Auto Import Laws

• Auto import laws apply to all vehicles imported into the U.S.retro car on street image by d_j_ang0 from Fotolia.com
  
  Americans may be able to import automobiles to the United States as long as they comply with specific auto import laws. Auto import laws govern who can import vehicles, which vehicles can be imported, what National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety standards the imported vehicles need to meet and how an imported vehicle is declared to the U.S. government. As long as importers and their clients comply with all legal regulations, they may import a wide variety of vehicles on a permanent or temporary basis.
  
  

Import an Eligible Vehicle

• If a vehicle is less than 25 years old and the owner wants to import it on a permanent basis, the vehicle must comply with all federal vehicle safety standards. Buyers should ensure the seller provide the vehicle safety certification label. The buyer should use the certification when importing the vehicle to show the vehicle conforms to NHTSA safety standards.
  
  NHTSA safety standards apply to the safety of the vehicle itself, the safety of vehicle passengers, safety of other drivers on the highway and the safety of the environment. Thus, imported vehicles will need to comply with a wide range of regulations, including vehicle emission regulations established by the Environmental Protection Agency. The NHTSA maintains a list of nonconforming vehicles eligible for importation.
  
  

Use a Registered Importer, If Necessary

• In the event a vehicle does not have a certification label declaring the vehicle complies with U.S. safety standards, the vehicle purchaser needs to work with a registered importer (RI) to arrange to have the vehicle modified so it can be imported.
  
  The RI can assist with making vehicle modifications so the vehicle meets U.S. motor vehicle safety standards. However, before the RI is allowed to make modifications to the vehicle, the NHTSA must first determine the vehicle is eligible for importation based on the degree to which the vehicle can be modified.
  
  The RI can also post a Department of Transportation conformance bond for the non-conforming vehicle. The conformance bond is an additional fee to the customs entry bond for the vehicle and should be one-andone-half times the dutiable value of the imported vehicle. When a buyer submits the HS-7 declaration form, the buyer must also attach a copy of the RI contract. The NHTSA supplies a list of RIs.
  
  

Declare the Auto Import

• Buyers need to declare their imported vehicles on an HS-7 form, which is available from the NHTSA website. HS-7 is titled, "Declaration---Importation of Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Equipment Subject to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety, Bumper and Theft Prevention Standards."
  
  To properly complete the form, the purchaser needs the vehicle identification number (VIN), customs entry number, customer's port code, vehicle eligibility number, and port of entry name. If the vehicle is being imported by an RI, the purchaser needs to supply the RI name and NHTSA registration number. The purchaser must also acknowledge compliance with the 13 declarations and supply any applicable supporting paperwork, such as a copy of the RI contract.