NHTSA logo - this page is 508 compliantVEHICLE IMPORTATION GUIDELINES

(Imported from Canada)
January 19, 2007

 


Importing a Canadian-Certified Vehicle as a Conforming Vehicle under Box 2B

 

To be imported free of restriction, a motor vehicle less than 25 years old must be originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and bear a label certifying such compliance that is permanently affixed by the vehicle�s original manufacturer.A motor vehicle that bears a label certifying compliance with all applicable Canadian motor vehicle safety standards (CMVSS), but not with the FMVSS, can still be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B on the HS-7 Declaration form to be presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) at the time of entry if the following requirements are met:

 

  • The vehicle is being imported for personal use and not for resale;
  • The vehicle is not a salvage vehicle, a repaired salvage vehicle, or a reconstructed vehicle;
  • The importer obtains a letter from the vehicle�s original manufacturer, on the manufacturer�s letterhead (and not that of a franchised dealer), identifying the vehicle by vehicle identification number (VIN) and stating that the vehicle conforms to all applicable FMVSS except for the labeling requirements of Standards Nos. 101 Controls and Displays and 110 Tire Selection and Rims or 120 Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars, and/or the specifications of Standard No. 108 Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment, relating to daytime running lamps.

 

Note: To be imported under Box 2B a motor vehicle must be certified by its original manufacturer as complying with all applicable CMVSS.Certain vehicles that are at least 15 years old that are not so certified can be imported into Canada without restriction.Such vehicles may not be imported into the United States under Box 2B.

A list of manufacturer contacts is provided below for the purpose of obtaining a letter of conformity.

 

  • If the manufacturer�s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS except for those pertaining to the speedometer or headlights, the vehicle can still be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B, provided the importer furnishes Customs with an invoice from a franchised dealer or repair facility authorized by the vehicle�s original manufacturer showing that the affected components have been replaced with U.S.-model parts.

 

  • If the manufacturer�s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS but does not comply with the parts marking requirements of the Theft Prevention Standard at 49 CFR Part 541, the vehicle can only be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B if the importer furnishes Customs with an invoice from a franchised dealer or other commercial entity showing that the required theft prevention markings have been applied to the vehicle.

  • If the manufacturer�s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS except for the automatic restraint requirements of FMVSS No. 208 Occupant Crash Protection, the vehicle cannot be imported as a conforming vehicle under Box 2B.If the manufacturer furnishes a letter of this kind, or refuses to furnish a letter at all, the vehicle could only be imported into the United States on a permanent basis under Box 3 on the HS-7 Declaration form, as detailed below.Please note that the manufacturer can, at its discretion, refuse to issue a letter stating that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS, and that NHTSA is not in a position to influence the manufacturer in this regard or to issue such a letter on the manufacturer�s behalf.

 

Importing a Canadian-Certified Vehicle under Box 3

 

A Canadian-certified vehicle less than 25 years old can be imported on a permanent basis under Box 3 on the HS-7 Declaration form, provided:

 

  • The vehicle is not a salvage motor vehicle or a reconstructed motor vehicle.
  • The vehicle is imported by a registered importer (RI) or by a person who has a contract with an RI to modify the vehicle so that it complies with all applicable FMVSS following importation.A list of RIs in active status with the agency can be found at www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import.
  • A bond equivalent in amount equivalent to 150 percent of the dutiable value of the vehicle is furnished to Customs at the time of importation to ensure that the vehicle is either brought into conformity with all applicable FMVSS within 120 days from the date of entry or is exported from, or abandoned to, the United States.

 

Before a vehicle can be imported under Box 3, NHTSA must also decide that the vehicle is eligible for importation, based on its capability of being modified to conform to all applicable FMVSS.The agency normally makes import eligibility decisions on a make, model, and model year basis.Because the requirements of the CMVSS closely parallel those of the FMVSS, rather than determining import eligibility on a make, model, and model year basis, NHTSA has issued a blanket import eligibility decision covering most Canadian-certified vehicles.However, because there are some dissimilarities between the CMVSS and FMVSS, a Canadian-certified vehicle manufactured after the date on which an FMVSS with differing requirements takes effect can only be imported under the blanket eligibility decision if the vehicle is originally manufactured to meet the U.S. standard.A chart identifying the particular FMVSS that must be met by Canadian-certified vehicles manufactured after specified production dates is set forth below.Covered vehicles that do not comply with an identified FMVSS can only be lawfully imported if NHTSA has separately decided that they are eligible for importation on a make, model, and model year basis.For example, Canadian-certified Smart Cars manufactured on or after September 1, 2002 are not eligible for importation under the blanket eligibility decision because they were not originally manufactured with an automatic restraint system that complies with the requirements of Standard No. 208 and/or they do not comply with one or more of the other specified standards.Such vehicles may nevertheless be eligible for importation under the separate import eligibility decisions that NHTSA has made for particular model and model year Smart Cars.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also regulates the importation of vehicles for compliance with the emissions standards administered by that agency.For further information on those requirements, you may call the EPA Imports Hotline at (734) 214-4100 or visit that agency�s website at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/index.htm.


 

CANADIAN CONTACT PHONE LIST

 

 

Acura Division‑American Honda

1919 Torrance Boulevard

Torrance, CA 90501‑2746

Richard Downing�� Consumer Affairs

 

USA: 1-800-999-1009

CANADA: 1-800-999-1009

 

Audi

Audi Customer Relations

3800 Hamlin Road

Auburn Hills, MI 48326

 

USA: 1‑800‑822‑2834

CANADA: 1‑800‑822‑2834

 

BMW of North America

1 BMW Plaza

Montvale, NJ 07645

 

USA: (201) 573‑2041

Environmental Engineering Dept.

 

BMW Headquarters

920 Champlain Court

Whitby, Ontario

Canada L1N 6K9

 

CANADA: (905) 683‑1200

 

Chrysler Corporation

National Owner Relations Dept.

26001 Lawrence Avenue

Center Line, MI 48015‑1231

 

USA: 1‑800‑992‑1997

Customer Center

CANADA: (519) 973-2000

 

Ferrari North America

 

 

USA: (201) 816‑2601

CANADA: (201) 816‑8683

 

Ford Motor Company

P. O. Box 43360

Detroit, MI 48242

 

USA: 1‑800‑392‑3673

Lincoln:

USA: 1‑800‑521‑4140

 

Ford Motor Company Canada

The Canadian Road

P. O. Box 2000

Oakville, Ontario

Canada L6J 5E4

 

CANADA: 1‑800‑565‑3673

 

General Motors of Canada Limited

1908 Colonel Sam Drive

Oshawa, Ontario

Canada L1H 8P7

 

CANADA: (905) 440-7689

FAX: (905) 440-7644

 

Harley Davidson

Milwaukee, WI

 

USA: (414) 343-4056

CANADA: (414) 343-4056

 

Honda‑American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

1919 Torrance Boulevard

Torrance, CA 90501‑2746

 

USA: 1-800-999-1009

CANADA: 1-800-999-1009

(Ask for Consumer Affairs)

 

Hyundai Motor America

10555 Talbert Avenue

Fountain Valley, CA 92728

 

USA: 1‑800‑633‑5151

 

Hyundai Auto Canada

Markham, Ontario

Canada L3R 6H2

 

CANADA: (905) 477‑0202

(Ask for Customer Service)

 

Infiniti (Division of Nissan Motor Corp)

 

USA: 1‑800‑662‑6200

CANADA: (615) 725-1000

 

Isuzu

 

USA: 1‑800‑255‑6727

CANADA: 1‑800‑255‑6727

 

Jaguar Cars, Inc.

555 MacArthur Boulevard

Mahwah, NJ 07430‑2327

 

USA: (201) 818‑8171

 

Jaguar Canada Inc.

