I'm in the military and living in Japan. I recently bought a Toyota Soarer 2.5 TT (Lexus SC300/400) and i'm wondering if it is possible to import it to the US. I would really like to put some money into this car, but if only if it can be imported. If anybody has knowledge of importing a soarer, i would greatly appreciate your response.

 

your best bet, sell it and buy the watered down version here.

 

If you're in the military stationed in Japan, I believe you can have the car imported to the US without any problems. I know a bunch of people that imported Silvias through the military. I'd recommend asking around at the base. I'm sure someone there knows about the procedure.

Good luck

 

there was a supraforums member that could not bring his car into the states, and he was in the military as well. you may want to pm him on supraforums for exact details.

 

If you are in the military, you are able to ship 1 car back to the states in your life time. I think just 1 car, not too sure on the number of car you can bring. But it is like an incentive from the military for servicing this "great" country. I am sure if you are the one who help captured Sadam, then for sure you can import anything you want. But realisticly speaking, just ask you superior or whatever you guys talk to for shipping things.

 

I was in the Military as well and the only thing that kept me from buying a 97 Supra ( for $12000 ) was the amount of money I was going to have to spend when I finally got it here.

First, you have to have a contract with a company that will modify your car to DOT standards prior to you arriving to the US. They fix minor stuff depending on the year of your vehicle. The newer the car, the less stuff they would have to change. They have to convert KPH to MPH. They replace some exhaust stuff. They have to install a third High brake light. Also, they have to mod the Dash to say "BRAKE" whenever you apply the E-brake...etc However, the shop that does these mods has to be DOT certified and you have to tow the car over there.

You have 180 days to do this in order to register the car as a "normal" vehicle.
Your other option is registering the vehicle as a strict racing car to be used only at races. You won't get normal Lic plates and don't get caught on the street with plates from another car, b/c they will repo your car.

2. Once your car arrives at the dock it has to go through customs. Yes! You have to pay taxes on your hot new import. I believe it's like 10% of what the car is worth.

3. You can also try to find some crash test info for your vehicle to prove that it is safe as a RHD. You'll have to find a dealer willing to provide this to you and then of course have it translated into English.

As you can see, it's a big headache. It hurt to leave behind that Red Supra (which was by no means stock at all) but you'll end up spending possibly just as much if not more money for a car that will only have thr RHD as the major difference.

What you can do is bring Parts/engine. No Questions asked. So if you love your soarer but are on your way back home, sell your soarer and find a C's 5.0L or a Supercharger for a SC400. You'll be the Envy of every SC400 owner out here. As a matter of fact, pick up one for me as well.

Read this----> http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import
And this-------> http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/omshome.htm
AND this ------> http://www.customs.gov

Fernando
(Former) Sgt. of Marines
Semper Fi

 

ok ive been searching all over this site, and cant seem to find the importing rules and registering in the state of CA. anybody got more info? i must be using the wrong key words or sumthing.
so if you have done it, know the process, know somebody who has, have a link, lmk please
i want to bring over an aristo as i think the gs3's 97+ are way over priced in my area. and i want a nice reliable sedan with some power to it, not into the v8's sorry.

chris.

 

Like I said:

Read this----> http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import
And this-------> http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/omshome.htm
AND this ------> http://www.customs.gov

 

Move to Canada In 2006 we can import 91 Soarer's.