Date:         Sat, 5 Feb 2005 21:11:49 -0800
Reply-To:     Kim Springer <kimspringer@RCN.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Springer <kimspringer@RCN.COM>
Subject:      Importing
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hello all,

I'm very new to the list.  In fact, I joined in order to find a model year '89 Vanagon in good shape for my RI to work with.  I then found Paul on ebay locally and he is helping me out.  Thanks Paul.

So what is it that you need to know about importing a Vanagon or Doka?

The NHTSA has a list of vehicles that are "conforming". In NHTSA language this means that they have been proven compliant for importation.  However, this does not mean that you can get a letter from the NHTSA or anybody else that you can use to get it in legally and registered.  As has been mentioned, VWoA no longer offers these.  I'm not even sure if they do for original owners.

There are all sorts of tricks people use to get them in and registered, and I'm not going into that description.


So, there are two model years that are conforming for TRANSPORTERs.  A doka is a transporter.  These years are '89 and '90. that's it!.  I believe if you are importing a vehicle that is older than 25 years, you do not need to bring it in with an RI, but I would re-read the NHTSA website before I assumed that.  But I'm pretty sure that is what I read.

If you try to bring in another year, probably, (other than '89 or '90), I'm not absolutely sure, but the Registered Importer will probably charge more and will tell you that you run the risk of needing to crash test a few vehicles with a hefty cost of renting the facility to do the testing; I think there is a facility in S. Cal.

I wouldn't try bringing in other than a '89 or '90 with an RI.

Also, the process for the RI is huge.  Mine tells me he has a 200 page form with 250 different items he must verify. I believe him.  He had the truck for 2 weeks and he had covered 25 items, run into 2 small issues with the emissions, but had cleared those up.  As this email mentioned, he must also do a comparison to a stock California vehicle (in my case).  The RI will put in a lot of hours, do a lot of paperwork, etc.  The RI also puts a tag with their name on it as the importer.  If there is an accident, someone dies, it's the importer that has to carry the insurance.  The vehicle must be safe.  The RI's have to carry I believe a 5,000,000 insurance policy.  You can look all this up in the NHTSA website.  You can become an RI too if you want.  Maybe someone on the list should become one, specifically for the purpose of bringing in these vehicles.

In addition there is the CA EPA work that may need to be done.  In my case the book that every smog station has, has an error in it.  It says that the '89 model year must have an EGR.  We all know that '89s don't have EGRs, so the RI is going to have to deal with that issue as well, and many others.

I guess what I am trying to say is that it takes a lot of money, a lot of time, and a lot of patience.

I hope this clears some things up.  Likely it will generate a lot more questions.  Just ask, I'm doing it.

Kim




If you are lucky to find an RI who has done a Vanagon before, you may
be able to get them to do for less than the typical $7k fee,
especially if it is the same year/model.

I know an RI in San Francisco that is currently importing an 89 DOKA from
Germany for one of their clients.

-Paul

>An RI is a Registered Importer.  This is an individual or company that is
>licensed by the DOT/NHTSA to import non-conforming vehicles into the USA.
>Most RIs charge ~$7,000/vehicle for the certification process.