One-off trip to USA or Canada with TVR Feasible?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just guessing that this might be the best place to start, but if mods think different please feel free to move.
For my 40th Birthday (in 18 months) I would like to drive my pre-cat 4.3 Griff across North America - I really don't mind if it's USA or Canada the point is the road trip, meeting people, seeing new places etc.
My First question is is this feasible, will either country let me import a UK registered car like mine to their country and let me drive it?
Secondly, if the answer to the first question is positive then who do I need to contact\what do I need to do to make it a reality?
cheers
Paul
edit to add - I "think" this is a different query to just importing a TVR as I believe there is a "one off" type licence you can get to allow such things as motor-sport events\shows etc that my request may fall into.
Just guessing that this might be the best place to start, but if mods think different please feel free to move.
For my 40th Birthday (in 18 months) I would like to drive my pre-cat 4.3 Griff across North America - I really don't mind if it's USA or Canada the point is the road trip, meeting people, seeing new places etc.
My First question is is this feasible, will either country let me import a UK registered car like mine to their country and let me drive it?
Secondly, if the answer to the first question is positive then who do I need to contact\what do I need to do to make it a reality?
cheers
Paul
edit to add - I "think" this is a different query to just importing a TVR as I believe there is a "one off" type licence you can get to allow such things as motor-sport events\shows etc that my request may fall into.
Edited by gopher on Thursday 30th October 10:43
I'm not a specialist in such rules and regulations, but my understanding is that, as a UK citizen, you can bring a car such as your Griff into the country for a limited period of time, but the car has to go back when you go back. (I heard that time period was up to 3 years, but don't know for sure).
You would not be importing the car as such, but just bringing it with you during your period of travel and then it would be returning to the UK with you.
I'm sure there are other PH-ers out there who have more insight into this than I do.
If it works out for you, let me know and hopefully we can work your trip into some visits to various TVR club events around North America.
Marshall
TVRCCNA
You would not be importing the car as such, but just bringing it with you during your period of travel and then it would be returning to the UK with you.
I'm sure there are other PH-ers out there who have more insight into this than I do.
If it works out for you, let me know and hopefully we can work your trip into some visits to various TVR club events around North America.
Marshall
TVRCCNA
Thanks Marshall,
That was exactly the response I was hoping for. The idea would be for me to to fly or ship the car over so that it arrives as we do (I'm not sure yet whether I want to go West to East or vice versa) and for it to be ferried back as we leave so the 3 years won't be a problem, I suspect I will be there for 4-6 weeks.
Would you know who I should contact in the first instance? If not I suppose I would contact the relevant Embassy in the first instance.
To be able top arrange a few TVR meets on the way would be excellent as we would love to meet up with some like minded people from over the pond.
Cheers
Paul
That was exactly the response I was hoping for. The idea would be for me to to fly or ship the car over so that it arrives as we do (I'm not sure yet whether I want to go West to East or vice versa) and for it to be ferried back as we leave so the 3 years won't be a problem, I suspect I will be there for 4-6 weeks.
Would you know who I should contact in the first instance? If not I suppose I would contact the relevant Embassy in the first instance.
To be able top arrange a few TVR meets on the way would be excellent as we would love to meet up with some like minded people from over the pond.
Cheers
Paul
Yes you absolutely can. America allows import of your car for up to 12 months as a tourist, when the car arrives you need to declare on the HS-7 customs form that you are a foreign citizen importing the car as a tourist. You cannot sell the car while it's in the country. You can legally drive on UK plates, technically the car needs to have tax and MOT, but there's no real way for the American police to check up on those. Make SURE you keep the MOT and Insurance certificate with you at all times, the V5 would be a good idea as well.
In many states not presenting proof of insurance when stopped by the police is a crime and your car will be impounded until such time as you can provide proof that it is insured. "Producers" don't exist over here.
You need to fill out the following form, tick box #5.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799sh...
I am not sure about importation, but you will almost certainly need the V5 to export it. IE, the V5 will have to be at the port with the car when it gets shipped back to the UK.
Not sure who you would talk to about insurance though.
In many states not presenting proof of insurance when stopped by the police is a crime and your car will be impounded until such time as you can provide proof that it is insured. "Producers" don't exist over here.
You need to fill out the following form, tick box #5.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/hs799sh...
