importing car advice

[chopper_dave]

Hi All,

I'm David. I drive Toyotas, Porsches and VWs and I'm looking to get a Corrado. I'm running into a little difficulty and I'm hoping someone here can set me straight.

I'm a US citizen and live in Arizona. The car I'm interested in is Canadian and I'd like to import it. I know I need US EPA form 3520-1 and US DOT/Customs form HS-7. That part is okay. I also need VW Certificate of Conformity (to US Fed Mot Vehicle Safety Stds).

That's the hold up. Customs tells me they won't let the car into the country without that Cert and that it has to be in my name. I can't register the car in AZ without it, either. VW won't issue it in my name because I'm not the owner. I can't buy it and register it in Canada because I'm not Canadian and don't live there. Seems a bit circular to me.

I'm clearly missing something. Would some generous soul kindly point it out to me?

[DUBZAK]

Only 95s can be legally imported because the 90-94 was offered in the US.

Yer EFFED.

[chopper_dave]

Pretty sure that is incorrect. That rule only applies to new purchases, not used vehicles. If it is true, then there's no reason for Non-US Vehicle Identical to US Version Vehicles, as well as the publication stating all passenger cars 1988-1995 are eligible. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/canadian.htm. Do you have a link?

[DUBZAK]

Pretty sure that is incorrect. That rule only applies to new purchases, not used vehicles. If it is true, then there's no reason for Non-US Vehicle Identical to US Version Vehicles, as well as the publication stating all passenger cars 1988-1995 are eligible. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/canadian.htm. Do you have a link?

No links but well Mr. So sure I am incorrect, I have been on this forum for years, and others have tried and failed to be able to import anything but 95's. A few have made it in with others moving to a northern belt state.

Like I said before, 95's only until the 25 year mark.

[chopper_dave]

Are you really upset because I asked for proof?

[Krazee]

Google importation laws and exemption lists. The basic law is no car younger than 25 years old, not previously sold in the USA, can be imported. Some cars, due to proof submitted over the years by others, have been exempt but the statute still remains.

[pileofredparts]

Are you really upset because I asked for proof?

he is right

[ein]

he is right

^ Knows from learning the REALLY hard way.

[Spidey9999]

Hi All,

I'm David. I drive Toyotas, Porsches and VWs and I'm looking to get a Corrado. I'm running into a little difficulty and I'm hoping someone here can set me straight.

I'm a US citizen and live in Arizona. The car I'm interested in is Canadian and I'd like to import it. I know I need US EPA form 3520-1 and US DOT/Customs form HS-7. That part is okay. I also need VW Certificate of Conformity (to US Fed Mot Vehicle Safety Stds).

That's the hold up. Customs tells me they won't let the car into the country without that Cert and that it has to be in my name. I can't register the car in AZ without it, either. VW won't issue it in my name because I'm not the owner. I can't buy it and register it in Canada because I'm not Canadian and don't live there. Seems a bit circular to me.

I'm clearly missing something. Would some generous soul kindly point it out to me?

It appears any Canadian Corrado meets the EPA requirements for emissions, but only the '95 meets all US safety standards. That's because the '95 conforms with the passive safety requirement by being equipped with airbags and kneebars in addition to normal seatbelts. All other years of the Canadian Corrado have only normal seatbelts while all US Corrados had mouse belts and kneebars (passive) and lap belts (active).

HTH