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The purpose of this post is to share the experience I JUST had trying to import my Nov-1989 Skyline GTR and to request the community’s help.
I apologize in advance for the length. It’s worth the read if you are looking to import. Help me figure out where I went wrong and PLEASE see if you can help me get through this.
Starting the day (yesterday) in Montreal, Quebec at 9am (Nov 1, 2014), most of the day went very, very smoothly. After finishing up at the SAAQ doing the registration transfer, I was headed out from Montreal by 2pm and, after a stop by a GTR buddy outside of Windsor, got to the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge by roughly 1am (Nov 2, 2014). I was heading back through Detroit to drop-off another car buddy that had made the trip with me, before I planned to turn south toward home in Atlanta, GA.
I had done my research (I thought) I had the NHTSA and EPA forms completed and ready. I was also prepared to pay the duty on the vehicle.
The first officer at the bridge was on the end of a double shift and was determined to make things difficult. It’s probably easiest if I break this up by steps.
1. He immediately told me, as a "fact", that RHD vehicles were NOT legal in the US. Period. If I even opened my mouth to explain anything I was shut up pretty quickly.
2. After going into the office, I was told again, by the same officer, that I couldn't import a RHD vehicle. As non-confrontational as I could, I asked why that was and was told that’s the “law”. I asked, “Is there anyone that we can confirm that law with?” To which the condescending (ALL of the answers were in a condescending tone… so I’ll stop using that description) answer given was, “Who do you think we can check with?” I suggested, “That would be a NHTSA law, right?” The answer was, “It doesn't matter what they say… if we don’t approve it you can’t get in.” After which I was told to sit down.
3. After about 30 minutes of 6 officers searching on-line, they came across the NHTSA “List of Nonconforming Motor Vehicles That Are Eligible For Importation (By Or Through A Registered Importer)” document. A document that I had in my folder… but I didn’t want to come across as presumptuous, so I bit my tongue.
4. After another 15 minutes or so (and hearing the conversation that the 8-10 officers by that time were having) the RHD issue was gone and not brought up again. (Page 1 of the aforementioned document is a good to have)
5. At that point another officer (by that time as adversarial as the first guy) asked, “When was the car manufactured?” My answer, “November, 1989… the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles of that era didn’t have a manufacture day, only a month and year.” And then I shut up again. Another 15 minutes.
6. Office 2: “How can you prove to me that it was built in November, 1989?” (In retrospect, this was probably the one major oversight I made… as there’s technically nothing on the vehicle that states Nov-1989… or 1989 at all for that matter. And I didn't have the build month VIN ranges printed out). My answer was, “The can I show you what VINs were produced in what months and that will show the car was built in November 1989.” The response was, “I could tell you it was November of 1991… why should I believe you? If you don’t have something saying it was manufactured in November, then you’re going to have to wait until January to import” I decided not to ask how a car that he could have argued was built in November of 1991 could be imported in 2015… at that point I was convinced that it didn’t matter what I did. The two officers in particular had made such a scene in front of their co-workers that there was no way I was going to be driving the car into Detroit, regardless of the facts. My response was something to the effect of, “I don’t know what to say to that. I suppose you could say that but I’m not sure why you would.”
7. Officers 1 & 2 and another 4-5 “senior” officers went into a back room to “discuss”. Interestingly enough the 2-3 “junior” officers still out in the waiting room were just short of being apologetic. But they didn't (couldn't) do anything to affect an outcome. The committee met for another 15-20 minutes.
8. Officer 2 came out and called me up. “You’re going to need to get a title saying that you own the car” (apparently my SAAQ registration paperwork wasn't good enough because, “I don’t speak French” and “You should have a title”) and “You’re going to need something from the manufacture in Japan saying that this car was built in November, 1989”
So, there’s my story. I’m not presumptuous enough to think that there’s nothing I could have done differently or better. But right now the main thing would have been going to a different border crossing.
Here’s what I’m asking for advice on.
1. For the month/year issue, would it be possible to get someone to run a VIN lookup on my car and send me a PDF or other format that I can print out? Preferably any sort of report that has official Nissan info on it.
The VIN is – BNR32-003088
2. With regards to needing the title, has in a similar position (and you get my condolences if you've been there) had success with their bill of sale and/or “Evaluation Pour Calcul De Taxes De Vente Seulement” This 2nd document is a third-party form by an evaluator used for payment of the taxes during registration.
I appreciate any advice. If you are in a position to send me any documentation that you think may help, you can send that to niclas.willems@gmail.com
Thank you!
