VEHICLE IMPORTATION GUIDELINES

(Imported from Canada)
January 19, 2007

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Importing a Canadian-Certified Vehicle as a Conforming Vehicle under Box 2B

To be imported free of restriction, a motor vehicle less than 25 years old must be originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and bear a label certifying such compliance that is permanently affixed by the vehicle’s original manufacturer. A motor vehicle that bears a label certifying compliance with all applicable Canadian motor vehicle safety standards (CMVSS), but not with the FMVSS, can still be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B on the HS-7 Declaration form to be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) at the time of entry if the following requirements are met:

• The vehicle is being imported for personal use and not for resale;
• The vehicle is not a salvage vehicle, a repaired salvage vehicle, or a reconstructed vehicle;
• The importer obtains a letter from the vehicle’s original manufacturer, on the manufacturer’s letterhead (and not that of a franchised dealer), identifying the vehicle by vehicle identification number (VIN) and stating that the vehicle conforms to all applicable FMVSS except for the labeling requirements of Standards Nos. 101 Controls and Displays and 110 Tire Selection and Rims or 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, and/or the specifications of Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, relating to daytime running lamps.

Note: To be imported under Box 2B a motor vehicle must be certified by its original manufacturer as complying with all applicable CMVSS. Certain vehicles that are at least 15 years old that are not so certified can be imported into Canada without restriction. Such vehicles may not be imported into the United States under Box 2B.

A list of manufacturer contacts is provided below for the purpose of obtaining a letter of conformity.

• If the manufacturer’s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS except for those pertaining to the speedometer or headlights, the vehicle can still be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B, provided the importer furnishes Customs with an invoice from a franchised dealer or repair facility authorized by the vehicle’s original manufacturer showing that the affected components have been replaced with U.S.-model parts.

• If the manufacturer’s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS but does not comply with the parts marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR Part 541, the vehicle can only be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B if the importer furnishes Customs with an invoice from a franchised dealer or other commercial entity showing that the required theft prevention markings have been applied to the vehicle.

• If the manufacturer’s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS except for the automatic restraint requirements of FMVSS No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection, the vehicle cannot be imported as a conforming vehicle under Box 2B. If the manufacturer furnishes a letter of this kind, or refuses to furnish a letter at all, the vehicle could only be imported into the United States on a permanent basis under Box 3 on the HS-7 Declaration form, as detailed below. Please note that the manufacturer can, at its discretion, refuse to issue a letter stating that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS, and that NHTSA is not in a position to influence the manufacturer in this regard or to issue such a letter on the manufacturer’s behalf.

Importing a Canadian-Certified Vehicle under Box 3

A Canadian-certified vehicle less than 25 years old can be imported on a permanent basis under Box 3 on the HS-7 Declaration form, provided:

• The vehicle is not a salvage motor vehicle or a reconstructed motor vehicle.
• The vehicle is imported by a registered importer (RI) or by a person who has a contract with an RI to modify the vehicle so that it complies with all applicable FMVSS following importation. A list of RIs in active status with the agency can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import.
• A bond equivalent in amount equivalent to 150 percent of the dutiable value of the vehicle is furnished to Customs at the time of importation to ensure that the vehicle is either brought into conformity with all applicable FMVSS within 120 days from the date of entry or is exported from, or abandoned to, the United States.

Before a vehicle can be imported under Box 3, NHTSA must also decide that the vehicle is eligible for importation, based on its capability of being modified to conform to all applicable FMVSS. The agency normally makes import eligibility decisions on a make, model, and model year basis. Because the requirements of the CMVSS closely parallel those of the FMVSS, rather than determining import eligibility on a make, model, and model year basis, NHTSA has issued a blanket import eligibility decision covering most Canadian-certified vehicles. However, because there are some dissimilarities between the CMVSS and FMVSS, a Canadian-certified vehicle manufactured after the date on which an FMVSS with differing requirements takes effect can only be imported under the blanket eligibility decision if the vehicle is originally manufactured to meet the U.S. standard. A chart identifying the particular FMVSS that must be met by Canadian-certified vehicles manufactured after specified production dates is set forth below. Covered vehicles that do not comply with an identified FMVSS can only be lawfully imported if NHTSA has separately decided that they are eligible for importation on a make, model, and model year basis. For example, Canadian-certified Smart Cars manufactured on or after September 1, 2002 are not eligible for importation under the blanket eligibility decision because they were not originally manufactured with an automatic restraint system that complies with the requirements of Standard No. 208 and/or they do not comply with one or more of the other specified standards. Such vehicles may nevertheless be eligible for importation under the separate import eligibility decisions that NHTSA has made for particular model and model year Smart Cars.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also regulates the importation of vehicles for compliance with the emissions standards administered by that agency. For further information on those requirements, you may call the EPA Imports Hotline at (734) 214-4100 or visit that agency’s website at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/index.htm.

