Car help! Urgent!

[modelgirl 0]

So I am seriously stressed out and confused. My husband and I are moving to the U.S. On Saturday. My mother is giving us her 2007 Honda Civic but we are terribly confused about what we need to do.

Do we need a letter from the car manufacturer?

Also, the car is just being signed over in my husband name on my mother's ownership papers but we are just getting temporary plates from Ontario (10 days). Is this all we need to cross into the U.S.? We are stopping in Colorado for two weeks (where the 10 days will expire and we may need to get a second set of temporary plates) before driving to our new home in California where we will get the car plated and complete the transfer process of the car from my understanding. Is this going to be an issue? I'm really worried about all this but from my understanding the temporary plates are far cheaper than having to get the car replayed in my husband's name both in Ontario and California.

[Andy&Vanda 8]

We were in a similar "emergency" situation with my Fiance's 2008 Honda CRV. We worked with Honda Canada and they were great about getting a letter of compliance to us within 24 hours. Normal processing time is 8-10 days. We had to get the car to a dealer for a recall on a door latch issue, but as long as you have the letter from Honda Canada, and a title in your name, you should be all set. At first they said a K-1 Fiance visa was non-immigrant and therefore not allowed to import, but then he said it was okay after checking with his superior. We imported both our Honda and Ford F150. It was more difficult then the K-1 immigration part! And both vehicles were manufactured in the US! There is a form you need to fill out with the VIN, etc., (search VJ) and once at the border there is another form they provide you to fill out.

We had Ontario plates, but I also had an insurance binder for the US. As long as it's registered and insured you should be okay.

Good luck!!

[Cyteen 0]

As long as you can prove compliance with both DOT and EPA regulations, Customs will clear it, which is a hurdle with state registration. I recently imported a 2006 Hyundai I inherited. It was a major PITA, but eventually got it done.

[modelgirl 0]

Thanks guys! Cyrene, how do you prove that? With the manufacturer letter?

[Rob L 3,811]

Thanks guys! Cyrene, how do you prove that? With the manufacturer letter?

Take the car to the dealer, have them run the VIN and close out any known recalls, recalls won't cost you

Contact the MFG for a letter to confirm compliance to US Safety standards

Then you need proof of emission standards compliance :

A Canadian vehicle is identical to a United States certified version if one of the following is true:

• The Canadian vehicle has an emission label stating it is certified to United States EPA federal emission standards.
  • How to Find the Vehicle Emissions Label

• The vehicle manufacturer’s United States representative has provided a letter of compliance that states the vehicle complies with all United States EPA regulations. Generally, EPA only accepts compliance information from the manufacturer’s United States or Canadian representative.
  • List of Manufacturers' United States Representatives

[Loki_Go 126]

I'm importing my Honda Civic and after you get your recall clearance letter (I called Honda Canada and gave them the VIN and they mailed the letter to me) I needed to scan that in along with my bill of sale, driver's license and ownership and email that off to Honda USA so they can send me the compliance letter. It'll probably take me 3 or 4 weeks I figure.

I think I read that you need both driver and passenger airbags to pass and my car doesn't have the passenger's so I fully expect to not be able to import my car, but hey, I have to try.

[NikLR 13,220]

if it didn't come with something, it's not a big deal. If it did but that doesn't pass, that is a big deal.