Problems with US Customs / DOT
Discussion
Hi, guys. I've got a problem here that perhaps some of you may have run into.
Customs has the car, minus engine and transaxel. Customs is saying that I need to get approval from DOT to take posession of the car. This isn't to get it registered for the road, but to get it into the country.
Anyone hear anything like this before? I have sinking feeling I'm about to learn a lot more about bureaucracy than I ever wanted to know...
Customs has the car, minus engine and transaxel. Customs is saying that I need to get approval from DOT to take posession of the car. This isn't to get it registered for the road, but to get it into the country.
Anyone hear anything like this before? I have sinking feeling I'm about to learn a lot more about bureaucracy than I ever wanted to know...
www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/kitcar.htm
I had the same problem when I imported my car. It sat in customs for three weeks, was removed from the crate twice and inspected twice. I think it arose as a result of an inexperienced broker. My shipment was everything except the wheels, tires, wing and exhaust and of course I bought the transaxle and engine here in the states. The body was finished and prefixed to the chassis with less than 10 rivets and the alloy panels were fitted to the chassis. Everything else was in boxes.
Send a copy of the above link to your broker to help them. Importing a kit car is not illegal, don't think that you have to skate around some law to get the car. It is however unusual and therefore may present a question in the mind of customs. Keep us updated. At last count I think that there are over 50 Ultima cars in the USA. Some of them came over as rolling chassis (my next one will). Make sure that Ted and Richard are aware of your problems. As always they are invaluable in this these situations.
Ken
I had the same problem when I imported my car. It sat in customs for three weeks, was removed from the crate twice and inspected twice. I think it arose as a result of an inexperienced broker. My shipment was everything except the wheels, tires, wing and exhaust and of course I bought the transaxle and engine here in the states. The body was finished and prefixed to the chassis with less than 10 rivets and the alloy panels were fitted to the chassis. Everything else was in boxes.
Send a copy of the above link to your broker to help them. Importing a kit car is not illegal, don't think that you have to skate around some law to get the car. It is however unusual and therefore may present a question in the mind of customs. Keep us updated. At last count I think that there are over 50 Ultima cars in the USA. Some of them came over as rolling chassis (my next one will). Make sure that Ted and Richard are aware of your problems. As always they are invaluable in this these situations.
Ken
Your broker should have classified it has car parts, not a car. When I talked to the EPA + dot about bringing my canam over they said if it doesn't have an engine it's not a car to them, just parts. My crate was never even opened, cleared customs in less than a day. Maybe homeland security has stepped up their screening of cargo coming into the us.
Here is a link to some EPA dot info I found
www.markkoch.net/canam_EPADOT.asp
mark
Here is a link to some EPA dot info I found
www.markkoch.net/canam_EPADOT.asp
mark
Mine flew into Chicago on a Friday morning. I drove to the airport, went to KLM and collected some paperwork, went to customs....myself....with no broker....and after writing some checks....in 30 minutes was back at KLM collecting the GTR. I had no problems with customs and I think I still have the paperwork if anyone needs the "codes".
Brad Z
Brad Z
Wow, those EPA docs seem to have been just what I needed. I'm told the car is being released! 
Thanks, guys, you probably saved me a *lot* of time.
Of course I'll believe it when I have the car in my hands, but I think it's all sorted out.
FYI for anyone who may run into this in the future: Customs kept referring to it as a "DOT" problem. Well, it was in fact an EPA issue they were talking about. If you take them at their word and try to find the info on DOT's website, you'll never find anything. The link above is the magic bullet. Specifically paragraphs 1, 3, and 4. This will only save you if the motor and trans are absent from the shipment, btw, it wouldn't allow you get a completed car into the country. *That* appears to be basically impossible.
Thanks again!
Thanks, guys, you probably saved me a *lot* of time. Of course I'll believe it when I have the car in my hands, but I think it's all sorted out.
FYI for anyone who may run into this in the future: Customs kept referring to it as a "DOT" problem. Well, it was in fact an EPA issue they were talking about. If you take them at their word and try to find the info on DOT's website, you'll never find anything. The link above is the magic bullet. Specifically paragraphs 1, 3, and 4. This will only save you if the motor and trans are absent from the shipment, btw, it wouldn't allow you get a completed car into the country. *That* appears to be basically impossible.
