent a couple days reading and came back with very few legal loopholes.

I believe it's owned the car and abroad for 1 year or more and you can register and drive it legally in the US for a year before it must be exported or destroyed.

[JojoSteez]

getting the car into the states is pretty easy. Only thing is once it is there it has to sit. It can't be driven at all. You have to get it to pass US standards. For the military we can get the car shipped to the states for free, but in order to do that we have to have a contract to get the car converted to us specs before shipping it. There are no rank privileges in the air force anyway.

[Twist]

This most likely isn't what you have in mind, but you can use it as track car only with out converting it all (or so I've heard).