registering jdm car in socal Options

[snapshotgt]

If no pics soon, thread will be locked down in 3...2...

[midengine3sgte]

how do you post pictures I'm having trouble

[DSToyo]

load them into photobucket.com, then copy the image link from there into a new post on here

[midengine3sgte]

here are a few pics
[img]
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u275/mi...te/DSC03912.jpg[/img][img]
http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u275/mi.../DSC00142-1.jpg[/img]

[massbrandon]

WOW!!!!!!!!!! thanks for the pics

[Negative]

Better get it off the street before some cop sees it doesn't have stickers.

[94GT]

I've done some research on this. Assuming the previous owner didn't get a US VIN for it (JDM vins won't work), here's what you're going to need to do it by the book: The original bill of sale from Japan, and the customs release paperwork demonstrating that the bond was released on it at the port (or port of entry if it came through Mexico or Canada) and that it meets DOT/EPA standards. My guess is that it doesn't, so your next best bet is to start calling around until you find a DMV (doesn't have to be cali, it can be anywhere) that doesn't really know the rules and you could sweet talk your way into them issuing you a US vin. The less smog requirements they have, the less likely they are to even be knowledgeable about the DOT stuff as well, would be my guess (I'm not saying smog has anything to do with DOT, but the Oklahoma tag agency is far less likely to be savvy on the rules like a California DMV where many more people try to get grey market cars like Skylines registered). Once you get that done you can register it wherever you want, as long as they don't have an under the hood inspection or strict smog requirements. It might pass the sniffer, but the JDM motor doesn't have an EGR on it so it would fail the Cali visual. I recommend Wyoming or Oklahoma. Hopefully you've got some family or friends that live outside of Cali to help you out with this. I've got a really old thread on here about this, but you're already at least halfway there since you've got the car in the states. Start with step 4 on my writeup, and there are plenty of useful links for which laws apply at the bottom. Here's the link: Importing a GT-4 Link. Good luck, and let us know how everything turns out!

[doGGy]

Get damaged GT - cut the damn VIN from it, drill out the Chasis table from it. Cut the damn JDM vin out from the Firewall - weld your USDM GT vin in put the GT chasis table instead of the GT4 table - and ready set go. Easy as cake. And its NOT stealing or somthing - its just the way to get GT4 registered and drivible without any problems i guess.

[playr158]

hahaha smart man doggy is

[CelicaST202]

Get damaged GT - cut the damn VIN from it, drill out the Chasis table from it. Cut the damn JDM vin out from the Firewall - weld your USDM GT vin in put the GT chasis table instead of the GT4 table - and ready set go. Easy as cake. And its NOT stealing or somthing - its just the way to get GT4 registered and drivible without any problems i guess.

hahah good try it aint gonna work because its RHD

[daazndood]

wow that thing is sweeeeet! a real jdm gt-4 in the united states. if only i lived closer to you dammit i wanna check it out

[j0e_p3t]

sexiness. so cal meet at your place!

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

Get damaged GT - cut the damn VIN from it, drill out the Chasis table from it. Cut the damn JDM vin out from the Firewall - weld your USDM GT vin in put the GT chasis table instead of the GT4 table - and ready set go. Easy as cake. And its NOT stealing or somthing - its just the way to get GT4 registered and drivible without any problems i guess.

hahah good try it aint gonna work because its RHD

Actually it will work.

Take it to a service center/garage for a state inspection instead of a state run inspection center, preferably one that you know personally or one that is car savvy and does work on performance cars. If they ask, make up a story that you converted it to RHD/AWD with all japaneese OEM parts. Done.

They'll think its cool as hell, and I'm positive that it would go through without them suspecting any foul play on the part of a VIN number.


The hardest part is finding the damn thing. Getting it registered is much easier than people make it out to be!

[CelicaST202]

CA is totally different otherwise everybody would have GT-4s

[snapshotgt]

Very clean st205 Add some high beam projectors when you get a chance.

[MasonF]

My God that thing is sexy...has anyone commented on it on the rare occasions you take it out?
Nice MKII turbo as well.

This post has been edited by MasonF: Mar 14, 2007 - 11:07 PM

[doGGy]

Get damaged GT - cut the damn VIN from it, drill out the Chasis table from it. Cut the damn JDM vin out from the Firewall - weld your USDM GT vin in put the GT chasis table instead of the GT4 table - and ready set go. Easy as cake. And its NOT stealing or somthing - its just the way to get GT4 registered and drivible without any problems i guess.

hahah good try it aint gonna work because its RHD

SO RHD conversion is Iligal in US?? What about all the Tegs and CRX with RHD??

If it aint gonna work with RHD - convert it to LHD, its an easy way anyways. If i had to do somthing like this (register a car in US that i was dreaming of) i would just go and do this way.

[Negative]

No RHD is not ilegal here. Maybe in Cali where actually liking your car is damn near illegal LOL. There are some guys here in TX that could get it done for you.

[Silver94CelicaOw...]

I still maintain that creativity is the only limitation to getting a car road legal.

I'm positive that you could find a way to get it done in SoCal, especially if the USDM car that "donates" its VIN is pre OBD-II changeover. Emissions testing for OBD-0 and OBD-I are infinately easier.

[Green_MachToy]

I will check with my neighbor who works for DMV.