How to Import Car To US?
22 July 2010- How to import car into the US is the question that pricks those who are either migrating or just having an extended stay in US. Before importing car to US you must know the rules and regulations of importing it. Get this information from the concerned authorities so that everything you do is just right. Also you can ask the service providers who specialize in importing car to US.
All cars and vehicles that are to import to US must meet the environmental regulations and security standards in US.
There are plenty of foreign car manufacturers who export cars into US but this does not mean that car they make for your country are made according to the regulations in US. So you must check this out. The vehicles in US are subjected to safety and air pollution control standards and you car must fit into this. If the imported car is not conforming the said standards then this cannot be brought to US. There are two agencies called the United States Department of Transportation (DOT)Â and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Â , which are responsible for defining the requirements of motor vehicles. If you have imported the car into the US that is not according to their standards then you can can either be sent back to your own country or it may be scrapped as US authorities have full right to do this.
What Departments To Check to Import Your Car into the US?
US Customs
Check the U.S. Customs to know the recent import regulations on vehicles and cars. For this you can either consult the US Customs office directly (P.O. Box 7407, Washington, D.C. 20044) or you can get the information from the US embassy in your country.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues the regulations pertaining to gases emissions and all. Get the copy of Automotive Imports Facts Manual from this department to know about these regulations. You can either get this from the EPA's import hotline: 001- (202) 564-9240 or via fax: 001 - (202) 564-2057.
Address
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
Manufactures Operations Division (6405-J)
Investigation/Import Section
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20460
Department of Transportation
For any further inquiry on the regulations and car import to US you can contact the Department of Transportation in US. You can call them on 001-800-424-9393 or made a fax on 001 - 202 – 366-1024. you can also write them on the following address.
Address
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NSA-32),
400 7th Street, S.W. Washington,
D.C. 20590
What Things to Remember to Import Your Car into the US?
Tell you freight company the exact date and time of arrival of your goods so that proper arrangement to import a car can be made. As per the law in US you cannot hire US officials for this purpose so you will have to rely on the freight companies only.
Keep with you the cargo documents and bills from the shipping company. Also keep the sales documents, its registrations documents and all other related documents with you.
Along with document to import car to US you need the the filled out EPA document 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7. These forms will contain the information regarding emission values and requirements of securities.
Do not keep any possession in the car to be imported as your freight company is not responsible for all this. You will have to declare the items. If you have any undeclared item in car the all those undeclared items as well as your car can be confiscated.
Also most of the shipping companies will not do the importing of your car if you have kept anything inside it.
Thing to Consider
If you are importing your car to US that does not meet the standards of DOT and EPA, then you will have t pay the rebuilding cost. This is really very expensive. Therefore you must consider all the points on how to import your car into the US before doing so and sparing yourself from extra burden and charges.
Also read the
Import of Used Cars in India