I am not sure about importation, but you will almost certainly need the V5 to export it. IE, the V5 will have to be at the port with the car when it gets shipped back to the UK.
Not sure who you would talk to about insurance though.
I saw this posting and joined the forum just to see if I can help out. I moved from the UK to the USA in Feb 2004 and imported my Triumph Herald (yeah, its no TVR). I pretty much did it all myself and it went very smoothly. I can either tell you all about it via this forum or you can e-mail offline and I will let you know.
As an overview I used shipping company located in Southampton who handle everything at the UK end. I drove the car to then about 10 days before the ship sailed and simply left it at the dock with the keys in the lock! Yes, scary! I shipped my car Ro-Ro (roll on roll off) rather than by container. It was loads cheaper, about 600 GBP all in. They base the price on the volume of the car rather than weight. Nothing to be left in the car, low petrol etc. I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, a large port on the SE coast of the US. The ship went from Southampton to Charleston. The sailing time is actually only 12-15 days at sea, but you have to allow for the loading and unloading both ends. I had to find a customs broker in the US at Charleston (I have the details of one) to get it cleared and it should be no more than 75-100 GBP to do this. As soon as its cleared customs they inform you and you need to collect it quickly or it starts to build up expensive storage costs. You turn up at the ports/customs house with the paperwork, they check it and away you go. Except in my case they had left the lights on and the battery was flat! I had to go and buy a new one! The car was dirty, but otherwise undamaged. You should get marine insurance and it isn't too expensive.
I can't help you with any further information on temporary registration, there must be US DoT websites for that. Insurance might be a pain too. There are some classic car insurance companies over here, but try your UK one to see if they cover US travel.
I don't know what your trip plans might be but Charleston would be a great place to start, its a lovely city. Then I would recommend heading up to the Great Smokey Mountains at the Tail of the Dragon (google it) for some great mountain driving. There are some race tracks in Virginia, but forget any ideas of track days over here as open cars without any kind of roll cage don't appear to be allowed on track days. Oh for a Castle Combe track day over here!
You will probably have to run the car on premium unleaded petrol, its available everywhere. I run 1994 Jaguar XJS every day on it and my 1960 Daimler SP250 is happy on it too. There is a TVR owner in our local car club too.
Time of year to visit the south is mid-late April to June. June to September the heat and humidity make convertible driving less than a real pleasure.
Like I say, if you need some more detail on the import thing then try getting in touch with me.
Regards
Gordon
As an overview I used shipping company located in Southampton who handle everything at the UK end. I drove the car to then about 10 days before the ship sailed and simply left it at the dock with the keys in the lock! Yes, scary! I shipped my car Ro-Ro (roll on roll off) rather than by container. It was loads cheaper, about 600 GBP all in. They base the price on the volume of the car rather than weight. Nothing to be left in the car, low petrol etc. I moved to Charleston, South Carolina, a large port on the SE coast of the US. The ship went from Southampton to Charleston. The sailing time is actually only 12-15 days at sea, but you have to allow for the loading and unloading both ends. I had to find a customs broker in the US at Charleston (I have the details of one) to get it cleared and it should be no more than 75-100 GBP to do this. As soon as its cleared customs they inform you and you need to collect it quickly or it starts to build up expensive storage costs. You turn up at the ports/customs house with the paperwork, they check it and away you go. Except in my case they had left the lights on and the battery was flat! I had to go and buy a new one! The car was dirty, but otherwise undamaged. You should get marine insurance and it isn't too expensive.
I can't help you with any further information on temporary registration, there must be US DoT websites for that. Insurance might be a pain too. There are some classic car insurance companies over here, but try your UK one to see if they cover US travel.
I don't know what your trip plans might be but Charleston would be a great place to start, its a lovely city. Then I would recommend heading up to the Great Smokey Mountains at the Tail of the Dragon (google it) for some great mountain driving. There are some race tracks in Virginia, but forget any ideas of track days over here as open cars without any kind of roll cage don't appear to be allowed on track days. Oh for a Castle Combe track day over here!
You will probably have to run the car on premium unleaded petrol, its available everywhere. I run 1994 Jaguar XJS every day on it and my 1960 Daimler SP250 is happy on it too. There is a TVR owner in our local car club too.
Time of year to visit the south is mid-late April to June. June to September the heat and humidity make convertible driving less than a real pleasure.
Like I say, if you need some more detail on the import thing then try getting in touch with me.
