How to Ship a Used Mini to the U.S.
- 1). Arrange shipping. You will have to coordinate the arrival date with Immigration and Customs Enforcement so your vehicle can be cleared. Customs will require several pieces of documentation such as the original bill of sale, bill of lading, any foreign vehicle registrations and other relevant paperwork.
- 2). Pay the duty tax. Cars are taxed at a rate of 2.5 percent of the purchase amount. Residents returning to the U.S. are eligible for an exemption on $400 of goods provided they bought them on the trip and the items are returning with them. However, the next $1000 dollars of vehicle value are taxed at 10 percent while the rest is at the normal rate of 2.5 percent. There are a few exemptions for nonresidents and temporary use of a personal vehicle.
- 3). Complete and file a DOT HS-7 form with the U.S. Department of Transportation. This form declares that your imported vehicle complies with U.S. safety standards. In general, vehicles produced after September 1, 1978, must comply with the regulations. Noncompliant vehicles can be imported but they must be altered and certified to be compliant after alterations are made. Mini Coopers were produced starting in the 1950s, so your vehicle may be noncompliant.
- 4). Make sure your Mini is compliant with emission standards. Cars made after December 31, 1967, are almost all compliant. Older vehicles may not be compliant; as with the safety standards, must be altered and certified compliant before they can be legally driven in the United States.
- 5). Take advantage of any exemptions or other bonuses from international permitting and other advantages depending on your specific Mini and resident status. Imported items are highly regulated and subject to many different rules depending on very specific circumstances. Consult a specialist to see whether you can save money on importation.
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