Taking my m12 to the States

[V1DL3R]

I currently have the opportunity to work abroad in the USA for an initial period of a year. My first thought naturally was not where would I live, how would I bank, where do I get health insurance but what should I do with the Noble?

I have read up quite a bit on importing which seems unnecessarily difficult (they will take Piers Morgan but they won't take a Nissan GTR, do I really want to live there??). I read that there may be some exemptions for "Kit Cars" but I can find very little info about this.

I know a few guys on here are in the USA, do you have any thoughts on what is best? Can I just bring it in on British plates if it is a temporary thing and sort it out later?

Any advise would be greatly received.

[AMG Merc]

Firstly congrats on the job, sound cool. Whereabouts are you going?

Regarding the car, others will be along soon to discuss the challenges of temporary imports into the US. Personally, I wouldn't bother taking a RHD Noble over there and back for a relatively short period. I'd just park it at one of the better storage warehouses where it'll be warm, dry, trickle-charged and started up every few weeks.

[V1DL3R]

Thanks, It's still not certain by any means but I work there a lot already so it's more of a relief than anything - less flights. It will be Harrisburg PA, Dallas TX, Atlanta GA or maybe Palo Alto CA. Most likely to be Atlanta or Dallas, I prefer Dallas.

I thought about storing it and I would agree with you. I have friends in CA but I know no one in Dallas or Atlanta and I thought taking it across would also be a great way to meet like minded people. I've recently also spent a shed load on it and really just want to drive it, putting it in storage would kill me haha.

Edited by V1DL3R on Tuesday 8th April 16:17

[spec1976]

If you did take it over prepare to be asked questions everytime you stop which is nice. To be honest driving a RHD car over here would not be fun.

[slipstream 1985]

store it imo, and buy, rent a mustang or corvette over there an enjoy a different driving experience

[ajf]

Rules for taking a RHD car over on a temporary permit

Car must meet emission of the state you want to register in
Can not stay over 365 days if it does it will be destroyed ask Subaru who took a 22B over for promo work and over stayed by one day one less 22B

Not worth the hassle to be honest

Adrian

[V1DL3R]

ajf said:

Rules for taking a RHD car over on a temporary permit

Car must meet emission of the state you want to register in
Can not stay over 365 days if it does it will be destroyed ask Subaru who took a 22B over for promo work and over stayed by one day one less 22B

Not worth the hassle to be honest

Adrian

It's an interesting point. I'm guessing it can't stay on British plates? Do you know if you can take it off the road and store it like you can in the UK? So if my contract is extended by a few months, instead of sending it back I can take it off the road and send it back at my own pace - as long as it does not go on the public highway?

[AMG Merc]

Suggest you repost this thread in General Gassing as I suspect you'll get the answers you need via a much wider audience.

[Rob_W]

Check out the roads near to where you will be, there are some great roads and then some areas totally devoid of interesting stuff. Then decide if it's worth the hassle.

[AMG Merc]

V1DL3R said:

It will be Harrisburg PA, Dallas TX, Atlanta GA or maybe Palo Alto CA. Most likely to be Atlanta or Dallas, I prefer Dallas.

Have worked in all barring Harrisburg (did Pittsburgh though). It dependfs that you like: PA for lovely rural driving roads and countryside; Atlanta, hmmm?!; Dallas heat and great gals!; Palo Alto - boring but hot!. Good luck.

[mgbond]

Go to Auz instead as the car will make u money and they drive on the correct side of the road

[V1DL3R]

AMG Merc said:

Dallas heat and great gals!

Hence why it's top of my list haha

[Hooverc]

There are probably 10+ Nobles/Rossions around the Palo Alto area.
20 minutes to San Francisco. 1.5 hours to Laguna Seca.

and if you need normal service, our shop is 45 minutes away. we have 10-20 Nobles here everyday.

[mrpbailey]

mgbond said:

Go to Auz instead as the car will make u money and they drive on the correct side of the road

Wouldn't like to pay the costs of importing a car to Auz!

[mgbond]

mrpbailey said:

Wouldn't like to pay the costs of importing a car to Auz!

Think it was about 6k but car will be worth double out there so easily worth it.

[S43]

I have been thinking about Canada or Aus...and the car goes wherever i go, goes without saying really! Any idea what the ballpark costs are to import to America/Canada or Aus?

[Noblola]

Complicating things further, each state has their own rules about registering vehicles, some much less permissive than others, so your research should be specific to where you intend to reside. Importation and registration are two different things. In CA, for example, you have to register and swap your plates within 20 days of residency.

[Gadgeroonie]

yep go and buy/hire a muscle car with the money it would cost to get it out there

i am sure Hoover can sell you a noble if you really need a british fix

[NNH]

V1DL3R said:

ajf said:

Rules for taking a RHD car over on a temporary permit

Car must meet emission of the state you want to register in
Can not stay over 365 days if it does it will be destroyed ask Subaru who took a 22B over for promo work and over stayed by one day one less 22B

Not worth the hassle to be honest

Adrian

It's an interesting point. I'm guessing it can't stay on British plates? Do you know if you can take it off the road and store it like you can in the UK? So if my contract is extended by a few months, instead of sending it back I can take it off the road and send it back at my own pace - as long as it does not go on the public highway?

The car would stay on UK plates (and in principle must remain road-legal ie taxed and tested). If your contract were extended, you'd need to make sure you got the car out of the USA before the end of your 12-month period.

A few years back there were a reasonable number of UK-registered Elises in the San Francisco area, as even a Green Card-holder (just not a US citizen) can use the temporary import rule. I also read a few years ago about an RAF exchange officer taking his MGF

RHD isn't an issue, just like it isn't when you drive a British car in Europe, or when we drive our LHD car in the UK.

The cost of transport was US$1800 when we imported our car from Los Angeles to London in 2010, plus about $600 of insurance IIRC. Feel free to PM for import stories...