Regards
Gordon
There are TVRs in western Canada also but probably more in the eastern USA and probably better driving areas there also but we do have the Rocky Mountains but long distances between pull over/repair areas. If coming in Sept. 2009 most people will be getting ready for Woodwork 2009. Talk to Marshall about that.
Wayne/Sherry Leppard
Wayne/Sherry Leppard
I have picked this up a bit late in the day ,but may be able to help.In 2004 I shipped my Corvette C5 from Southampton to Baltimore Roll on Roll off.
I then took six weeks to drive across the States taking in the Corvette factory in Kentucky, then Route 66 ending up finally in Los Angeles. The Vette was then shipped home from Long Beach and I collected it from Bristol Docks six weeks later. The whole process is remarkably easy. The main problem was the insurance. My own insurance Norwich Union were not interested, nor in fact were any other specialist insurers. My shipping agent came up with an insurer in New York. At first they were' nt keen as I don t know any one in the States so did not have a US address that I could use. Then they loaded the insurance because of the Vettes 5.7 V8. While the car was out of the country I put my insurance on hold so saved a lit bit there. My Shipping agent told me I needed to have a valid UK road tax disc(take out of the car during shipping). They also told me to take a spare set of number plates as foreign plates tend to get stolen (mine did). My only other problem was that it took three days to get through all the red tape at Baltimore Docks and when the car was finally released the battery was flat, although the dockers were really helpful and jump started it from their jeep.
All in all this was more expensive than renting but I would do it again tomorrow it was worth every penny!!
I then took six weeks to drive across the States taking in the Corvette factory in Kentucky, then Route 66 ending up finally in Los Angeles. The Vette was then shipped home from Long Beach and I collected it from Bristol Docks six weeks later. The whole process is remarkably easy. The main problem was the insurance. My own insurance Norwich Union were not interested, nor in fact were any other specialist insurers. My shipping agent came up with an insurer in New York. At first they were' nt keen as I don t know any one in the States so did not have a US address that I could use. Then they loaded the insurance because of the Vettes 5.7 V8. While the car was out of the country I put my insurance on hold so saved a lit bit there. My Shipping agent told me I needed to have a valid UK road tax disc(take out of the car during shipping). They also told me to take a spare set of number plates as foreign plates tend to get stolen (mine did). My only other problem was that it took three days to get through all the red tape at Baltimore Docks and when the car was finally released the battery was flat, although the dockers were really helpful and jump started it from their jeep.
All in all this was more expensive than renting but I would do it again tomorrow it was worth every penny!!
What difference should it make to your insurer where you drive your car?
I'm sure you don't have to notify them when crossing countries in Europe,
why should NA be any different?
Luckily I haven't had anyone steal my orginal E-reg plate either. My province
only requires a rear plate, so I left the original UK plate on.
I'm sure you don't have to notify them when crossing countries in Europe,
why should NA be any different?
Luckily I haven't had anyone steal my orginal E-reg plate either. My province
only requires a rear plate, so I left the original UK plate on.
This thread started by asking advice on whether it was feasible to take your car to the USA for a one of trip. Of course it is easier to rent a car, but thats not the point ,some of us would prefer the adventure of driving our own car. Driving my car down the Las Vegas Strip for example will live with me for the rest of my life .
cant belive i've never seen this thread before, but its answered some questions for me. last year i was in canada (mostly) and the states, for 3 and a bit months, during that time i saw a german registered coach on the 101 in california, a german registered citroen relay camper in the carpark to the air museum in seattle and a mid 90's belgian fiat ducato camper driving between whistler and vancouver in canada.
i had wondered how difficult it would be!
i had wondered how difficult it would be!
Check out this site:
http://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
http://www.riv.ca/RIVExemptions.aspx
I think you can drive it in Canada for 12 months before having to export it again.
http://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
http://www.riv.ca/RIVExemptions.aspx
I think you can drive it in Canada for 12 months before having to export it again.
Bob_Defly said:
Check out this site:
http://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
http://www.riv.ca/RIVExemptions.aspx
I think you can drive it in Canada for 12 months before having to export it again.
The RIV only applies to imports from the USA.http://www.riv.ca/ImportingAVehicle.aspx
http://www.riv.ca/RIVExemptions.aspx
I think you can drive it in Canada for 12 months before having to export it again.
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