Importing my G to the U.S.
Sorry that this may not be an easy question since most of you are elsewhere but...
I am now moving from Japan to California for a new job. That's the good news. ; )
My question is, do any of you know a reputable importer that I can use for my 1999 SWB G500?
Also, are there any importers that I should flat out avoid? How about shippers?
Was your G500 originally registered in the USA before it went to Japan?
My understanding is that it is extremely difficult to import a vehicle of non US origin under 25years old into the states. Not only does it have to comply with all of the current federal regulations but also local state regulations, California has the toughest emissions controls of all of them.
In addition to this if you are attempting to import a vehicle that does not comply with the regulations it can be seized on the dockside and crushed !! Lots of horror stories on the internet.
The big car manufacturers, especially MB USA, lobbied the government very successfully to make grey imports very difficult even for an individual trying to import his personal vehicle.
It might be easier to sell your existing G in Japan and then buy a US registered G in California.
It maybe that you have already looked into this and have a solution but I thought I would let you know anyway.
Regarding shippers, when I shipped mine from Japan to the UK I used Neotrans - efficient and reasoanble.
It looks like you are fairly confident that your G will comply with the US DOT import rules and it sounds like your G is worth the effort to take with you to California.
You could try this company for the transportation. They are an auction company but they specialise in shipping and offer a RORO option which will be a lot cheaper than shipping via container.
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Thank you both. No, the G came directly to Japan and has never been to the U.S. It is LHD and is listed as an importable vehicle under DOT rules, but boy is it expensive from the two importers who have provided quotes.
That being said, considering the low miles (35K miles on a 1999 model), near flawless condition, and low cost I paid for mine here, the cost of importing it is still cheaper than anything available back in the U.S. Plus, I've searched and found NOTHING with low mileage.