Honda Civic not compliant with USA safety standards – what to do?

[Vox 0]

Hello,

I was told that my Canadian model Honda Civic CX 1997 does not meet American’s safety standards (it does not have a passenger air bag) and it is noncompliant so I can’t get a letter of compliance from Honda USA to import it with me and they will not bother to send a letter.

I could not f****** believe it!

Is there any workaround (an import exemption for example) to import your car even if you do not have a letter from its manufacturer?

It’s a great small city car, I’ve had it for 7 years; I just can’t believe it that I may not be able to take it with me.

[cmartyn 0]

As far as I know, Dual airbags was made mandatory in the US in 1998. In any case, if Honda will not give you a letter you are probably screwed. Is their a DOT sticker on the car somewhere? What about an EPA sticker? If you have both of those, you do not need a letter I don't think.

[Vox 0]

Thanks!

I do not know about stickers, I can check. Where will I find them?

[Leafgal 3]

Try to drivers side door. Open the door and the sticker might be there, that is where it is located in my car.

[cmartyn 0]

The DOT sticker could be anywhere. Check where the tire pressure sticker is located. The location should be noted in the owners manual. The EPA sticker would probably be in the engine compartment. You may have to clean them off to read them. Then again, they might not even be there.

[de_sjiem 0]

You might also want to try contacting an importer/exporter as they may have more experience in importing/exporting cars from Canada to the US.. I have no idea where to find one, but you can probably do a web search. I had to sell my car because it didn't comply either..

[billsgirl 0]

2 years ago my fiance called the border at Highgate(vermont)/canada....asked about my car at the time...what we have to do to bring it over and he told us that we had a one time exemption when a person immigrates to the usa...as long as you have owned it for over a year.mine was a 84 camaro... dont know what the form is that you would have to fill out, cause 2 months later the car was stolen....i would contact the nearest border or any for that fact and see what they tell you...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

My car wasn't compliant either for exactly the same reason. I was advised that I needed to make it compliant if I brought it to the States and when I checked into the cost, it was a ridiculous amount. You also need to check and see what your State requirements are because your vehicle must also comply with State requirements too. In view of the hassle and the expense, I chose to sell my car before I left the country and to buy another here. I was sad to do it as I adored that car. I never came across any information that stated if I had owned it for a certain number of years I could import it without a compliance letter. The one time exemption is to avoid paying custom and duty fees on personal belongings (which include automobiles) that have been owned for a specific period of time prior to immigrating. I believe you will still need the compliance - if not at the border then within a specified time frame - I believe it was one year. I have heard that some individuals have opted to import the car temporarily, then export it back to Canada and sell it prior to the year's expiry. Checking with an importer/exporter would be a good idea as well as reading very clearly all of the information on the Department of State's website about importing personal automobiles.

[Vox 0]

Hi,

I found the DOT sticker but I couldn’t find the EPA one. There is also the SRS one.

I just can’t believe it they are so picky about passenger’s air bag given what kind of junk cars they drive in the USA.

[cmartyn 0]

The DOT one means it does comply with the US requirements which means Honda is confused. The EPA one on my car was under the hood.

[cmartyn 0]

This might make you happy :-)

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/canadian/canlis97.htm

I would print that out and fax it, along with the DOT sticker, to Honda and ask for the freaking letter. If they do not want to give it to you then you might have a problem.

[Jersey Girl 2]

Vox, I imported a compliant 99 Honda Civic into New Jersey last year. But if I could do things over, would have sold it in Canada and bought another great Honda in the U.S. After all, there are millions of these terrific cars everywhere.

First up, it cost $330 U.S. to change the dashboard to miles instead of kilometers. That put the odometer back to zero. Now, if I need to know the car's mileage, I have to add what's on the new odometer with what's written on a door sticker they added when they changed over.

Many people don't bother changing, but you need to know how fast you're driving, especially if you plan on living in a congested area where there are plenty of cops. Do you have a fine sense of what it means to go 25, 35, 45, 50, 55, and 65 mph? I don't.

Next, the car has to be titled, registered, and inspected. You'd have to do all this even if you bought a used Civic in the States, but it's just another long list of To Do's and expenses you need to plan for. Don't forget the cost of getting a U.S. driver's license. You may have to study and take the written test.

Then, buckle up, because the cost of insurance can be a shock. They treated me as if I were a new driver because I had no U.S. driving history and they wouldn't look at the Ontario abstract I brought. After six months, I changed insurance companies and they cut the rate in half.

But the final reason I wouldn't import a Canadian car is resale. It could be tough explaining the car's origin. (Rick Mercer could do a funny skit, because Americans are ignorant and suspicious of all things Canadian.) I signed a form at the border saying the car met DOT and EPA standards but would be for personal use only and not resale. It was unlcear if this question was for dealers or individuals but I knew then and there I had to be prepared to drive the car into the ground or sell it for parts. That blows using the car as a trade-in, selling it on my own, or getting back any of my investment.

[cmartyn 0]

Insurance was a ###### for me too. State Farm was the only company that would look at my Canadian record. I was paying 900 / cdn. I was being quoted 2600 - 3500 US for what amounted to about 1/3rd the coverage I had. State farm was 1200 and I took it. After 2 years it has dropped to 1100. I plan on driving my car till it drops. It was only worth 6K when I imported it and is worth about 2800 now.

[Vox 0]

Hey cmartyn.

Thanks for the great info.

I may have confused the DOT sticker with the one showing the VIN #, date it was manufactured in Canada, kind of vehicle, etc….

Is that what I should be looking for?

Jersey Girl

I agree with most of what you said except that even when you buy another car in the USA, you still pay for the title, registration, and inspection; given that I am going to live off Canadian EI, I will not be purchasing the brand new car anyways. I would probably run this Honda until it drops. Also, when I buy another used car in the states, I do not know what I am getting; it may end up costing way too much in maintenance expenses, I know my car inside-out (at least).

[Jersey Girl 2]

How can you live on Canadian EI if you're not available to work there?