It sounds like you ran into an asshat who probably has no idea what the actual laws are. I wouldn't let anything you can't find in writing bother you.
It sounds like you ran into an asshat who probably has no idea what the actual laws are. I wouldn't let anything you can't find in writing bother you.
FYI, http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/faq%20site/pages/page8.html
Specifically, 2. Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance – Import & Certification Division
Please call 202-366-5291 or fax all specific inquiries to 202-366-1024, or by email at importandcertification@nhtsa.dot.gov.
They should be able to iron it out for you in a manner that the border patrol will accept. I would say a letter (possibly even an email) from them should be (more than) sufficient to convince them. RHD is legal as long as its >25years.
Try backing through the checkpoint. As long as he doesn't have to walk around to the other side of the car he might not notice.
Proof the van exists, and my fat ass does sort of fit in it:
In reply to Mazdax605:
Wait--so it made it through, or this was taken in Canada???
In reply to Mazdax605:
What an assclown. Sounds like he was getting off on a power trip
gamby wrote: In reply to Mazdax605: Wait--so it made it through, or this was taken in Canada???
Van is still in Canada. I just went to visit it as a side trip on our couple day trip to Niagara Falls. It won't be legal for import until August, so I had to leave it there. I was inquiring about the process in a month when I ran into the less than cordial border agent.
Ya that guy is completely wrong.
Call a customs broker, should be one by the border you can probably just go to their office.
Only problem you might have is having no plate so get a temporary driving permit. If its still got the Canada plate you should be able to drive it over.
instead of this... you can go and checkout what's already been imported....
http://hachiroku.net/forums/showthread.php?t=36265
Luckily it doesn't look like anyone is looking to sell a Hiace Crew Cab at a loss so I Han put my wallet away.
Apexcarver wrote: RHD is legal as long as its >25years.
RHD is legal period. You can buy brand new RHD cars in the US. Jeep, Saturn, and Subaru sold them to anybody who wanted one.
Not too many people want one because driving on the wrong side of the car is a pain in the ass unless you're a rural mail carrier. When at Saturn, I had a customer with a right hand drive L-series so he could exercise his dogs. (Driving while running a dog is common, I guess)
Here, ten seconds of Google found a classifieds dedicated to buying/selling RHD cars in the US.
http://www.postalmag.com/classifieds/showcat.php?cat=5
Was talking to someone on opposite lock and he had this useful information. Especially concerning the in-country shipping.
Nice car! As Ferro1911 said, we jut imported two cars ourselves. The ISF caused me extra stress for sure. I don't think it is currently possible for individuals shipping RoRo to get their ISF in on time...I couldn't find anyone who would claim to be capable of it at least. We also didnt get charged an extra fee for the late filing...I was worried about extra inspection, but no one mentioned it. One of our cars cleared immediatly, and the other was giving a standard but not intensive inspection. The intensive is what you pay extra for. I think part othe problem is the way the shipping industry works. You're often dealing with an agent of an agent representing the actual shipping line, and the agents in Japan are inexperienced at shipping to the US. For our next cars, we're going to attempt to go direct, and book the cars ourselves directly with the shipping line, or at least an agent here in the US. I think that will help some of the issues we had with shipping. Glad your car turned out so nice. Our Aerocabin was a 3.5, and for the most part was in amazing shape. There was some deffered maintenance that we've taken car of because we intend to do a major road trip, but the paint and interior, and really the overall condition were very nice. Our Crown was a 3, and it had some issues. I think it should have been graded slightly harsher, but it is a 40yr old car, and the age needs to be taken into consideration with the grade. Also each auction house is different. I've noticed the smaller auction houses typically have less detailed inspections. As far as port pick-up, your shipper needs to have a TWIC card to get into the port. I picked up my own cars and paid a company called Lucky's transport $60 cash to go in and pick up the cars. They met me at the gate, and took paperwork in to get the cars. They dropped them right outside the gate, and then I loaded them onto my trailer there.
Knurled wrote: When at Saturn, I had a customer with a right hand drive L-series so he could exercise his dogs. (Driving while running a dog is common, I guess)
Only in America.
And yeah, RHD is totally legal.
I've gotten double-takes from cops, but never been hassled for it.
To all of the people who have or have driven rhd in the US. Do you ever get used to the feeling that you are in the other lane? It felt like I was constantly over the centre line, even though I wasn't. Also I caught on to the directionals being on the wrong side of the steering column, but I had to be thinking about it aside from the instinct of a normal LHD car.
Chris
No experience in the US, but plenty of experience in Europe with much narrower roads. Yes, you'll get used to it. Just keep in mind to drive (almost) in the gutter.
I delivered mail for a few years. You certainly get used to it, pretty quickly.
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