Is it legal to import and register a 99 RHD Nissan Skyline R34 from Japan to Connecticut in the States?
Hello.
Like a lot of other people, I’m in love with the Nissan Skyline. I’m getting a car soon and I figured I could save up with the money I get from my parents to import and Skyline. I’ve seen 99 skylines available for import for about 20 grand. These are all stock of course. I would love to own one in the states and I thought it was a matter of paying for shipping and probably some customs fees in CT. I have read that it is illegal to import because a company called Motormex or something like that imported 35 or so and "grandfathered" them. I have read that the only way to get them is to go to Japan. De-Assemble them. And then ship them to the states as parts and put the skyline together as a kit car. I also read something about having to buy two of whatever car you want so that the part numbers do not match up and it is llegal. I think this is over the top and not in my budget. However, if it is llegal, I would love to buy one. Also what is "grandfathering" is that just a method of adoption. I have also heard that you can wait till the car is considered an antique which is 25 years or older or something and then you have to import it. I also heard that in Canada you can import it at 15 years and then register it there and drive it here. Please help me clear this up because I want to know how I can get one. I am really only satisfied with 98+ skylines. so r34’s and gt-r’s. I am looking for that aggressive look that they have 
Thank You Yahoo Answers!!
here ya go…..google works wonders
Since it seems that the information on the LEGAL importation of the nissan skyline into the US is scattered all over these forums, I thought it would be a good idea to try and put them into order in one nice thread. Here is a current list of links to the DOT/NHTSA/EPA sites with information pertaining to the importation of either specifically the Nissan Skyline, or the general information of vehicle importation of vehicles NOT manufactured in the US. These are the FACTS in black and white. Please do not post too many comments here, however feel free to post any link I may have left out, or any new ones as they become available.
Some key information to remember before going nuts on trying to import a nissan skyline to US soil:
1. Just because a company is listed as an Registered Importer and is able to bring in a Nissan Skyline by law, DOES NOT mean said company can make that car street legal.
2. Importing a Nissan Skyline as a so-called "Kit Car" is NOT legal. (just read the link to the reg on this page)
3. Mororex is now defunct and can no longer import skylines.
List of all Registered Importers (updated regularly by the NHTSA):
http://nhtsa.com/cars/rules/import/w…t01122006.html
Importation and Certification FAQ’a from NHTSA:
http://nhtsa.com/cars/rules/import/F…ite/index.html
NHTSA vehicle eligibility List:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/…LIG010906.html
Importing vehicles and engines as outlined by the EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/index.htm#vehicles
Non Resident, Returning Military, and Returning Official Government Employee Importations of Personal Vehicle for Personal Use:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/in…al_vehicle.xml
For those of you living in California and have to deal with CARB:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
EPA Kit Car Policy:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/kitcar.htm
Personal Note: These are the FACTS as stated on these links by government agencies. I would love to see the Nissan Skyline available for street use in the US without the hassle of all the BS. However, I am for obeying the law, and in so doing, it would be illegal to import a skyline at this time and drive it on the road. I want one so bad it hurts, but I’m not willing to take the chance of having my car confiscated and either shipped back to japan, or demolished. Spending the kind of money you would on getting one here would not be worth it. You have the potential to lose over $40K easy. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t part with that kind of money very easily.
Only Legal way to own a Nissan Skyline for legal road use:
1. Find a legal sale of a previously motorex made legal skyline.
2. Wait for the new GTR to become availble.
3. Wait for the 25 year law on vehicle importation to come around.
That’s it people. Good Luck! Drive Safe! Do It Right!! (and legal)
I can almost guarantee that the Skyline is 100% illegal when registered with the DMV regardless of state. It’s actually become a huge issue in the tuning industry. Last I heard, the government has been knocking on doors with warrants to tow and destroy Skylines and it has been happening.
The kit car thing does not work anymore. They got smart and figured it out a few years ago.
Honestly, it’s an awesome car, and everyone wants one, but you really, really don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on something that will be crushed in a junkyard.
References :
here ya go…..google works wonders
Since it seems that the information on the LEGAL importation of the nissan skyline into the US is scattered all over these forums, I thought it would be a good idea to try and put them into order in one nice thread. Here is a current list of links to the DOT/NHTSA/EPA sites with information pertaining to the importation of either specifically the Nissan Skyline, or the general information of vehicle importation of vehicles NOT manufactured in the US. These are the FACTS in black and white. Please do not post too many comments here, however feel free to post any link I may have left out, or any new ones as they become available.
Some key information to remember before going nuts on trying to import a nissan skyline to US soil:
1. Just because a company is listed as an Registered Importer and is able to bring in a Nissan Skyline by law, DOES NOT mean said company can make that car street legal.
2. Importing a Nissan Skyline as a so-called "Kit Car" is NOT legal. (just read the link to the reg on this page)
3. Mororex is now defunct and can no longer import skylines.
List of all Registered Importers (updated regularly by the NHTSA):
http://nhtsa.com/cars/rules/import/w…t01122006.html
Importation and Certification FAQ’a from NHTSA:
http://nhtsa.com/cars/rules/import/F…ite/index.html
NHTSA vehicle eligibility List:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/…LIG010906.html
Importing vehicles and engines as outlined by the EPA:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/index.htm#vehicles
Non Resident, Returning Military, and Returning Official Government Employee Importations of Personal Vehicle for Personal Use:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/in…al_vehicle.xml
For those of you living in California and have to deal with CARB:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/homepage.htm
EPA Kit Car Policy:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/kitcar.htm
Personal Note: These are the FACTS as stated on these links by government agencies. I would love to see the Nissan Skyline available for street use in the US without the hassle of all the BS. However, I am for obeying the law, and in so doing, it would be illegal to import a skyline at this time and drive it on the road. I want one so bad it hurts, but I’m not willing to take the chance of having my car confiscated and either shipped back to japan, or demolished. Spending the kind of money you would on getting one here would not be worth it. You have the potential to lose over $40K easy. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t part with that kind of money very easily.