CANADIAN CONTACT PHONE LIST

Acura Division‑American Honda 1919 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90501‑2746 Richard Downing Consumer Affairs	USA: 1-800-999-1009 CANADA: 1-800-999-1009
Audi Audi Customer Relations 3800 Hamlin Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326	USA: 1‑800‑822‑2834 CANADA: 1‑800‑822‑2834
BMW of North America 1 BMW Plaza Montvale, NJ 07645	USA: (201) 573‑2041 Environmental Engineering Dept.
BMW Headquarters 920 Champlain Court Whitby, Ontario Canada L1N 6K9	CANADA: (905) 683‑1200
Chrysler Corporation National Owner Relations Dept. 26001 Lawrence Avenue Center Line, MI 48015‑1231	USA: 1‑800‑992‑1997 Customer Center CANADA: (519) 973-2000
Ferrari North America	USA: (201) 816‑2601 CANADA: (201) 816‑8683
Ford Motor Company P. O. Box 43360 Detroit, MI 48242	USA: 1‑800‑392‑3673 Lincoln: USA: 1‑800‑521‑4140
Ford Motor Company Canada The Canadian Road P. O. Box 2000 Oakville, Ontario Canada L6J 5E4	CANADA: 1‑800‑565‑3673
General Motors of Canada Limited 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario Canada L1H 8P7	CANADA: (905) 440-7689 FAX: (905) 440-7644
Harley Davidson Milwaukee, WI	USA: (414) 343-4056 CANADA: (414) 343-4056
Honda‑American Honda Motor Co., Inc. 1919 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90501‑2746	USA: 1-800-999-1009 CANADA: 1-800-999-1009 (Ask for Consumer Affairs)
Hyundai Motor America 10555 Talbert Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92728	USA: 1‑800‑633‑5151
Hyundai Auto Canada Markham, Ontario Canada L3R 6H2	CANADA: (905) 477‑0202 (Ask for Customer Service)
Infiniti (Division of Nissan Motor Corp)	USA: 1‑800‑662‑6200 CANADA: (615) 725-1000
Isuzu	USA: 1‑800‑255‑6727 CANADA: 1‑800‑255‑6727
Jaguar Cars, Inc. 555 MacArthur Boulevard Mahwah, NJ 07430‑2327	USA: (201) 818‑8171
Jaguar Canada Inc. #8 Indell Lane Bramalea, Ontario L6T 4H3Canada	CANADA: (905) 792‑9400 Ex. 242
Kawasaki Motors Corp 9950 Jeronimo Road Irvine, CA 92718‑2016	(949) 460-5688
Land Rover North America 555 MacArthur Blvd Mahwah, NJ 07430	USA: 1-800-637-6837
Land Rover Canada 8 Indell Lane Bramalea, ON L6T 4H3 Canada	CANADA: 1-800-346-3493
Lexus One Toyota Place Scarborough, Ontario Canada M1H 1H9	CANADA: (416) 438‑6535
Mazda North American Operations Attn: International Imports/Exports 7755 Irvine Center Drive Irvine, CA 92618-2922	USA: (949) 727-1990 extension 1114 FAX: (949) 727-6703 E-MAIL: intl.imports.exports@mazdausa.com CANADA: (949) 727‑1990
Mercedes‑Benz of North America 1 Mercedes Drive Montvale, NJ 07645	USA: (201) 573‑2632
Mercedes‑Benz Canada 849 Eglinton Avenue East Toronto, Ontario Canada M4G 2L5	CANADA: 1-800-387-0100
Mitsubishi Motors of America 6400 Kalella Avenue Cypress, CA 90630	866-876-3018
Nissan Motor Corporation	(615) 725-1000
Porsche Cars of North America	1-800-767-7243
Saab	USA: (770) 279‑6364 CANADA: (770) 279‑6364
Subaru of America, Inc. Subaru Plaza P. O. Box 6000 Cherry Hill, NJ 08034‑6000	USA: 1‑800‑782‑2783 FAX: (609) 488‑0485 CANADA: 1‑800‑782‑2783
Suzuki‑American Suzuki Motor Corp. 3251 East Imperial Highway Post Office Box 1100 Brea, CA 92622‑1100	USA: (714) 996‑7040 CANADA: (905) 889‑2677 FAX: (714) 970‑6005
Toyota‑Toyota Motor Sales, Inc. 19001 South Western Avenue P. O. Box 2991 Torrance, CA 90509‑2991	1-800-331-4331 FAX: (310) 468-7814
Volkswagen of America, Inc. Customer Relations Department 3800 Hamlin Road Auburn Hills, MI 48326	USA: 1‑800‑822‑8987 CANADA: 1‑800‑822‑8987
Volvo Cars of North America, Inc. Volvo Drive Rockleigh, NJ 07647	USA: (201) 768‑7300 FAX: (201) 784‑4525
Volvo Canada Ltd. 175 Gordon Baker Road North York, Ontario Canada M2H 2N7	CANADA: 1‑800‑663‑8255 FAX: (416) 493‑8754
Yamaha Motor Corporation 6555 Katella Avenue Cypress, CA 90630‑5101 Mike Schmitt	USA: (714) 761‑7710 CANADA: (714) 761‑7710

VEHICLES CERTIFIED BY THEIR ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER AS COMPLYING WITH ALL APPLICABLE CANADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

Import Eligibility Number	Descriptions of Eligible Vehicles
VSA‑80	(a) All passenger cars less than 25 years old that were manufactured before September 1, 1989;
	(b) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 1989, and before September 1, 1996, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208;
	(c) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 1996, and before September 1, 2002, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with FMVSS No. 208, and that comply with FMVSS No. 214;
	(d) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 2002, and before September 1, 2007, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with FMVSS No. 208, and that comply with FMVSS Nos. 201, 214, 225, and 401.
VSA‑81	(a) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that are less than 25 years old and that were manufactured before September 1, 1991;
	(b) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on and after September 1, 1991, and before September 1, 1993 and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 202 and 208.
	(c) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on or after September 1, 1993, and before September 1, 1998, and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 202, 208, and 216;
	(d) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on or after September 1, 1998, and before September 1, 2002, and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 202, 208, 214, and 216;
	(e) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on or after September 1, 2002, and before September 1, 2007, and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 201, 202, 208, 214, and 216, and, insofar as it is applicable, with FMVSS No. 225.
VSA‑82		All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR greater than 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) that are less than 25 years old.
VSA‑83		All trailers and motorcycles less than 25 years old.