September 24, 2010-
Importing a vehicle into a country is not an easy task. It is a lengthy process of getting the vehicle transferred in another country through movers and packers services and then making the vehicle go through a number of steps before getting delivered to the owner. Car importing in United States of America is no different. It can be a confusing and complex process as the imported motor vehicles in US are subject to US air pollution control (emission) standards, bumper standards and safety standards. Discussed below are the rules which a vehicle, used or new, has to conform as per the import duty
acts regulations USA. Take a look at the car import duties or the import duty on the used cars in America here:
US EPA Requirements
The federal emission testing requirements are essentially based on the complex lab testing procedures. EPA Form 3520-1, the EPA importation declaration form needs to be submitted at the US customs service center for most of the vehicle importations. [This is not to be followed by by the cars which are new and imported by the original manufacturers and are carrying an EPA emission control label or an EPA certificate of conformity.]
The emission requirements exclude the following motors:
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Older vehicles (e.g. light-duty gasoline-fueled car or truck built before January 1, 1968)
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Unregulated Fuel Vehicle
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Non-Chassis-Mounted Engine
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Racing vehicles
For more details on exclusions and import duty used cars, refer EPA’s detailed importing requirements.
U.S. Department of Transportation/National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
It is essential for cars below 25 years of age to conform to the department of transportation (DOT) or the motor vehicle safety standards which were in effect during the manufacturing year of the car. Also, it is important for the passenger cars manufactured after September 1, 1973 to meet the bumper standards. The importer needs to file form DOT HS-7 during the entry, to show that the vehicle conforms to applicable safety and bumper standards. Also, the original car maker is ought to paste a label to the car certifying that the said standards have been met in case the vehicle is supposed to be sold in United States. Cars or vehicles that do not carry such an authorization or certifying label by the original manufacturer would be entered as a nonconforming vehicle under a DOT bond and would be charged one and a half times the vehicle's dutiable value in addition to the regular customs entry bond.
Except the list of nonconforming vehicles eligible for importation, the importer is supposed to sign a contract with a DOT Registered Importer (RI), who would be instrumental in modifying the vehicle as per the safety and bumper standards along with providing a certification for the modifications. Thereafter, a copy of the RI's contract has to be attached to the DOT HS-7 form and offered to the Customs Service with the DOT bond at the port of entry.
U.S. Customs Service
It is a part of the US trade regulations that every imported vehicle must be cleared by the US customs at the port of entry. As per the import duty acts requirements USA, one would need the shipper's or carrier's original bill of lading, foreign registration, the bill of sale, and any other documents covering the vehicle. Apart from this, one would also require a completed EPA Form 3520-1 or the original manufacturer's label on the car notifying the conformation of the vehicle to the set US standards and emission requirements (language must be English).
Foreign-made vehicles imported into the US, either for personal use or for sale, whether new or used, are most often dutiable at the following rates:
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Autos - 2.5%
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Trucks - 25%
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Motorcycles - 3% or 3.4%
Duty rates are the result of price paid or payable. Often the Canadian-made vehicles are duty-free in US. This was all about the import used cars USA.
