People seem to love sharing and hearing about some secret hack or loophole to get around some rule or regulation. When it comes to car importation, and legality there really aren't any. There are a few legal ways to import a car, and 1000 illegal ways to import a car. In this case that showed up in my Facebook feed, this place ZeroSixty is "giving" away this R34 GT-R. Not a US legal car, but they claim it comes with NHTSA paperwork, and was a Diplomatic Import.
So all sounds golden right? Everything good?
No.
Sure its a legal way for a diplomat to import a car, use when they are here, but at the end of their term, the car can not be sold, would have to be exported. However since its rarely followed up on, and there are so many cars, so many diplomats, many slip through the cracks. Like most cars, there are extensive records, so if CBP wanted to come and seize this car, and force the export, they could.
A Diplomat Import on the HS7 is a Box 6 entry. Read what it says, exactly.
Box 6. Temporary the vehicle is imported by a diplomat for personal use. Will not be sold in the US, and when leaving the country will be exported.
So while its probably true the car was imported legally, selling it, giving it away, isn't legal. The only guy getting screwed is the guy that thinks he has a legal car, because someone is feeding him bullshit about the legality of the car.
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| HS7 is the NHTSA document required to be filled out when a car is legally imported |
The ways to properly declare a car with the NHTSA and US Customs and Border Patrol
Permanent means the vehicle is a "consumption" entry or allowed in the US forever. The importer will also need to fill in a 3520-1. Tariff/ tax will be due. Temporary means some certain amount of time, which is normally a year, then must be exported or destroyed. Most temporary imports have a bond of 150% of the value of the vehicle.
Box 1. Permanent import over 25 years old
Box 2A. Permanent the vehicle conforms with standards.
Box 2B. Permanent the vehicle conforms to Canadian standards, needs a manufacturers letter.
Box 3. Permanent the vehicle can be brought into compliance. The important part being can be. It doesn't mean the car can be imported without bringing it up to standards. An RI must import, the vehicle must be bonded.
Box 4. Temporary the vehicle is imported for export.
Box 5. Temporary the vehicle is imported by a NON RESIDENT for up to a year, then will be exported.
Box 6. Temporary the vehicle is imported by a diplomat for personal use. Will not be sold in the US, and when leaving the country will be exported.
Box 7. Temporary the vehicle is imported for research, investigation, demonstrations or training, or competitive racing events. NHTSA permission letter is required.
Box 8. Permanent the vehicle was not manufactured primarily for use on the roads, aka race car.
Box 9. Temporary the vehicle is incomplete.
Box 10. Permanent the vehicle is eligible under Show or Display. NHTSA permission letter required.
Box 11. Permanent The equipment is subject to 40 CFR 541 and marked as such
Box 12. Temporary the vehicle is owned by a member of the armed forces of a FOREIGN country on assignment in the US. The vehicle will not be sold, and will be exported at the conclusion of tour of duty.
Box 13. Permanent when brought into compliance, otherwise temporary the vehicle is imported by an RI in order to work on a petition. The vehicle may have to be exported or destroyed if not brought into compliance. Requires NHTSA permission letter.
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