Importing a car to the United States can be a complicated affair to deal with, particularly if it was purchased outside the USA. Importing a car in the US is tricky because you have to meet the compliances and rules established by the EPA or Environment Protection Agency, NHTSA or The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT or Department of Transportation, and eventually customs clearance via US Customs and Border Protection. Another thing to check is the Smog Check when importing a car that runs on diesel or petrol. This is not applicable to Electric cars. You must also pay heed to the rules and regulations related to emission, safety, and bumper design. If you are a newbie, then you must consult Clearit USA customs clearance experts to guide you into the process.
Here are the steps you should follow if you are considering to import a car or any vehicle to the United States.
- Get clearances from the EPA or Environmental Protection Agency.
Paying heed to the strict rules can be overwhelming depending on the origin of the vehicle. The United States has the toughest norms when considering pollution and emissions from the vehicles. The car importers must fill out form 3250-1 along with details like VIN, manufacturer date and other details too. If your car runs on petrol or diesel, you need to get a Smog check, not needed if it’s an electric car.
- Get clearance from NHTSA or The National Highway Traffic Administration.
You also need to make sure that your car meets the Federal Motor Vehicle safety standards. If you are importing vehicles from other countries except for Canada, then you need to fill out the necessary forms for the safety standards declaration. Also, refer to the FAQ section of the NHTSA website for more details.
- Get customs clearance from US Customs and Border protection.
Apart from the car importers, all importers must always consult with a customs clearance agent for importing goods to the US as they bear a license and they have a right to act on your behalf when it comes to dealing with customs and border protection. A licensed customs broker in the US can clear your vehicle for import very easily with no penalties and delays.
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