Thanks again!
Ok, it turns out my skepticism was well-founded. Customs changed their mind, and going to hold it until the EPA tells them it's ok.
So, I've been on the phone with the EPA now, and he says that this is trailblazing new ground to his knowledge. He asked if anyone else had brought an Ultima into the country and I told him yes. He said if I could get them to fax the customs approval paperwork, that would give us the means to release the car. So, is anyone who has that paperwork willing to fax me a copy? My fax number is 714 999 6637 if anyone can help. I guess I may call the factory tomorrow to see if they can help, but I'm sure they're closed by now.
The saga continues....
So, I've been on the phone with the EPA now, and he says that this is trailblazing new ground to his knowledge. He asked if anyone else had brought an Ultima into the country and I told him yes. He said if I could get them to fax the customs approval paperwork, that would give us the means to release the car. So, is anyone who has that paperwork willing to fax me a copy? My fax number is 714 999 6637 if anyone can help. I guess I may call the factory tomorrow to see if they can help, but I'm sure they're closed by now.
The saga continues....
New development. The whole Kit Car and Race Car importation enforcement part of the EPA has been moved recently to Detroit, which is why the person I'd talked to had never heard of this stuff. He's having all the historical stuff faxed to him by the person who used to handle this stuff in DC.
So in theory, I'll know more tomorrow.
And the beat goes on...
I have to say that the new guy in charge of this stuff seems very helpful though, so I have hope.
So in theory, I'll know more tomorrow.
And the beat goes on...
I have to say that the new guy in charge of this stuff seems very helpful though, so I have hope.
No, not using an agent. For some silly reason I didn't think it would be a very big deal.
You should keep in mind in all this that I have an old friend that works in another division of Customs, and they're guiding my way by getting me phone numbers and telling me who to talk to. If it weren't for that, I'd definitely have gotten a broker.
You should keep in mind in all this that I have an old friend that works in another division of Customs, and they're guiding my way by getting me phone numbers and telling me who to talk to. If it weren't for that, I'd definitely have gotten a broker.
fluxen said:
He said if I could get them to fax the customs approval paperwork, that would give us the means to release the car. So, is anyone who has that paperwork willing to fax me a copy? My fax number is 714 999 6637 if anyone can help.
I have all the paperwork in my hangar and can fax you a copy at 1pm central if you still want it. I had no broker and no problems, just the codes from a fellow Ultima builder here in Chicago. It seems to me my total cost for customs/tax was around $1500. Let me know if you still want the forms.
Brad Z
Just an update. The car is, of course, still in customs, but I'm learning a lot about this stuff.
Things I've learned:
1) If the guy at the EPA seems puzzled that you're talking to him about a car without an engine, take it as an hint; you don't want to be talking to the EPA.
2) DOT: DOT seems to be the agency you need to satisfy, and if they say it's ok, Customs will release it. Of course I probably shouldn't be saying this, as my car hasn't been released, but it appears DOT is who you need to satisfy.
DOT is going to want to know the following things:
The code on the windshield. Starts with an AS1. This tells them who made it and if it's DOT compliant.
Brakelines (if any); must be DOT compliant
Lights: headlights, tail lights, etc, should all be DOT compliant (and have dot moulded into the lenses).
So this is where I stand at the moment; waiting to get the windshield code, and hopefully that's it.
Things I've learned:
1) If the guy at the EPA seems puzzled that you're talking to him about a car without an engine, take it as an hint; you don't want to be talking to the EPA.
2) DOT: DOT seems to be the agency you need to satisfy, and if they say it's ok, Customs will release it. Of course I probably shouldn't be saying this, as my car hasn't been released, but it appears DOT is who you need to satisfy.
DOT is going to want to know the following things:
The code on the windshield. Starts with an AS1. This tells them who made it and if it's DOT compliant.
Brakelines (if any); must be DOT compliant
Lights: headlights, tail lights, etc, should all be DOT compliant (and have dot moulded into the lenses).
So this is where I stand at the moment; waiting to get the windshield code, and hopefully that's it.
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