Hi!
I’m moving from Japan to outside of Salem, Oregon next year (I'm Japanese got permanent residence in states). I have a 1996 Mk4 Supra, a 1996 FD3S RX-7, an E30 M3 Sport Evo, and a few other race cars. I’d love to bring my Supra, RX-7, and E30 (all pretty heavily modified—think full engine builds and race parts) with me to the States.
All three cars are street legal in Japan, but I’m not sure what the process is like for registering modified JDM imports in Oregon. Has anyone here done this, or know what kind of challenges I might run into? or is it even possible? The Supra has a 3.1L stroker kit and pretty much every mod you can think of for street/light race use, and the RX-7 and E30 are basically race cars with plates (I'm using those 2 as time attack machine for Fuji).
If you need details on the mods, I’m happy to share! (I know it's gonna be pricey but I'm in love with my cars I'm willing to sell my Organs if I hav to)
Any advice or stories from people who’ve been through this would be super helpful. Thanks a lot!
(Sorry if my English isn’t perfect still learning!)
by JDMGuy11120
6 Comments
You would import them under the classic car laws and gotta fill out this paperwork. I think in Oregon you need a shop to sign off on the paperwork. Not sure but i think Oregon has strict laws on performance cars, usually doesn’t matter on 25yr old cars
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Forms/DMV/6577fill.PDF&ved=2ahUKEwje-N2Sh8aNAxUAMdAFHWuTOxAQFnoECBoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2u5L2nMncWO2oDcvx9fvT_
I’m an exporter and work with various importers in the USA so may be able to assist you on this one. One thing you should be aware of is that cars that are heavily modified are a super grey zone for legality in most states. Either way I can get all of the paperwork sorted on this side of the world and then you’d have to go to the DMV in Oregon and register the car like you would a domestic one. It is quite an expensive process so if you are there short-term it may not be worth it.
よろしくお願いします
How long are you moving to the US for? I know they can be temporary imported for upto a year on your current Japanese registration and insurance. There would be some paperwork to get sorted first. but it is possible to bring them to the US. export them back after the year is up without needing to officially import them and need to pay taxes and registration etc.
Try to find one that hasn’t been molested .. I was very lucky
All I have to contribute is: good luck, and look into avoiding SEATAC port if possible, I’ve seen stories that really have inside job undertones on the JDM Scammer FB groups. Multiple of them end with the car in question being found picked clean for parts and abandoned somewhere.
I lived about 25 mins from Salem and it’s super easy, I went to the Dallas DMV and they just wrote down some info about the make, model, and chassis number (which now became the VIN). If you have any worries or questions about the registration process I can help out. For I can recommend a broker stateside assuming you can secure shipping.