Right Hand Drive legality in the US?

[Limey57]

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

[RICH MUISE]

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.

[hiball3985]

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  . If RHD cars are illegal it must be a federal aw, I'm not aware of a state law.

[Ecode70D]

Limey
    I never heard that it is against the law.
Jay (ret. law enforcement.)   

[Limey57]

Thanks guys.

[SkylinerRon]

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.

[BAMA_57]

Jeep actually makes and sells right hand drive vehicles for U.S. Mail carriers. So it sounds like someone is getting the run around.

[Zapato]

If you go to any All British Meet you will find many RHD vehicles specially Minis and Morgans........

Zap-