Aphrodite

sooo, I was wondering... what all are you going to have to do to the car to import it? cause i'm going to be in japan soon, and I was thinking I could probably bring a car back with me and was wondering what all you have to do for customs and to register a rhd car?

jfairladyz

It's not easy to get a car through customs here in the states. Is it a personal trip or is it for the Navy? Cause it seems like most of the cars that make it here from Japan are brought in by military people who spent time in Japan. I know there are a couple on HybridZ.org that have brought a car back over while in the military. If it's a car that's been sold here then it's probably a lot easier than trying to bring back something like a Skyline or something like that. I always just the military guys just had some loophole they used since they're always bringing cars over

Aphrodite

yeah i'm going to be stationed there for a couple years... and as for the military "Loophole" (AKA Free shipping) yeah that would be one of the reasons I might consider buying a z32TT 2+2 over there, from what i've heard though you have to get special reinforcement for the rh door due to that the side hit the most in the states or something like that.

SHADY280

I Thought I Already Posted This Here But Its Gone, But, My Friend Imports Cars From Japan And If Anybody Really Wanted Pm Me And You Could Share Shipping Costs, (like 5000 A Container) Then Have It Trucked Down.he Does One Container Every 3 Weeks. He Also Has Major Hook Ups To Get Any Car In Japan For Cheap.(not Stolen) Skylines, Any Z Porches. Anything Around There, Even Jdm Parts.

260DET

Z32TT's are as cheap as in Japan, I've seen them advertised for US$2000 FOB, which means the 2000 included the cost of loading the car onto a ship for export. 'FOB' explanation only for those not familiar with commercial nautical terms

But cars in Japan are 99.9% RHD although you do get the occasional left hand driver, usually something Euro.

KTM200-280zxt

I wouldn't mind having a RHD car.

Shady, I am not sure how all this importing stuff works but since you live in Canada that means your friend couldn't get the car over here right? I heard that the Canadian laws were different, is this true?

Aphrodite

Isnt there some customs rule in canada that the car has to be 15 years old to the month to import from japan? or am I just imagining things again

SHADY280

Our Import Laws Arnt Too Bad, The Car Has To Be 15 Years Old Or More, But There Is Some Loop Hole. My Friend At Nissan Imported A 2002 Skyline Rb26tt, Dont Know How But He Somehow Used The States To Get It Insured, Cost The Guy 250,000 Cdn (car Inc Of Course) If Your Serios Ill Do More Reaserch, I Know A 89 Skyline Rb24t Goes For About 9000 Bucks Cdn. Here, All Said And Done.

RubberBerner

Nice find man...I wish i could find something like that that i could afford. until then, i just gotta keep fabricating everything and shipping the rest. Love those wheels...wantanabe's on a Z....SOOOO HOT!

jfairladyz

If you're importing the car for street duty then thats where it gets tough. You can get a temporary pass to bring the car in. But then you have to bring it back through customs with in the alloted time so it can be shipped back out of the country. You can also get a car in if it's of historical signifigance or for off highway use (like racing). But both are still not all that easy to do. Theres a lot of red tape dealing with customs but it can definitely be done. I'm sure where you try to import it makes a difference in how much they are willing to work with you. If one port is going to give you a lot of issues then another port might not be so uptight. I'm sure even customs has to have some car enthusiast working for them Of course if you really want to make it easy then go to work for customs or start dating someone that is Then you'll know all the loopholes