Date:         Wed, 24 Sep 2008 18:59:55 -0700
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      Importing to the USA..careful...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252"

  I bid on a Syncro from Victoria, BC on Ebay some time back.  The seller
said something to the tune of "Easily imported into the US"..in the listing.
So I bid and was close to winning, because I really wanted the vehicle and
put in a pretty stout bid.  I began to check to see if indeed, it was easily
importable...Well, no, it was not.  In fact, it looked like it was going to
cost a few grand and take at least a month and a couple of trips to the
border before I "might" be legal with the US authorities to get an American
title and legal plates.
  A few customs brokers I spoke with said..."No way, that is not an
'approved vehicle for import'"  A few more said "Yeah, we can get that in
for you" and when I asked "Are you sure?" They replied that everything is
do-able...B.S....
  It looked quite possible that I might end up with a bunch of money in a
Syncro that was either illegal in the US...or stuck in BC for who knows how
long...
  Now, others have said they've got Vans in, no problemo.  One customs
broker even told me he'd "legalized a 4x4 VW van before" but he didn't have
any specifics nor could he quote me a cost and a time line...  So, maybe you
might have no problem getting one 'imported' legally...but maybe you would
*never* get it across to Amerika and legal...You should check into it for
your self before you plunk down the cash..unless you have extra money
kicking around and don't really need the vehicle legal..
  Don Hanson