Importing a conforming vs. a non-conforming vehicle.
If a motor vehicle was manufactured to comply with all applicable
FMVSS, and bears a label certifying such compliance that was permanently
affixed by its original manufacturer, there is no need for NHTSA
approval before the vehicle is imported. However, the manufacturer
would have to submit to the agency information identifying it and
the products that it manufactures that are subject to our standards
no later than 30 days after manufacturing begins. In addition, the
manufacturer would have to submit to us information necessary to
decipher the VIN that it must assign to each motor vehicle it manufactures
for sale in the U.S. If the vehicle manufacturer is not located
in the U.S. the manufacturer must also designate a U.S. resident
as its agent for service of process.
If the vehicle is less than 25 years old and was not originally
manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, and/or was not
so certified by its original manufacturer, it cannot be lawfully
imported into the U.S. on a permanent basis unless NHTSA determines
it eligible for importation. The agency makes those determinations
on its own initiative or the basis of a petition from a registered
importer. These are business entities that are specifically approved
by NHTSA to import nonconforming vehicles and to perform the necessary
modifications on those vehicles so that they conform to all applicable
FMVSS. The petitions must specify that the vehicle is substantially
similar to a vehicle that was certified by its original manufacturer
as conforming to all applicable FMVSS and is capable of being readily
altered to conform to those standards, or, if there is no substantially
similar U.S.-certified vehicle, that the vehicle has safety features
that comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with,
the FMVSS based on destructive test information or other evidence
the agency deems adequate. Import eligibility decisions are made
on a make, model, and model year basis.
An additional requirement for the lawful importation of a nonconforming
vehicle is that it be imported by a registered importer (RI) or
by an individual who has contracted with an RI to bring the vehicle
into conformity with all applicable FMVSS. A bond in an amount equivalent
to 150 percent of the declared value of the vehicle must be given
at the time of importation to ensure that the necessary modifications
are completed within 120 days of entry. A list of RI's can be found
on the web site at nhtsa.dot.gov. You might want to contact one
or more of the listed RIs to obtain their opinion on the feasibility
of conforming the vehicle that you seek to import to the FMVSS,
and the costs involved in petitioning the agency to determine that
vehicle to be eligible for importation, as well as the costs for
conforming the vehicle to the FMVSS.
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