I apologize in advance for the length. It’s worth the read if you are looking to import. Help me figure out where I went wrong and PLEASE see if you can help me get through this.
Starting the day (yesterday) in Montreal, Quebec at 9am (Nov 1, 2014), most of the day went very, very smoothly. After finishing up at the SAAQ doing the registration transfer, I was headed out from Montreal by 2pm and, after a stop by a GTR buddy outside of Windsor, got to the Detroit-Windsor Ambassador Bridge by roughly 1am (Nov 2, 2014). I was heading back through Detroit to drop-off another car buddy that had made the trip with me, before I planned to turn south toward home in Atlanta, GA.
I had done my research (I thought) I had the NHTSA and EPA forms completed and ready. I was also prepared to pay the duty on the vehicle.
The first officer at the bridge was on the end of a double shift and was determined to make things difficult. It’s probably easiest if I break this up by steps.
1. He immediately told me, as a "fact", that RHD vehicles were NOT legal in the US. Period. If I even opened my mouth to explain anything I was shut up pretty quickly.
2. After going into the office, I was told again, by the same officer, that I couldn't import a RHD vehicle. As non-confrontational as I could, I asked why that was and was told that’s the “law”. I asked, “Is there anyone that we can confirm that law with?” To which the condescending (ALL of the answers were in a condescending tone… so I’ll stop using that description) answer given was, “Who do you think we can check with?” I suggested, “That would be a NHTSA law, right?” The answer was, “It doesn't matter what they say… if we don’t approve it you can’t get in.” After which I was told to sit down.
3. After about 30 minutes of 6 officers searching on-line, they came across the NHTSA “List of Nonconforming Motor Vehicles That Are Eligible For Importation (By Or Through A Registered Importer)” document. A document that I had in my folder… but I didn’t want to come across as presumptuous, so I bit my tongue.
4. After another 15 minutes or so (and hearing the conversation that the 8-10 officers by that time were having) the RHD issue was gone and not brought up again. (Page 1 of the aforementioned document is a good to have)
5. At that point another officer (by that time as adversarial as the first guy) asked, “When was the car manufactured?” My answer, “November, 1989… the JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) vehicles of that era didn’t have a manufacture day, only a month and year.” And then I shut up again. Another 15 minutes.
6. Office 2: “How can you prove to me that it was built in November, 1989?” (In retrospect, this was probably the one major oversight I made… as there’s technically nothing on the vehicle that states Nov-1989… or 1989 at all for that matter. And I didn't have the build month VIN ranges printed out). My answer was, “The can I show you what VINs were produced in what months and that will show the car was built in November 1989.” The response was, “I could tell you it was November of 1991… why should I believe you? If you don’t have something saying it was manufactured in November, then you’re going to have to wait until January to import” I decided not to ask how a car that he could have argued was built in November of 1991 could be imported in 2015… at that point I was convinced that it didn’t matter what I did. The two officers in particular had made such a scene in front of their co-workers that there was no way I was going to be driving the car into Detroit, regardless of the facts. My response was something to the effect of, “I don’t know what to say to that. I suppose you could say that but I’m not sure why you would.”
7. Officers 1 & 2 and another 4-5 “senior” officers went into a back room to “discuss”. Interestingly enough the 2-3 “junior” officers still out in the waiting room were just short of being apologetic. But they didn't (couldn't) do anything to affect an outcome. The committee met for another 15-20 minutes.
8. Officer 2 came out and called me up. “You’re going to need to get a title saying that you own the car” (apparently my SAAQ registration paperwork wasn't good enough because, “I don’t speak French” and “You should have a title”) and “You’re going to need something from the manufacture in Japan saying that this car was built in November, 1989”
So, there’s my story. I’m not presumptuous enough to think that there’s nothing I could have done differently or better. But right now the main thing would have been going to a different border crossing.
Here’s what I’m asking for advice on.
1. For the month/year issue, would it be possible to get someone to run a VIN lookup on my car and send me a PDF or other format that I can print out? Preferably any sort of report that has official Nissan info on it.
The VIN is – BNR32-003088
2. With regards to needing the title, has in a similar position (and you get my condolences if you've been there) had success with their bill of sale and/or “Evaluation Pour Calcul De Taxes De Vente Seulement” This 2nd document is a third-party form by an evaluator used for payment of the taxes during registration.
I appreciate any advice. If you are in a position to send me any documentation that you think may help, you can send that to niclas.willems@gmail.com
Thank you!
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