Only Legal way to own a Nissan Skyline for legal road use:
1. Find a legal sale of a previously motorex made legal skyline.
2. Wait for the new GTR to become availble.
3. Wait for the 25 year law on vehicle importation to come around.
That’s it people. Good Luck! Drive Safe! Do It Right!! (and legal)
References :
skyline enthusist
built, stroked and boosted h2b 95 hatch runnin 26lbs
boosted d16z6 93 hatch daily driver 10lbs untuned
yep they are illegal
as of right now i think there are a little over 100 R32,R33,and R34 in the U.S.
the only skyline that can be legalized is the R33 from 1996 to 1998 (something with safety)
Canada just changed that 15 year rule to 25 year to help the U.S. with this problem
the only legal skyline were brought in by motorex
true you can get a skyline by the kit method but it has the risk of being crushed
even you do manage to get you hands on a R33 the legalization process will be long and a pain
look in the skyline forms for a more information
sorry but your not in luck here
References :
skyline forms
Just how many good examples of the Skyline you want were ever made? Next the cost of converting and smog testing that car. Many Japan cars suffer from rust too. There are plenty of good cars available in the USA. Corvette Mustang Cobra you can buy parts for Skyline you may have replacement parts problems. Check Customs DOT EPA and your State Department of Motor Vehicles
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Nissan Master Tech
First off, NO R34 imported would be $20,000. You are looking at $80,000+. That being said IT IS ILLEGAL. This has been asked SO MANY TIMES it’s ridiculous. I have personally answered at least 50 of this SAME question. Here is some reading you should look into
Once again this question is asked. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE. For all the people who say Motorex, THEY WENT OUT OF BUSINESS IN 2002! Kaizo is in REALLY hot water, and the ones that Motorex sneaked in are being repossessed.
YOU CANNOT GET THEM IN THE US. PERIOD. This is asked probably every other day on here. The ones imported by Motorex were ILLEGAL, they used R33 crash data, and as the government are finding them they are repossessing them. Motorex DOES NOT EXIST ANYMORE, they were shut down in 2002. Kaizo is in trouble also due to this. Sorry, WILL NOT HAPPEN.
they are not just illegal in California, but the entire US as well. You CANNOT import them.
While making loads of money, Motorex also made loads of enemies. In yet another interesting twist, it was alleged that Motorex didn’t actually comply with all crash test requirements for the R32 and R34. The US Department of Transportation, in response, offically rescinded importation eligibility for both the R32 and R34 Skylines, therefore only 96-98 R33 Skylines were still eligible to be imported. However, since that date, Motorex encountered a flurry of additional legal challenges, ultimately closing its doors. As a result, there is currently no information available (confidential nor public) to legalize R32’s nor R34’s
In comes the saga of Motorex. Motorex was a RI that was in business from 1998 to 2002 after which time they closed shop. Motorex took the initiative to work with the Federal Government in order to determine what is needed to bring an imported Skyline "up to code" to be legal within the US. As part of this process, they worked with JK Technologies to import numerous R33’s, at their expense, for crash testing in order to determine the modifications needed. As a consequence, Motorex claimed a proprietary interest in the modifications which are now covered by a confidentiality grant. Not only did this give Motorex a corner on the market for legal Skylines, it also allowed them to command a premium price for each legalized car. In effect, other RI’s do not have access to the information gained via the crash tests performed nor the modifications needed, thus they will not be able to get Skylines to meet FMVSS requirements.
Now some more interesting reading
Skyline and the US Federal Government
Vehicles imported into the United States that are less than 25 years old must comply with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) regulations and they must be imported via a Registered Importer (RI). If vehicles are imported that do not meet FMVSS regulations, they must be brought up to compliance by the RI within 120 days of entry into the US. NHTSA also limits the models of vehicles that are eligible for importation into the United States.
NHTSA states, "to be imported free of restriction, a motor vehicle less than 25 years old must be originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS and bear a label certifying such compliance that is permanently affixed by the vehicle’s original manufacturer.". Skylines, sadly, do NOT meet that criteria.
What does the above mean? First off, the NHTSA had originally determined that the 1990-1999 versions of the RHD Nissan GTS and GT-R Skyline were eligible for importation (R32, R33, R34 generations) as long as a HS-7 declaration is made. At the time it enters the US, the clock starts ticking and the car must be brought up to code via the RI within the 120 days allowed. Hey, this sounds simple!
Not so fast. The question that must be posed is: What is required to bring the vehicle up to FMVSS standards? That’s a hard one to answer as only a few people really know. Many so-called "importers" CLAIM to know, but won’t divulge their information under the guise of "protecting their business interests" which is a convenient way to skirt the question. In reality they have no clue as to the process needed for Federal legailzaton and simply dump the burden on their customers.
2 weeks ago
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move to new zealand. nissan skylines are everywhere
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ill sell u mine i have a 96 r33 i live in austin its fully legal
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