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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Limey57 on 2013-12-20 02:44

Title: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: Limey57 on 2013-12-20 02:44
Hi folks.  A guy over here wants to ship his late 1980's car (Lotus Carlton) to the US for a few years as he is emigrating, BUT he is being told that right-hand drive post-1973 cars cannot be permenantly registered in the US, they can only be used in the US for a maximum of six months.  Now I know there are sometimes problems with later cars that don't have impact absorber bumpers (which is why a lot of old-style Minis that get shipped from the UK to the US all have early paperwork irrespective of their real age!), but I had never heard of their being a problem with late model cars because they are RHD.

Anyone know anything about this?

Thanks
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: RICH MUISE on 2013-12-20 07:27
Doesn't seem like it would be a problem, but I'm sure someone will know for sure. One thing I will say...our usps mail carriers use right hand drive vehicles.
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: hiball3985 on 2013-12-20 09:13
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2013-12-20 07:27
Doesn't seem like it would be a problem, but I'm sure someone will know for sure. One thing I will say...our usps mail carriers use right hand drive vehicles.
And locally street sweepers and trash trucks, But I'm hardly surprised the Gov exempts itself from the same stupid regulations it forces on us  :003:. If RHD cars are illegal it must be a federal aw, I'm not aware of a state law.
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: Ecode70D on 2013-12-20 12:02
Limey
    I never heard that it is against the law.
Jay (ret. law enforcement.)   
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: Limey57 on 2013-12-20 13:37
Thanks guys.
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: SkylinerRon on 2013-12-20 20:21
Newer imports have to have emissions and safety certs to be imported.
Lefthand drive is not illegal in any state that I know of.
As stated already many USPO, FedEX, UPS, and delivery vans are rhd.
Goodluck,
Ron.
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: BAMA_57 on 2013-12-20 21:33
Jeep actually makes and sells right hand drive vehicles for U.S. Mail carriers. So it sounds like someone is getting the run around.
Title: Re: Right Hand Drive legality in the US?
Post by: Zapato on 2013-12-21 00:11
If you go to any All British Meet you will find many RHD vehicles specially Minis and Morgans........

Zap- :unitedstates: