[nakamuru]

I always liked hatchbacks, but the Mercedes-AMG A45 or BMW 1 Series have never been sold in the US. And now hatchbacks are a dying breed here, but they fit my style and personality. One of these would have been my car of choice, but I got an X3 instead which is not really that close to a hatch.

I'm in Seattle, and I know that some Mercedes hatchbacks are available just over the boarder in Canada. I am wondering if there is a way to import brand new cars from Canada or elsewhere that are not sold in the US? I'm guessing it would be quite expensive with more taxes attached.

[floydarogers]

Unless a car is 25? (might be 20) years old, it's virtually impossible to import a car into the USA. Check requirements on the TSA/Customs website.

[The Wind Breezes]

Too import? Too much.

[SteveinArizona]

The problem is that the "to be imported car" has not been proven to meet US standards. Accordingly, until it is 25 years old, it can't be imported for road use.

I believe that if you are intending to buy a track only car, that you can import it but you can't register it to drive on the roads.

How about a Veloster N? Or a Civic type R?

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Shipping is free. So is the impounding and crushing when you get caught trying to register it.

[nakamuru]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

The problem is that the "to be imported car" has not been proven to meet US standards. Accordingly, until it is 25 years old, it can't be imported for road use.

I believe that if you are intending to buy a track only car, that you can import it but you can't register it to drive on the roads.

How about a Veloster N? Or a Civic type R?

Definetly no. Mercedes amg a45 is what i was shooting for before i got x3. But none available here

[vreihen16]

The richest man in the world (Bill Gates) famously had to watch his attempt to import a Porsche 959 sit in Seattle Customs impound for about 10 years before he could get it. There is now a loophole for "historically/technologically significant vehicles," but don't think that any car that isn't extremely rare or with a significant documented pedigree will qualify. Looking for 25+ year old cars to import is the easiest route, although none of them come Apple Carplay from the factory.

At one point, BBC was auctioning off their Top Gear "reasonably priced car." I actually thought about bidding, but was afraid that appearing for several seasons on the most-watched TV show in the world and being driven by dozens of famous people would not be enough pedigree to import it to the USA.....

[EstorilM240]

I was going to say the same as everyone else, but after you mentioned the Seattle and Canada comment, a very likely way to succeed in reality (maybe not against internet police) is to buy a car available in Canada and register to a Canadian company and rent it to yourself/drive it in Seattle while on business. It may need one or a few friends in Vancouver. Based on actual probabilities of hardcore enforcement and given how many people straddle the border, you are likely to succeed, and the paperwork will be an order of magnitude less than trying to import it. Still probably at least a few grand per year extra in headaches and 40-80 hours to set up initially.

Beyond that, you're going to need some friends in powerful places or do some potentially sketchy things. After all, if Kim can get his S classes in North Korea, there must be a way.

[smrtypants44]

Just get a gla45 and drop it