Re: Importing to the U.S.

[Rosso75@domain.elided]

<< I understand the usual method is very expensive and probably not even 
possible without some examples available for crash testing.  I'm curious how 
some manage to get around these requirements.  >>

  Ah...getting around requirements.  I have a small bit of experience with 
that, though certainly not with any high-dollar foreign stuff.  As with all 
my other superpowers, these ideas can be used for good or bad.  Let your 
conscience be your guide.
  In New Hampshire (and I think Maine) you can register anything over 15 
years old with just a bill of sale.  Titles aren't issued on cars that old.  
You'd have to prove residency, but you'd probably have that problem 
everywhere else too.  Find a cheesy rooming house near your hotel, pay for a 
week, get a rent receipt, send yourself a postcard, and you've got residency. 
 That doesn't help much though if you want something newer than a 15 year old 
car.
  Many other states are also fairly liberal with their registration process.  
I've heard that you can register pretty much anything in North (or is it 
South?) Carolina.  They don't care.  If you get busted, that's your problem.  
They want the revenue.  
  Here in Washington you can register a car without a title just by telling 
them you lost the original.  If the car is from out of state, and therefor 
not in their system, they won't issue a title for 3 years (a waiting period, 
just in case it's stolen).  You can, however, register the car, drive it, 
sell it, do whatever you want.  The registration is issued (I think) with 
"NTI" stamped on it, meaning "No Title Issued".  Depending on what state you 
subsequently take the car to, the DMV may not have a clue why the 
registration is NTI.  Look surprised, play dumb, and they may just issue a 
new title to you rather than get off their butt to go figure out what's going 
on.  I'm still exploring this possibility.
  The major obstacle for a foreign vehicle is the VIN.  I don't know about 
the Carolina's, but in Washington you have to have a State Police inspection 
done on any vehicle coming from out of state.  They run the VIN through NCIC, 
and I'm not sure how you could get around the fact that you won't have a 17 
digit VIN.
  In states that don't do an actual inspection it could be a little easier.  
If you get a copy of the NADA value guide there is a section in the front 
that tells you how to decipher a VIN.  Once you figure out how the numbering 
system works for each manufacturer, make up a VIN for the DMV.  This would 
probably require forging paperwork though, but hey...in for a penny, in for a 
pound, right?  If you're registering a post-'95 Alfa, obviously you don't run 
the risk of them saying "Hey, that VIN is already in the system" since there 
were no Alfa's here after '95.
  Two other options -- I've heard of cars that are gutted and brought in as a 
"Kit".  The State Police issues a VIN, which you then use to register your 
kit-car.  Dunno how exactly that works.  Also, I once had a friend in 
California with a Yamaha RZ 500 (2 stroke, 4 cylinder, power curve like an 
ice pick) that he had registered as a RZ 250.  The 500 was illegal, the 250 
was sold here in the US.  He brought the bike in from Canada for track use 
only (wink, wink), replaced the '500' stickers with '250' stickers, and just 
went to the DMV and blatantly lied.  It's only illegal if you get caught, 
right?
  There are probably a lot more cars with questionable paperwork out there 
than any of us might think.  Even here in little 'ole Olympia, WA, there is a 
Renault Clio somewhere.  I saw it at, of all places, the K-mart service 
center getting an oil change.  It had the standard Washington plate, with no 
stickers indicating military or diplomatic ownership.  I seriously doubt 
anybody would jump through all the legal hoops, and toss out buckets of 
money, just to import a Clio. 
  I suspect that when somebody asks "How do I import a 1999 Gofastica Super?" 
and they don't get a wealth of response, it's because the people who have 'em 
don't want to incriminate themselves.  Whatever you get, just don't wreck it. 
 You certainly won't be able to fool the insurance company into thinking your 
155 is a Milano, no matter how you've disguised it.

Bryan Carter
Olympia, WA

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