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 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 12:29PM
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CA

Make sure you change your headlights to those used for right hand traffic

 

"Everybody should own a MINI at some point, or you are incomplete as a human being" - James May

"WET COOPER", Partsguy1 (Terry Snell of Penticton BC ) - Could you send the money for the unpaid parts and court fees.
Ordered so by a Judge

 

 

 

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 11:56AM
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US

ALL above is true UNLESS you are serving in the US Military!  If you are stationed overseas, you may bring back your personal property (for the most part) without too much scrutiny by US customs.... It could be a refrigerator or it could be a Mini!  But then you do have to register it in your State of residence, so 25 years and OLDER is the rule.   It seems counterintuitive but they need to be older as "antiques" to be brought in and registered, not newer, as in safer and cleaner running!

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 07:34AM
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CA

Unless you do something illegal, you are not going to be able to register it in Texas.

Gotta be 25+ years or older.

  ~ 30 minutes in a Mini is more therapeutic than 3 sessions @ the shrink. ~

  Mike  Cool  NB, Canada   

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 07:27AM
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US

sell your car to someone in canada

buy one in america that is already titled

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 07:02AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MPlayle
As CC has indicated, for entry into the US it MUST be legitimately 25 years or older. That is federal customs. They are also checking the engine for "original to the car". The 25 year rule requires certain import paperwork - I forget the form names/numbers. (There are usually many threads in the 365-day search discussing this.) After clearing US Customs, you then have the laws for the particular state where you will be registering it. Example: California = forget anything newer than 1975, and even then you will likely have a hard time with anything newer than 1967. For Texas, you will be okay with anything 25 years or older. Be prepared for having a VIN inspection done as part of the registration process. Paperwork and car MUST match. For what can happen if things are not right - see the threads about the Mini getting crushed. Best approach is to enjoy the one you have while there, sell it just before you come to the US and buy another already in the US and registered in the state where you settle.

                                    

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 05:50AM
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CA

Welcome!

In your original description you said that your ar appears to be assembled from various models of Mini.

When checking the registration against the VIN number on the plate/tag on the body, you need to be careful that the tag matches other numbers located in various areas of the body and components. Unfortunately one of the easiest parts to change on a MIni is the VIN plate, with the result that many Minis end up with illegitimate plates.

In the sad incident reported in various threads, the car was found to be a later car with 'identity theft' of an older car's VIN.  At this web page you can flip through photos of an officer inspecting some of the areas where build information can be found - he confirmed its bogus identity and the car suffered for it.

//www.autoblog.com/photos/mini-crushed-for-operation-atlantic/#photo-3198902/

From your comparative costs, you'd be better to enjoy the car you have, sell it when you return and buy something back home that suits your needs/urges/addiction. (Mini ownership is a disease that has no known permanent cure.) Financially safer for you and safer for Minis.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 05:30AM
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As CC has indicated, for entry into the US it MUST be legitimately 25 years or older. That is federal customs. They are also checking the engine for "original to the car". The 25 year rule requires certain import paperwork - I forget the form names/numbers. (There are usually many threads in the 365-day search discussing this.)

After clearing US Customs, you then have the laws for the particular state where you will be registering it. Example: California = forget anything newer than 1975, and even then you will likely have a hard time with anything newer than 1967.

For Texas, you will be okay with anything 25 years or older. Be prepared for having a VIN inspection done as part of the registration process. Paperwork and car MUST match.

For what can happen if things are not right - see the threads about the Mini getting crushed.

Best approach is to enjoy the one you have while there, sell it just before you come to the US and buy another already in the US and registered in the state where you settle.

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 04:49AM
 Edited:  Dec 15, 2014 05:19AM
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Thanks for your response! I guess my plan would be to work it out so the car turns into an "easier" model to work with (if budget allows). Maybe changing into a more modern engine and so on. I'm not that crazy about having the mechanical parts originals but to have a reliable and comfortable car to drive. The looks is awesome!

Actually, areas where I would like to improve are suspension (I feel every grain of sand on the road), maybe a bit more HP (the car slows down if I turn the AC) and a heater if I take it to Texas. This website got me daydreaming about kits, and stuff but need to take it easy while I learn.

After I wrote in the blog I realized that the car can be under 10,000$ in America. Here I got it for 10,000$ ano could sell it for maybe 7,500$ I,m wondering if the difference is worth when considering shipping and other stuff. Now, if I take it to a certain point it might be worth!

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 04:36AM
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Thank you ver much for your response, those are goods points. I'm curious about your statement on the 25 yrs old car (specially after reading from sales adds in this website about people moving their cars back and forth); which government office would be the one controlling it? Or checking for it. Do you mean cars wont be able to be brought back as a personal item? some countries have a minimum years of ownership to allow imports and limit owners from selling the cars for some time after arrival...

In terms of registration, etc. I can only check. My honest response would be "anything can happen in KL" and chances are that numbers don't quite match (but now that you mention it I'll pay closer attention to it). I didn't check much when I got it because I always thought I was going to sell and leave but I must confess that I'my enjoying it. Here regulations are not well followed and 20$ will get you far on getting away if stopped by police. 

Cheers!

 Posted: Dec 15, 2014 02:36AM
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It has to be older than 25 years to import ie 1990 model year or older. I would think it would be a huge problem if the current registration doesn't specify the year it was made which your question seems to imply.

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it. G.B.S. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Oscar Wilde

//www.cupcakecooper.ca/

 Posted: Dec 14, 2014 11:19PM
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Welcome Jose - you made an excellent decision to ask these questions, and ask them here.  Most people don't ask them and it ends pretty badly.  

You're fine with RHD and with shops, but the best advice is to learn to do as much as you can yourself.  The last two questions are vital however, and the gurus here will weigh in.

 Posted: Dec 14, 2014 10:34PM
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Hello,

I'm new in the mini world so I thought this could be a good place to start getting into it. I bought my mini about 10 months back in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia); the car doesn't have much pedigree since it looks like they've put pieces from other mini models (still I love it). With my little knowledge I tried to follow up the identification help in this site and came up as a MK VII so it seems like is a "new" version of the classic mini (maybe mid 90's). Anyway, I'm considering taking the car home (Houston, Texas) but I'm not sure whether it would be a big problem (my idea is to use it in a daily basis). One thing to consider is that we drive on the left side of the road here (UK standard). I'm wondering

Is it legal to drive with steering wheel on the right-side in the US?

Is it feasible to find shops in Houston who can work with my mini?

What would be the main changes I would need to do in my mini so its legal to drive it according to US law?

Do we need to pay significant tax to bring cars into the US?

 

Thanks in advance for your help

JD