I live in Japan now and own a 2002 STi and am looking for help on how to bring it back with me when I relocate soon.

Has anyone from the States or Canada imported a STi - what did you have to do - how do you clear the safetly regualtions.

Any help here would be appreciated.

 

You won't be able to have it registered here, it doesn't meet US crash standards or emissions.

 

There are importers. You would pay dearly to import it. I'm not sure what's involved, but basically, sell it- and buy a new one here.

 

Ok, I looked into this when i thought about purchasing a skyline from the UK and having it shipped here.
You are luckier with having an STi, before it would have been extremely hard.

You have to be able to meet all of the US DOT and EPA standards. Which means once the car is here, you have to have a shop go through it, put in the proper lights, bumper supports, exhaust, speedometer and whatever else is required. You will need to contact a importer in order to have the car shipped to the US. The importer will make sure that all of the paperwork is in order. Once the car gets here, it will have to sit in customs for a little while (not sure on time), then there is a manidort EPA hold on the car so it sits there for a little while.

But if you read and contact customs they may be able to help you out better
This is all very costly and you would most likely be better selling it over there before you came here. The buy something else when you get here.


Here is a list of Importers, I can't reccomend any cause i don't know anything about them. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/..._07102003.html
here is a little more info I found

Automobiles imported into the United States must meet the fuel-emission requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the safety, bumper, and theft-prevention standards of the Department of Transportation (DOT). (Please see Customs pamphlets Importing a Car and Pleasure Boats.) Trying to import a car that doesn't meet all the requirements can be a vexing experience. Here's why:


Almost all cars, vans, sport utility vehicles, and so on that are bought in foreign countries must be modified to meet American standards. Passenger vehicles that are imported on the condition that they be modified must be exported or destroyed if they are not modified acceptably.


And even if the car does meet all federal standards, it might be subject to additional EPA requirements, depending on what countries you drove it in. Or it could require a bond upon entry until the conditions for admission have been met. So before you even think about importing a car, you should call EPA and DOT for more information.


Information on importing vehicles can be obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency, Attn.: 6405J, Washington, DC 20460, telephone (202) 564-9660, and the Department of Transportation, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (NEF 32) NHTSA, Washington, DC 20590.


Copies of the Customs Service's pamphlet Importing or Exporting a Car, can be obtained by writing to the U.S. Customs Service, P.O. Box 7407, Washington, DC 20044. EPA's Automotive Imports Fact Manual can be obtained by writing to the Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460. Cars being brought into the United States temporarily (for less than one year) are exempt from these restrictions.

 

RHD is legal in the United States. Subaru sold RHD wagon legacy's. You could order them right at the dealer.
Motorex went the certification process to legalize Skylines....thru crash testing, dot and epa testing, etc. Skylines are RHD.
Being a NON-US citicen you can bring the car to the usa for 1 year. After that year the car must be destroied or exported.
it cannot be sold.

 

You mean like the trucks, Jeeps, and Legacys that the Postal Service uses to deliver mail? RHD cars are perfectly legal in the US, but if they are imported they must be brought up to US crash standards.