Ls400 right hand drive in california.
#1
Ls400 right hand drive in california.
LS400. 1995. White (051) with gold badges.
I've immigrated and imported my superb Lexus to California. I can't get a Letter of Conformity to get it plated. Once it's 25 years old it won't need one though.
It has a lot of new parts inc the entire cooling system $2000 + spent on it before we immigrated. Smooth well maintained engine with only 140,000 miles inc. brand new timing belt. No rust anywhere clean underneath too.
Can Anyone help with the letter or want to buythe car for endless spares? These are my only 2 choices left. Love the car but California is being stupid about it.!
Email me to: boomerdavey@aol.co.uk
I've immigrated and imported my superb Lexus to California. I can't get a Letter of Conformity to get it plated. Once it's 25 years old it won't need one though.
It has a lot of new parts inc the entire cooling system $2000 + spent on it before we immigrated. Smooth well maintained engine with only 140,000 miles inc. brand new timing belt. No rust anywhere clean underneath too.
Can Anyone help with the letter or want to buythe car for endless spares? These are my only 2 choices left. Love the car but California is being stupid about it.!
Email me to: boomerdavey@aol.co.uk
#2
You can try contacting Lexus but this is really something you needed to research before shipping the car. It's not a state issue, Federal customs law requires vehicles <25 years old to have a CoC or be on the approved vehicle list.
Your best bet is to contact a registered importer here in CA for your options. If you were here for a set time and planned on exporting the car after it wouldn't be a problem, but as it is the car is unlikely to be federally released even if you were to get a state plate.
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...-Old-Rule.aspx
Your best bet is to contact a registered importer here in CA for your options. If you were here for a set time and planned on exporting the car after it wouldn't be a problem, but as it is the car is unlikely to be federally released even if you were to get a state plate.
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...-Old-Rule.aspx
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LS400alan (04-12-18)
#3
Hi, thanx for the info, our shipping container/customs broker assured us they knew what they were doing and that we had all the paperwork etc needed to get the car on the road but seems they knew nothing about importing a car onto the US.
So I think I'll sell the car for parts as it has lots of brand new genuine parts on it. Anyone over here with a LS400 '95' what benefit from having it as their own stores.
Thanx again......
So I think I'll sell the car for parts as it has lots of brand new genuine parts on it. Anyone over here with a LS400 '95' what benefit from having it as their own stores.
Thanx again......
#4
CA has the strictest laws when it comes to importing vehicles outside of the US, smog compliance being one of the biggest issues.
if you have an Arizona address or perhaps even an Oregon address you may not have such hard of a time getting it plated there, though as PD stated there are federal regulations that need to be adhered to in any state.
plating a car in CA isn't impossible but it will cost you more than the car is worth to get it done. how badly do you want to drive that car on these shores?
if you have an Arizona address or perhaps even an Oregon address you may not have such hard of a time getting it plated there, though as PD stated there are federal regulations that need to be adhered to in any state.
plating a car in CA isn't impossible but it will cost you more than the car is worth to get it done. how badly do you want to drive that car on these shores?
#5
Cheers TimmyOTool, it's been an ongoing issue for 3-4 weeks so I'm losing hope and haven't the time to peruse it anymore, my work starts seriously next week. I'm happy to either garage it and wait 2 years or sell for parts to a LS400 owner here at this point. Loads of new parts on it, inc the entire cooling system. Moving to the desert I thought it'd need it.!
Do ya have any useful ideas how to plate it here? All I need according to customs is the letter on conformity stating it's never had a recall and it complies with US EPA and DOT stipulations.
Do ya have any useful ideas how to plate it here? All I need according to customs is the letter on conformity stating it's never had a recall and it complies with US EPA and DOT stipulations.
#6
Isn't there some legalese in the relevant laws to the effect that cars have to have been imported after they passed 25 years old to comply? As in you wouldn't be able to store it since it's already here. I'm not sure where I read that but I did do a lot of reading on the process and the applicable laws as I was looking for my Celsior.
#7
Good point. I remember with a different car I bought once from out of state ...
I was at the DMV with the PO, going through the transfer, and the DMV lady asked the PO for the date the car was brought into the state (in this case, coming from Oregon). There is some limit, like 10 days or 30 days. If it is beyond that initial window, CA will want to tax you or fine you or something (certainly not deport, we don't do that here).
The PO lied and said it was within whatever limit that was. But they will ask. Perhaps if it comes from overseas they would even ask for import paperwork to support whatever you say, since that paperwork should exist. Vs. in this case, from OR to CA, there is no documentation for driving across a state line, so there was no proof to ask for or to provide.
Also, RHD will probably be undesirable here, unless you deliver mail.
