LS400alan

LS400. 1995. White (051) with gold badges.
I've immigrated and imported my superb Lexus to California. I can't get a Letter of Conformity to get it plated. Once it's 25 years old it won't need one though.
It has a lot of new parts inc the entire cooling system $2000 + spent on it before we immigrated. Smooth well maintained engine with only 140,000 miles inc. brand new timing belt. No rust anywhere clean underneath too.
Can Anyone help with the letter or want to buythe car for endless spares? These are my only 2 choices left. Love the car but California is being stupid about it.!
Email me to: boomerdavey@aol.co.uk

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

You can try contacting Lexus but this is really something you needed to research before shipping the car. It's not a state issue, Federal customs law requires vehicles <25 years old to have a CoC or be on the approved vehicle list.

Your best bet is to contact a registered importer here in CA for your options. If you were here for a set time and planned on exporting the car after it wouldn't be a problem, but as it is the car is unlikely to be federally released even if you were to get a state plate.
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...-Old-Rule.aspx

LS400alan

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

CA has the strictest laws when it comes to importing vehicles outside of the US, smog compliance being one of the biggest issues.
if you have an Arizona address or perhaps even an Oregon address you may not have such hard of a time getting it plated there, though as PD stated there are federal regulations that need to be adhered to in any state.

plating a car in CA isn't impossible but it will cost you more than the car is worth to get it done. how badly do you want to drive that car on these shores?

LS400alan

creilly

Isn't there some legalese in the relevant laws to the effect that cars have to have been imported after they passed 25 years old to comply? As in you wouldn't be able to store it since it's already here. I'm not sure where I read that but I did do a lot of reading on the process and the applicable laws as I was looking for my Celsior.

oldskewel

iTrader: (1)

Good point. I remember with a different car I bought once from out of state ...

I was at the DMV with the PO, going through the transfer, and the DMV lady asked the PO for the date the car was brought into the state (in this case, coming from Oregon). There is some limit, like 10 days or 30 days. If it is beyond that initial window, CA will want to tax you or fine you or something (certainly not deport, we don't do that here).

The PO lied and said it was within whatever limit that was. But they will ask. Perhaps if it comes from overseas they would even ask for import paperwork to support whatever you say, since that paperwork should exist. Vs. in this case, from OR to CA, there is no documentation for driving across a state line, so there was no proof to ask for or to provide.

Also, RHD will probably be undesirable here, unless you deliver mail.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

If it was brought in legally then yes, it would be fine after 25 years. (Ie- a show and display imported vehicle would become federalized after 25 years hit) but in this case the vehicle wasn't brought in legally, no customs release (aside possibly for a limited time) and therefore would need to be xported or face being crushed if discovered.

Getting a state title on a car doesn't mean anything compared to a federal bond release. The feds can (and will) seize an illegally imported/improperly declared vehicle regardless of it's state title status.

LS400alan

oldskewel

iTrader: (1)

I don't think people are doubting that you brought it here legally and have paperwork to prove it.

(not sure, but ...) I think what they are saying is that there is an important difference between:
1. Importing it after it is 25 years old
vs.
2. Importing it at 23 years old, storing it until it is 25 years old, and then saying you're ready to register your 25-year-old car.

I don't know the relevant laws, other than my anecdote above. As I mentioned there, if the law is as others say, they will almost certainly ask for the paperwork. And that will show it as being imported at 23 years, and that may lead to a problem. The difference in my case was that there were no international borders crossed, so there was no definitive paperwork, and the PO said what he said (in that case, it saved him probably from paying some CA registration fees and fines for having the car in-state while waiting to sell it).

Moarpower

Wow.... So you can't import personal vehicles that you owned? In Australia if you live in a country for 12 months this you can bring you car back with you.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

Unless the importer got an EPA 3570 and an HS-7 for the car, it's not here legally. They probably just declared the contents of the container but not specifically the car.

As the car is <25 years old, isn't on the list of conforming vehicles, have a DOT tag on the doorsill then it needs to go through a RI and have the duty paid on it.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-personal-use

Most likely it wasn't brought in exactly legally, so you need to talk to a RI about redoing the importation paperwork.

LS400alan

oldskewel

iTrader: (1)

That link did not work for me, but I think I was able to find it.
Item # 173292786806 (search for that if the link does not work)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Lexus-LS/173292786806

Looks good. Good luck selling it. I think you're making a good move getting out of the CA hassle.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

LS400alan - we don't allow ebay or auction style links to stuff members are selling. FOr discussion's sake I'll allow oldskewel's link.