Quote:
Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr
That regulation did not prevent the JDM stuff around model-year '99 becoming allowed there classified as some sort of ATV, and even some brand-new Chinese copies of the Mitsubishi Minicab and Suzuki Carry which were available there around 2007.
Remember these?
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There are purposely made vehicles with commercial backing for US legislation called NEVS or LSVs, My father owned one called a Miles zx40
however…
If you import newer than 96 you need to pay extra cash going through a specialty importer / converter that installs a restrictor plate, a Governor to 25mph, and the transmission may be modified removing or locking out gears.
If you try to cut 50% of the cost and self import using a broker (like you do with older cars) there is a very good chance of Customs seizure and even after presenting proper paperwork they will randomly crush cars that are non-conforming on entry to the port.
Then after you successfully navigate this half of states have a ban on them oinroad) and the rest limit where they may be operated, the most leanient states allow ATVs on backroads (not primary highways) while the more restrictive require operations on ATV routes which could be a single road in a community or a series of surface roads covering the whole area.
My state each community decides if they are legal or not and which roads or trails they may operate on. Up north this is great because you can basically drive on any road or trail you want primarily due to the lack of enforcement while in my area you would be hard pressed to drive outside your driveway without a trailer to move it to a legal road.
Just because some can skirt regulations to be legal enough for certain states does not mean it’s worth playing roulette to get a newer rig in most areas.
That said I know at least 2 folks that drive anywhere they want illegally and figure the fines are cheap enough to be apart of the cost of operation