So, you have finally put together a few thousand dollars with the sole aim of buying a grey market car. However, the car enthusiasts you know are telling you to do your homework on the 25 year rule.
They are also warning you to avoid violating the 25 year car rule as that might compel you to drive your beloved imported car to the scrapyard while the law enforcers keep their watchful eyes on you!
Scary, right?
Well, keep reading to get all your questions related to the 25-year rule answered.
What is the 25 year rule for cars?
The 25 year car import rule, in simple words, keeps a check on the imports of vehicles that are not officially sold in the United States by the car brands operating in the nation. The rule states that one can only import a vehicle to the US when the vehicle in question is at least 25 years old. Only when a vehicle is 25 years old, does the car in question become street-legal for the US roads.
What’s the goal of the 25 year car import rule?
The goal of the 25 year import rule is to strike a balance between the American classic car market, the current US-based OEM car market, and the foreign-market vehicles.
What’s the origin of the 25-year rule?
The origin of the 25-year import rule goes back to 1988. This was the time when people in the US were importing a lot of foreign market cars and also importing JDM cars. Back in 1988, the US Federal Government decided to regulate the number of imports of foreign market cars, by enforcing the above-mentioned US car import law.
Why do enthusiasts love to import foreign market cars?
Foreign market cars come with their fair share of upsides. One of them is that their designs are otherworldly. Furthermore, cars that are not sold in the US market often come with amazing features as well as on-board technology such as four-wheel steering.
Although such features look and feel amazing on paper and foreign roads, such Unique Selling Points might not always be suitable for US roads. Hence, the car in question becomes unsafe to drive on the US roads. Furthermore, chances are high that the foreign market car in question also fails to meet pedestrian safety rules and emissions standards followed here in the US.
Why foreign market cars are often called grey market cars?
Grey market cars are those imported cars that are brought to the US roads by importers who do not have any official license from the US government.
Grey market cars might not be fit for road use. They could be salvaged cars or cars that have been in a fatal crash. This is one area where the import rule for grey market cars shines as illegal importers will think twice about bringing in cars to US customers via proverbial ‘backdoors’.
Why wait for 25 years?
By waiting for 25 years, you are ensuring the car you are importing doesn’t cause the regulatory bodies to come up with new norms that may make the lives of existing car makers hard.
Don’t try to bypass the 25-year import rule
You can legally import a car to the US even if it is not technically 25 years old if the car will be used for ‘display’ purposes only.
However, the average car enthusiast should not bypass the rule.
Why?
Law enforcers would readily deny entry of your imported vehicle to the US if it is not 25 years old. Additionally, the vehicle might get seized or even destroyed right before your eyes completely! Furthermore, you might face fines and forfeits.
Even if you successfully import a foreign market car that is not yet 25 years old, please note that you won’t be able to sell the vehicle when the time comes. And even if you can find a buyer for the car, the offer price won’t even come close to the actual value of your car.
The 25-year import rule is unnecessary and essential at the same time!
The 25 year import rule helps car communities to welcome classic and collectible cars all the while ensuring the vehicles meet the rules penned by the authorities so that the US automobile sector can grow unhindered. Please ensure that when you finally get your hands on that 25-year-old Miata or that GT-R, you are diagnosing the vehicle with an OBD tracker. These devices help car owners to track their vehicles in real-time. Additionally, these devices also let a car owner keep tabs on the overall electro-mechanical condition of the vehicle.