re: importing US cars to Europe

[Dana Loomis <dloomis@domain.elided>]

Importing a US-market car to Europe should be fairly simple in principle,
especially if the car is of European origin to begin with.  Basically, the
car must have: amber turn signals; lights and glass with markings (an E in
a circle) indicating the appropriate safety approval; headlights with an
approved beam pattern (US-legal lights are not acceptable); km/h on the
speedometer; turn signal/side marker lights on the front fenders.  With any
Alfa, conversion to these specs is basically a matter of buying and
installing the corresponding parts from a European-market car.  The glass
and lights, except headlights, should already meet European standards and
be marked accordingly.  The car also needs to pass whatever inspection is
required in the country where it is going to be registered.

The words "simple are in principle" are important here.  Conversions to
European specs generally need to be done, or at least certified, in a
special garage, so the efficiency of those garages and the bureaucracies
that process the paper can have a big influence on how things go.   I'd
recommend asking people who have done it for advice on navigating the
process in whatever country you're moving to.

Dana

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