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 Posted: Jan 16, 2022 01:53PM
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Member since:Apr 21, 2012
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US
Welcome ! Bring a 2nd in the storage container for me,i am in NJ and want another one to convert. Unless you are against conversions ??

 Posted: Jan 13, 2022 08:12PM
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I used to have my mini restoration shop in NJ before leaving the lovely Garden State. They are a real pain when it comes to titling a UK mini. It got so bad I had to register in another state then title in NJ. Hope they got their sh_t together. Haven't done one there in 10 years. Welcome to the US.

 Posted: Jan 10, 2022 11:03PM
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US
Welcome back to the forum, and welcome to the USA!  I hope your experiences here are fantastic!

**Dr. jinG**

"I tell you and you forget. I show you and you remember. I involve you and you understand." ~ Eric Butterworth
"The true charter of liberty is independence, maintained by force." ~Voltaire

 Posted: Jan 7, 2022 09:13AM
Total posts: 35
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Member since:Jun 10, 2017
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This might be useful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1kXQDDuMZM

 Posted: Jan 4, 2022 10:08AM
Total posts: 3345
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Member since:Jul 20, 2002
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US
Quote:
Originally Posted by THarper
Hi all

Firstly a hello - I used to frequent this forum about 20 years ago as red_hot_mini_coopers - not sure if anyone remembers me.  I was about 15 at the time and learning how to maintain these little cars.

I'm now a bit older, but none the wiser!  Anyway, in January, I will be moving to NJ from London UK, for work.  As part of my relocation, I'm putting my mini in a shipping container alongside a few household goods.

I think I've got the paperwork broadly in order through my shipper.  The car was built in 1980 so I've ticked exempt from safety and environmental standards.  The thing I can't quite get my head around is whether there is any duty payable?  I bought this car around 3 years ago for £2.5k, but have spent considerable amounts since.  Should I be paying duty (I'm probably going to be here for 2-3 years for work), and if so, how is the value calculated?

Grateful for any thoughts - particularly if you have been in the same situation before.  Many thanks, Tom

Is your intention to return to the UK with your Mini in 2-3 years, or sell it here in the USA?

 Posted: Dec 30, 2021 07:08PM
Total posts: 8382
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Non US citizen living and residing here in the US, at the time I travelled back to the UK regularly.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Dec 29, 2021 09:19PM
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US
Malcolm, are you a US citizen importing a car or a foreign national coming to work in the US with your own vehicle?
I believe there's a difference but of course the guberment wants to get their moolah.

 Posted: Dec 28, 2021 10:31PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Minimike1
no expert here but since it's personal property, I'd think you're not paying duty on it but will pay a fee to register it in the state you reside in.
I have imported several with my name on the V5C/title and had to pay the 2.5%.
On a Japanese kei truck I had to pay 25%.
Usually using a broker with my TWIC card it costs around $450 to clear a vehicle.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Dec 28, 2021 09:32PM
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US
no expert here but since it's personal property, I'd think you're not paying duty on it but will pay a fee to register it in the state you reside in.

 Posted: Dec 25, 2021 10:54PM
Total posts: 8382
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Normal import duty for a saloon is 2.5% of the value/purchase price.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Dec 22, 2021 08:32PM
Total posts: 154
Last post: Feb 12, 2024
Member since:Oct 23, 2020
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Ring the local US Embassy, ask to talk to a Customs official. Explain your situation and ask if they have a brochure or some such that covers the import of your personal and household items into the US. Once you have an idea of the rules you can seek formal approval/documentation.

There will be different rules depending upon how long you will be in the US, the nature of your employment ....and probably the colour of your eyes :).

As an official of a foreign Government I was allowed duty free import of all my Mini bits .....

Cheers, Ian

 Posted: Dec 22, 2021 11:13AM
Total posts: 1
Last post: Dec 22, 2021
Member since:Dec 22, 2021
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Hi all

Firstly a hello - I used to frequent this forum about 20 years ago as red_hot_mini_coopers - not sure if anyone remembers me.  I was about 15 at the time and learning how to maintain these little cars.

I'm now a bit older, but none the wiser!  Anyway, in January, I will be moving to NJ from London UK, for work.  As part of my relocation, I'm putting my mini in a shipping container alongside a few household goods.

I think I've got the paperwork broadly in order through my shipper.  The car was built in 1980 so I've ticked exempt from safety and environmental standards.  The thing I can't quite get my head around is whether there is any duty payable?  I bought this car around 3 years ago for £2.5k, but have spent considerable amounts since.  Should I be paying duty (I'm probably going to be here for 2-3 years for work), and if so, how is the value calculated?

Grateful for any thoughts - particularly if you have been in the same situation before.  Many thanks, Tom