#8 Indell Lane

Bramalea, Ontario L6T 4H3Canada

 

CANADA: (905) 792‑9400

Ex. 242

 

Kawasaki Motors Corp

9950 Jeronimo Road

Irvine, CA 92718‑2016

 

(949) 460-5688

 

Land Rover North America

555 MacArthur Blvd

Mahwah, NJ 07430

USA: 1-800-637-6837

Land Rover Canada

8 Indell Lane

Bramalea, ON

L6T 4H3 Canada

CANADA: 1-800-346-3493

 

Lexus

One Toyota Place

Scarborough, Ontario

Canada M1H 1H9

 

CANADA: (416) 438‑6535

 

 

Mazda North American Operations

Attn: International Imports/Exports

7755 Irvine Center Drive

Irvine, CA 92618-2922

 

USA: (949) 727-1990 extension 1114

FAX: (949) 727-6703 E-MAIL: intl.imports.exports@mazdausa.com

CANADA: (949) 727‑1990

 

Mercedes‑Benz of North America

1 Mercedes Drive

Montvale, NJ 07645

 

USA: (201) 573‑2632

 

Mercedes‑Benz Canada

849 Eglinton Avenue East

Toronto, Ontario

Canada M4G 2L5

 

CANADA: 1-800-387-0100

 

 

Mitsubishi Motors of America

6400 Kalella Avenue

Cypress, CA 90630

 

866-876-3018

 

Nissan Motor Corporation

 

 

(615) 725-1000

 

Porsche Cars of North America

 

 

1-800-767-7243

 

Saab

 

USA: (770) 279‑6364

CANADA: (770) 279‑6364

 

Subaru of America, Inc.

Subaru Plaza

P. O. Box 6000

Cherry Hill, NJ 08034‑6000

 

USA: 1‑800‑782‑2783

FAX: (609) 488‑0485

CANADA: 1‑800‑782‑2783

 

 

Suzuki‑American Suzuki Motor Corp.

3251 East Imperial Highway

Post Office Box 1100

Brea, CA 92622‑1100

 

USA: (714) 996‑7040

CANADA: (905) 889‑2677

FAX: (714) 970‑6005

 

Toyota‑Toyota Motor Sales, Inc.

19001 South Western Avenue

P. O. Box 2991

Torrance, CA 90509‑2991

 

1-800-331-4331

FAX: (310) 468-7814

 

 

Volkswagen of America, Inc.

Customer Relations Department

3800 Hamlin Road

Auburn Hills, MI 48326

 

USA: 1‑800‑822‑8987

CANADA: 1‑800‑822‑8987

 

Volvo Cars of North America, Inc.

Volvo Drive

Rockleigh, NJ 07647

 

USA: (201) 768‑7300

FAX: (201) 784‑4525

 

Volvo Canada Ltd.

175 Gordon Baker Road

North York, Ontario

Canada M2H 2N7

 

CANADA: 1‑800‑663‑8255

FAX: (416) 493‑8754

 

Yamaha Motor Corporation

6555 Katella Avenue

Cypress, CA 90630‑5101

Mike Schmitt

 

USA: (714) 761‑7710

CANADA: (714) 761‑7710

 

 

 

VEHICLES CERTIFIED BY THEIR ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER AS COMPLYING WITH ALL APPLICABLE CANADIAN MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

 

Import
Eligibility
Number

Descriptions of Eligible Vehicles

 

VSA‑80

(a) All passenger cars less than 25 years old that were manufactured before September 1, 1989;

(b) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 1989, and before September 1, 1996, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208;

(c) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 1996, and before September 1, 2002, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with FMVSS No. 208, and that comply with FMVSS No. 214;

(d) All passenger cars manufactured on or after September 1, 2002, and before September 1, 2007, that, as originally manufactured, are equipped with an automatic restraint system that complies with FMVSS No. 208, and that comply with FMVSS Nos. 201, 214, 225, and 401.

VSA‑81

(a) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that are less than 25 years old and that were manufactured before September 1, 1991;

(b) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on and after September 1, 1991, and before September 1, 1993 and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 202 and 208.

(c) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on or after September 1, 1993, and before September 1, 1998, and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 202, 208, and 216;

(d) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on or after September 1, 1998, and before September 1, 2002, and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 202, 208, 214, and 216;

(e) All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR of 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) or less that were manufactured on or after September 1, 2002, and before September 1, 2007, and that, as originally manufactured, comply with FMVSS Nos. 201, 202, 208, 214, and 216, and, insofar as it is applicable, with FMVSS No. 225.

VSA‑82

All multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses with a GVWR greater than 4,536 kg (10,000 lb) that are less than 25 years old.

VSA‑83

All trailers and motorcycles less than 25 years old.