{"id":1160,"date":"2020-07-02T12:59:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T11:59:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autoshippers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1160"},"modified":"2025-09-11T16:39:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:39:20","slug":"why-are-some-cars-illegal-to-ship-to-the-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autoshippers.co.uk\/blog\/why-are-some-cars-illegal-to-ship-to-the-usa","title":{"rendered":"Why Are Some Cars Illegal to Ship to the USA?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The regulations around a car’s eligibility for import to the\nUS can be somewhat confusing \u2013 not least because different rules apply in\ndifferent circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re importing a modern car, it has to match up to US\nsafety and emissions standards, which not all overseas-built vehicles will.\nSome marques\/models are never<\/em> acceptable for import, while for others\nit’s only a particular production year that makes (or fails to make) the grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just to confuse matters: even if a particular make, model and year is not<\/em> deemed eligible for import, you might still be able to take one into the US if you employ the services of a Registered Importer. This is a company that’s been authorised by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to carry out a predetermined set of modifications, in order to make the vehicle road-legal in the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read more about registered importers in relation to the US 25-year import rule, here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some exceptions can be made for cars that aren’t intended\nfor regular on-road use. This is what’s known as the “show and\ndisplay” rule, but it generally applies only to collectors who import high-end\nor rare vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exceptions can also be made if the car is over 25 years old.\nIn the case of such vintage vehicles, the rules and regulations are generally\nless restrictive, at least at a federal level, though you could still fall foul\nof state legislation (California, for example, has far stricter emissions laws\nthan Florida).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we said, it can be a bit confusing! Perhaps it would be\nuseful, then, to look at some of the reasons<\/em> why certain cars might be\ndeemed ineligible for import. Broadly speaking, there are three\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. The Car’s Just Too Darn Fast!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Porsche Carrera 911 RS (1992)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The speed limit on US freeways is 70mph at most, and lower\nin some states. Compare that to, say, German autobahns \u2013 rural stretches of\nwhich often have no speed limit at all \u2013 and you can see how conflict might\narise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among cars to have been vetoed for import, simply because their top speed was considered excessive, are the 1992 Porsche Carrera 911 RS, the 1995 Audi Avant RS2 and the 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R \u2013 all of which have top speeds around the 160mph mark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. The Car Has Inadequate Safety Features<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If the specification of your vehicle doesn’t match US\nstandards, it’s not entering the US! A famous example is the Land Rover\nDefender, thanks to a lack of airbags. Other vehicles decreed to be lacking\nspecific features such as ABS braking or traction control include the TVR\nSagaris, Noble M-600 and the 2003 TVR Tuscan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With some other cars, the reason for the ban is a little\nmore obvious. The 2002 Smart Crossblade, 2012 Lotus 340R and Lotus Elise Series\n1, for instance, all fell foul of regulators because they were missing slightly\nmore noticeable features \u2013 such as a roof, or windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. The Car Fails US Emissions Tests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fairly self-explanatory, this one. This category includes\nnot just ‘dirty’ petrol-driven vehicles but also the many diesel cars that\nyou’re not allowed to import, such as the VW Polo TDI Blue Motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So What Can I Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If there’s a specific car you want to ship to the USA but are currently not allowed to, then as mentioned above there are two options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One is to use a Registered Importer who can carry out all the necessary modifications\u2026 this list<\/a> from the NHTSA lists over 300 otherwise banned vehicles that can be imported using the services of an RI, so it’s definitely worth looking into!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other option, of course, is simply to wait until the car in question is 25 years old when things get a lot easier. You can read up on the 25 year rule and how to ship a 25+ year old car here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping your car overseas<\/a> and need advice or a quote<\/span>? Get in touch with the experts at Autoshippers today. Contact us here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The regulations around a car’s eligibility for import to the US can be somewhat confusing \u2013 not least because different rules apply in different circumstances. If you’re importing a modern car, it has to match up to US safety and emissions standards, which not all overseas-built vehicles will. Some marques\/models are never acceptable for import, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1166,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[28,30,105,35,56],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Are Some Cars Illegal to Ship to the USA? - Autoshippers Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The USA has some very strict vehicle import laws. 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