Car parts in check-in luggage to USA?

[2Btoo]

This may be a really numpty Q but I need to ask it. And I'm not sure where it belongs so I've put it in 'Holidays and Travel' - mods, please move this if it lives better elsewhere.

I'm flying to the USA this week, to see some friends. And I have some car parts for one of them. They are for a classic European car and are (very) hard to get in the US, hence me buying them. And they are a gift - I am not buying them on his behalf, I am giving them to him with no expectation of being paid back (although I'm sure he'll stand me a few beers in thanks.)

I'm planning to stick them in my checked-in luggage and not declare them at any stage. Is this foolish? Should I be declaring them? Should I expect to pay import duty? Should I expect them to be found? The box they are in will fit easily inside a check-in luggage bag and they are worth a few hundred pounds (I think).

Am I being naive, or over-cautious?

[Mikebentley]

You are not a friend of America (Formerly great) or their King Don (Always thought he was a boxing promoter) so you can expect to be arrested have your hands tattooed and deported to an EL Salvador prison not of your choosing.

HTH.

[mikef]

Coming the other way, I brought in a set of exhaust tips for my F150 Lightning. Heathrow Customs decided that they looked like rocket launchers so I had to show Ford dealer receipt with parts number and description (fortunately within the personal import allowance)

[geeman237]

I live in the U.S. and over the years have taken all sorts of British car parts back from U.K. visits in my checked bag and never had an issue. I would advise not to try it with carry baggage though.

[shirt]

I live overseas and have carried all sorts of parts in my luggage.

The only issue I have ever had was when taking a pair of used cylinder heads. The guy on check in (emirates) told me if I’d said they were new he would have just checked them straight in but as they were used then I had to show him that they were clean and free of any fuel residue.

I did this and he was happy but I then had to go scan the case through the special baggage bit.

Here they were refused by the security agent. I went back to check in and he came with me, telling me on the way he had authority over what made in onto the flight. Agent didn’t see it that way and we had to see their superior. But of a wait but this guy was level headed, checked they were indeed free of fuel and checked them through.

In all other cases I’ve not had a single issue, from body parts to batteries. Never once been asked who they were for or for any receipts or documentation. Occasionally been stopped at destination for a look but again never asked about value, receipts or who they’re for.

Slight difference in the US in that if you are transiting internally then there’s a good chance TSA will open the case. They won’t look for or care about customs related issues, and if they do open it they leave a note saying as such.

I’ve also checked in a leaking fuel filled flow meter but that was Africa and when discovered the problem was solved with a payment that I didn’t get a receipt for.

[markymarkthree]

geeman237 said:

I live in the U.S. and over the years have taken all sorts of British car parts back from U.K. visits in my checked bag and never had an issue. I would advise not to try it with carry baggage though.

Wise advice above.

Whilst on holiday in Malta, i managed to persuade the owner of a well know museum to sell me a very rare door door mirror sat in one of his cabinets.
We had a hold bag, but i wanted to keep it close to me, so had it in my backpack wrapped in a towel. My bag got rejected at the scany bit and i had to show and explain what the pointy thing was.
My brain went into a meltdown as i thought they wouldn't let me take it into the cabin and i was cussing myself for not thinking this beforehand and that i should have put it in my suitcase.
Nice Malta lady, called over supervisor, they had a look at it and my receipt, had a quick chat in Maltese and waved me on. Phew.
Hence why, put the parts in a checked in case.

[ikarl]

many years ago I brought back a fairly expensive at the time blow off valve in my checked luggage..... needless to say my bag was chosen for a random check to open it and go through everything before badly packing it and wrapping it all in clingwrap.

thinking back, I'm not surprised the scanners pushed it out for a manual check

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Thanks for the answers. It sounds like I'm being more nervous than I need to be.

Putting the parts into checked-in luggage sounds like the sensible option and I'll do that.

Thanks again.