I want to take my 1996 Toyota Tercel down with me when I go. No problem, right? The US is full of tercels....

Called Toyota Canada
NO TERCEL between 1993 - 2000 is compliant. And no reason is given, they don't even know, it just ISN'T. Yeah and not many after 2000 either apparently.

I called the Toyota Consumer Help number - which has turned into a 1 900 number?? I redialed in case it was me... nope. So after I looked up the Toyota Canada General number and got the no once from some lady, I called the US Toyota Customer help line. She said she couldn't tell me that but Canada could and tried to give me the same toll free number that sent me to the 1900 number, which I dialed for fun and it was not even a working number.
Called Canada again, got a different guy. He said yeah, the database says its non complant, doesn't say why and they get that info from the US gov't so they don't know unless they tell them - like somtimes its headlights or something. Then I called Transport Canada and left a message, and now my fiancee is calling the Dept of Transport in the US. Sure, its a cheap old car, but its a GOOD car, and there's not a bloody thing wrong with it... and to add insult to injury I have to work (for which I HAVE to have my car) til about one day before I leave.
I WANT TO SCREAMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!
/rant off

That sucks... that's a good car! Should meet all their emissions criteria... Can the headlights be modified?

[quote name='echomyst' date='May 31 2006, 02:03 PM' post='224488']
That sucks... that's a good car! Should meet all their emissions criteria... Can the headlights be modified?



Well, they won't give me a reason, which means it more than just headlights or they would say. US Dept ot transport says prob emissions. They have a list of cars that can be modified by registered importers, and the Tercel isn't on it... so that closes the door on THAT idea. My beloved car! And its in such good condition and so good on gas and waaahhhh!

Welcome to the club!!! I've had more problems with my car than getting K-1 visa . Now I think I should have sold it in the first place, move and get something in the US. My car is only 1,5 years old. Took me forever to get a compliance letter, and on top of that it has to be paid off. Now I paid it off , but have to wait for a title, and the bank said that legally they have 30 days to release the lien. So, I am left to wait for their mercy. In the meantime, I have to quit my job, give notice at my apartment, get rid of furniture. Sounds like fun? I could SCREAM too.
Good luck to you, I know how you feel!

The plot thickened - I relaized this morning that what I have now is a Corolla. not a Tercel, as I USED to own a Tercel...so I called back.

DENIED!!!!!

Sell them and buy a used one when you get here. Probably less hassle overall. And a US model is at least saleable in the US. If you try to sell a Canadian model down here later you wont get much. Nobody wants a registration with MAY BE SUBJECT TO UNDISCLOSED LEAN on it or a dashboard that makes you look like a speeder. Plus whats up with that mileage?

Meanwhile we have rust buckets being driven as cars down here that couldn't pass emission tests if they wanted to.

Sorry to hear you are having all these problems.

Well, looks like my boss might take it off my hands, but I specifically bought a Toyota so I could have many happy years of driving it into the ground.

Google tells me that all 96 - 98 Corollas in the US were recalled by Toyota and retrofitted with new emission gear. At least that's what it looks like - and that would explain my sad tale.

Sorry to hear you have to go through this with your car

I also had a similar problem.. except mine was seatbelts.. I couldnt take my beloved Mazda MX-3 to the states because it didnt' have the retarded auto seatbelts that of course are a major problem in all the cars here of that time period.. I ended up having to sell my car.. and now i'm driving a 1986 chevy celebrity which isn't nearly as safe as my mx-3 was.. UGH!!! I cried when i found out i had to sell my car.. I loved it.. its crazy... It didn't meet the US safety standards, yet it had had a safety done within the last year and there are no safety requirements for cars here in Michigan... bleah.. I still miss that car..

Oh that must have been hard, to have to sell the car you like so much. I am lucky that my Mazda 3 is compliant, I checked that prior to buying it 1,5 years ago as I knew that eventually I will be moving to US. Still, I it is so much hassle with paying it off, getting lien released, etc... At one point I thought I should just sell it. It was harder to deal with the car than to get my K-1 Visa.

"threadjack" Can someone tell me how you go about finding out if your car can come to the US? My fiancee is wanting to bring his car (old Dodge Dynasty) to the states. Who do we call or is there some website we can go and look to see if the car is compliant?

Importing car:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import...anada07032.html
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

Just call your the maker of your car and they should be able to fax or mail. Some are free, some charge a fee!!

Lot of info onthe Canuck clearinghouse thread.
cheers

Toyota just outright told me mine was noncompliant, and didn't bother to send a letter. They don't even know the reason - just the US Dept of Transport says so.

Question that is kind of along the same lines as what you guys are talking about. I have inherited my mom's '68 MG Midget which is still in my dad's name. Although we are not planning on moving it with me yet, we are eventually planning on bringing it home to the US.....does anyone know how it works for antiques?

Best idea is to google a users group for that car. They often have car specific info on the sites. Or contact a local car collectors group - bet they have the know how.

My brother just informed me if I was taking my car to race, I could import it temporarily. Paint a number on the side, he says.

resurrecting an old thread. I immigrated to Canada last year and imported my Accord. Now my career is forcing us to move back to the states-I'm on the path to get the husband into the country, but what about my US then Canadian car? Is it still a dual citizen? I'm going to leave Alberta plates on it as long as I'm technically if not physically living in Canada, so I've got 6-8 months to deal with the car.

I'm sorry

I was told that I have to register car within 20 days of arriving to California, so I have an appointment on Wednesday to register it and will have to remove my Alberta plates. I guess it depends on the State. Also, I was so shocked when I was told at the border that I have to pay import fees over $500 just because my Mazda was manufactured in Japan. They said that this rule applies to all cars not made in North America. I would recommend that you check the rules on the State you are in.

I'm still officially a resident of Alberta, primary domicile etc. Also I'm back and forth alot and Canadian citizens and PRs are not allowed to drive non-Canadian plated cars in Canada. Fortunatly for me there is no reciprical US law. I don't know how that changes once you get a GC.
Actually, I found my Wyoming title the other day. What kind of can o worms would I be opening if I just registered my car with that title?

i am in canada...have a 84 camaro..my fiance lives in vermont...he was afraid of the same thing...so he called the border and what they told him was ..since this is a k1 visa...there is an import exemption...its a 1 time deal...for any car to be able to come throu the border...just have the usa citizen call the closest border and talk with them...explaining the ki visa was filed and you want to know about your car. they will explain to you..i think the car has to be at least 1 yr old. hope this helps...and all the best to the both of you.