Importing truck from Canada/Japanese Domestic Market?

tveltman · 09-19-2011, 04:53 AM

Does anyone have any experience with this? I have read online that if the car is above a certain age (I think 25 years), import standards are more lax. I've also read that getting a car into the US from Canada is fairly straightforward.

My case is not 928-specific, but I thought this might be:

1. the place to ask since lots of people must have dealt with moving their sharks around and
2. this could be useful to anyone looking to move a shark around.

So with that said, I will explain what my situation is. I have been looking around for a vintage diesel hilux for a while, and I have come to the conclusion that the ones that are in north america are in north america largely because the people who own them wanted them badly enough to get them through customs, since Toyota has not made a diesel hilux for the north american market since 1986 (and now only makes the Tacoma for the NA market, which has a less solid chassis, sadly). This leads me to believe that I am going to have to import one myself if I want one. There are several companies which do this in Canada, though apparently not so much in the US. One such company buys trucks from Japan because [they claim] the trucks are rarely taken off road and end up being in much better overall condition. As long as you can live with RHD vehicles (I can), then that seems to be the best available option. Before I commit any more time/effort/money to this venture, I thought I might draw some opinions from the community.

Am I insane/wasting my time? Do you have a diesel 5-speed hilux you are looking to unload (no way am I that lucky)?

Ethre · 09-19-2011, 08:21 AM

The guys over at Ih8Mud might have more knowledge on this. I know a couple of them have brought in diesel landcruisers from Canada.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-...importing.html

Imo000 · 09-19-2011, 01:40 PM

Instead of guessing, call the local athorities and ask if the truck can be registered in your state.

From what I've heard, a Japaneese import from Canada is not admissable to the US. The car has to be originally made for the Canadian market and in this case it wasn't.

por85928 · 09-19-2011, 02:44 PM

I have imported quite a few Land Rovers from the UK and one from Canada. In arkansas as long as they are 25 years or older all I need is a title or bill of sale.

Here is the link for US laws. I am sure it will be more difficult in CA.

http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...l#Anchor-28852

tveltman · 09-19-2011, 03:30 PM

Good tips, all. Looks like I'll have to find one from 1986 after all. I am just in school in CA, I'd be importing into MD or TX, whichever is easier/cheaper. Thanks for the helpful responses, and I hope someone else gets some use out of this.

09-19-2011, 04:53 AM	#1
tveltman Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 942	Importing truck from Canada/Japanese Domestic Market? Does anyone have any experience with this? I have read online that if the car is above a certain age (I think 25 years), import standards are more lax. I've also read that getting a car into the US from Canada is fairly straightforward. My case is not 928-specific, but I thought this might be: 1. the place to ask since lots of people must have dealt with moving their sharks around and 2. this could be useful to anyone looking to move a shark around. So with that said, I will explain what my situation is. I have been looking around for a vintage diesel hilux for a while, and I have come to the conclusion that the ones that are in north america are in north america largely because the people who own them wanted them badly enough to get them through customs, since Toyota has not made a diesel hilux for the north american market since 1986 (and now only makes the Tacoma for the NA market, which has a less solid chassis, sadly). This leads me to believe that I am going to have to import one myself if I want one. There are several companies which do this in Canada, though apparently not so much in the US. One such company buys trucks from Japan because [they claim] the trucks are rarely taken off road and end up being in much better overall condition. As long as you can live with RHD vehicles (I can), then that seems to be the best available option. Before I commit any more time/effort/money to this venture, I thought I might draw some opinions from the community. Am I insane/wasting my time? Do you have a diesel 5-speed hilux you are looking to unload (no way am I that lucky)? __________________ Thomas '88 S4 Marineblau metallic, 5 sp. '84 Toyota Hilux, 2L engine, 5 speed, 4WD Proud owner since 2003

09-19-2011, 08:21 AM	#2
Ethre Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: 3rd Rock From The Sun Posts: 385	The guys over at Ih8Mud might have more knowledge on this. I know a couple of them have brought in diesel landcruisers from Canada. http://forum.ih8mud.com/diesel-tech-...importing.html __________________ 1982 928 5-Speed Tom

09-19-2011, 01:40 PM	#3
Imo000 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cambridge, Ontario, Canada Posts: 11,171	Instead of guessing, call the local athorities and ask if the truck can be registered in your state. From what I've heard, a Japaneese import from Canada is not admissable to the US. The car has to be originally made for the Canadian market and in this case it wasn't. __________________ Imre 1985 928S, 5-Speed, DIY Supercharged http://norcal928.org/DIYSC/index.htm "If you are not first, you are last!"..............Ricky Bobby's father

09-19-2011, 02:44 PM	#4
por85928 Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fayetteville AR Posts: 324	I have imported quite a few Land Rovers from the UK and one from Canada. In arkansas as long as they are 25 years or older all I need is a title or bill of sale. Here is the link for US laws. I am sure it will be more difficult in CA. http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/impo...l#Anchor-28852 __________________ Paul W. Fayetteville AR 85 928S Auto 86 928S Euro Right Hand Drive 05 Land Rover LR3 Daily Driver

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09-19-2011, 03:30 PM	#5
tveltman Addict Rennlist Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 942	Good tips, all. Looks like I'll have to find one from 1986 after all. I am just in school in CA, I'd be importing into MD or TX, whichever is easier/cheaper. Thanks for the helpful responses, and I hope someone else gets some use out of this.