I was at the DMV with the PO, going through the transfer, and the DMV lady asked the PO for the date the car was brought into the state (in this case, coming from Oregon). There is some limit, like 10 days or 30 days. If it is beyond that initial window, CA will want to tax you or fine you or something (certainly not deport, we don't do that here).
The PO lied and said it was within whatever limit that was. But they will ask. Perhaps if it comes from overseas they would even ask for import paperwork to support whatever you say, since that paperwork should exist. Vs. in this case, from OR to CA, there is no documentation for driving across a state line, so there was no proof to ask for or to provide.
Also, RHD will probably be undesirable here, unless you deliver mail.
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#8
Isn't there some legalese in the relevant laws to the effect that cars have to have been imported after they passed 25 years old to comply? As in you wouldn't be able to store it since it's already here. I'm not sure where I read that but I did do a lot of reading on the process and the applicable laws as I was looking for my Celsior.
Getting a state title on a car doesn't mean anything compared to a federal bond release. The feds can (and will) seize an illegally imported/improperly declared vehicle regardless of it's state title status.
#9
The car came in a shipping container with all,our other belongings and was cleared by customs using a customs Brooker so the car is here legally we've lots of paperwork to show that. Looks like I'm storing it for 2 years.!
Unless a LS400 (1995) owner wants to purchase it for parts.! Lots of brand new parts.!
Cheers for all the replies guys it's been helpful
Unless a LS400 (1995) owner wants to purchase it for parts.! Lots of brand new parts.!
Cheers for all the replies guys it's been helpful
#10
I don't think people are doubting that you brought it here legally and have paperwork to prove it.
(not sure, but ...) I think what they are saying is that there is an important difference between:
1. Importing it after it is 25 years old
vs.
2. Importing it at 23 years old, storing it until it is 25 years old, and then saying you're ready to register your 25-year-old car.
I don't know the relevant laws, other than my anecdote above. As I mentioned there, if the law is as others say, they will almost certainly ask for the paperwork. And that will show it as being imported at 23 years, and that may lead to a problem. The difference in my case was that there were no international borders crossed, so there was no definitive paperwork, and the PO said what he said (in that case, it saved him probably from paying some CA registration fees and fines for having the car in-state while waiting to sell it).
(not sure, but ...) I think what they are saying is that there is an important difference between:
1. Importing it after it is 25 years old
vs.
2. Importing it at 23 years old, storing it until it is 25 years old, and then saying you're ready to register your 25-year-old car.
I don't know the relevant laws, other than my anecdote above. As I mentioned there, if the law is as others say, they will almost certainly ask for the paperwork. And that will show it as being imported at 23 years, and that may lead to a problem. The difference in my case was that there were no international borders crossed, so there was no definitive paperwork, and the PO said what he said (in that case, it saved him probably from paying some CA registration fees and fines for having the car in-state while waiting to sell it).
#12
Unless the importer got an EPA 3570 and an HS-7 for the car, it's not here legally. They probably just declared the contents of the container but not specifically the car.
As the car is <25 years old, isn't on the list of conforming vehicles, have a DOT tag on the doorsill then it needs to go through a RI and have the duty paid on it.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-personal-use
Most likely it wasn't brought in exactly legally, so you need to talk to a RI about redoing the importation paperwork.
As the car is <25 years old, isn't on the list of conforming vehicles, have a DOT tag on the doorsill then it needs to go through a RI and have the duty paid on it.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/det...r-personal-use
Most likely it wasn't brought in exactly legally, so you need to talk to a RI about redoing the importation paperwork.
#13
CA is all too complicated. Customs cleared the container contents and the car was top of the list of items listed. I'm driving it on a 60 day temp operating permit at mo and have a month left. A CHP officer may have a solution for me but i think I'm gonna sell it as there's are right hand drive enthusiasts in the US so it's on eBay now. Not sure if I'm allowed to post the link for ya to see it but here it is...... cheers for the feedback
Last edited by PureDrifter; 04-29-18 at 02:10 AM. Reason: ebay link not allowed
#14
CA is all too complicated. Customs cleared the container contents and the car was top of the list of items listed. I'm driving it on a 60 day temp operating permit at mo and have a month left. A CHP officer may have a solution for me but i think I'm gonna sell it as there's are right hand drive enthusiasts in the US so it's on eBay now. Not sure if I'm allowed to post the link for ya to see it but here it is...... cheers for the feedback
Item # 173292786806 (search for that if the link does not work)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1995-Lexus-LS/173292786806
Looks good. Good luck selling it. I think you're making a good move getting out of the CA hassle.
Last edited by PureDrifter; 04-29-18 at 02:10 AM. Reason: OP link removed.