Taking diesel converted Rover out of the country

[David Harris]

Has anyone ever taken their diesel converted Rover out of the country? I have been thinking of converting my 96 Disco, but am concerned that if I ever drive it out of the country to Mexico or Canada, or ship it overseas, I might have a hard time getting it back in with the diesel, since it's technically illegal under Federal law to modify an original gasoline powered Land Rover from original specs, especially with a motor which isn't EPA certified. I checked and was informed that border stations and customs do check vehicles coming in to see if they meet US specs, even if the vehicle originally came from the US.

David

 

[overlander]

Fantastic question and also very interested in the answer due to similiar objectives.

 

[David Harris]

Here is a link to the EPA regulations governing this issue. It clearly states that if you bring a U.S. spec vehicle into the U.S. which has been modified from it's original specs, it is no longer considered a U.S. spec vehicle, and will be required to post a bond and go through the same procedure to import it as a vehicle which was originally manufactured in another country. Any thoughts on this? I'm not saying that every port of entry is going to go through your vehicle with a fine toothed comb, but they could and may indeed do so, and then the fun begins . . . Any thoughts on this?

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/420b10028.pdf

 

[cwsqbm]

For normal border crossings, I've never had them care about what I was driving coming from Canada or Mexico. However, if it arrived via ship it'd be an entirely different matter. If going overseas, you'd probably have better luck driving to and from Canada, and shipping from there as Canada isn't going to care since its an already registered in the USA vehicle.

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Ey yey yey... my head hurts every time I think about this.

So many legal problems converting to diesel. Yet so many people do it.

 

[mongosd2]

.you won't have to worry about getting it back in, you'll need to make sure you can get it out the US. You need to have the vehicle inspected for EXPORT...

"US Customs: All vehicles require US Customs approval prior to exporting. One of the following documents is required by US Customs for export clearance - Clean (no lien holder) Title ("pink slip" in California); Manufacturers Statement of Origin (MSO); Salvage Certificate. With a vehicle bought at auction, US Customs requires the auction bill of sale, the auction Gate Release, and the DMV printout showing that the title is clear. "


as for mexico, I've crossed the border over 100 times in the last 3 years, in everything from a stock d1 to a converted d90...gotten secondaries on over half the trips and NEVER was the vehicle inspected to see if the engine is gas or diesel. As long as the registration matches and the tags, that they are current and the vehicle is insured, they really don't give a ****...

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I believe that regulation only applies to PERMANENTLY exporting a vehicle. As in a sale. I'm keenly aware of it, as it is one of the hoops we have to jump through to buy a vehicle in the US and bring it back to Canada. I don't think you need that to drive a US vehicle across the border to visit Canada, or Mexico.

 

[mongosd2]

I believe that regulation only applies to PERMANENTLY exporting a vehicle. As in a sale. I'm keenly aware of it, as it is one of the hoops we have to jump through to buy a vehicle in the US and bring it back to Canada. I don't think you need that to drive a US vehicle across the border to visit Canada, or Mexico.

not driving, but shipping by container is considered a export

 

[Viggen]

Ill be converting my D1 and having the Dept of Env. Quality verify that it is a diesel so that the registration officially shows it as a diesel. If the tags match the registration and it is now officially titled as a diesel, what are they going to do? Driving in and out of the country, I can not imagine that they are going to do a check at the border. Is it:
- Insured? Check
- Registered as a diesel in your state? Check
- Titled to you? Check
- Inspected in your state? Check

What else is there?

 

[jrose609]

pretty cool that Customs has so much time on its hands to sit and confirm whether or not your car is diesel or gas or it says the correct fuel type on the registration.

Wonder when they ever have any time to look for illegal drugs, guns, illegal immigrants, etc.............

 

[David Harris]

Ill be converting my D1 and having the Dept of Env. Quality verify that it is a diesel so that the registration officially shows it as a diesel. If the tags match the registration and it is now officially titled as a diesel, what are they going to do? Driving in and out of the country, I can not imagine that they are going to do a check at the border. Is it:
- Insured? Check
- Registered as a diesel in your state? Check
- Titled to you? Check
- Inspected in your state? Check

What else is there?

If you read the EPA reg at the link above, it says that a valid state inspection does not make a vehicle meet Federal EPA regs. They can still make you pay bond and return the vehicle to Federal specs, or seize it outright and export it. State inspections/registrations don't mean anything to the Federal gov.

 

[David Harris]

pretty cool that Customs has so much time on its hands to sit and confirm whether or not your car is diesel or gas or it says the correct fuel type on the registration.

Wonder when they ever have any time to look for illegal drugs, guns, illegal immigrants, etc.............

Well. I guess they are charged with enforcing all of the laws of the U.S. that are applicable, but that doesn't mean they always do it to the max.

Anyway. If there is no risk of getting caught with an illegal vehicle when driving it across the border as opposed to shipping it, then what's to stop one from just picking up a nice Tdi in England, having it shipped to Canada, and just driving it across?

 

[jrose609]

Well. I guess they are charged with enforcing all of the laws of the U.S. that are applicable, but that doesn't mean they always do it to the max.

Anyway. If there is no risk of getting caught with an illegal vehicle when driving it across the border as opposed to shipping it, then what's to stop one from just picking up a nice Tdi in England, having it shipped to Canada, and just driving it across?

I'm sure you know the difference between owning a vehicle which is legally converted and bringing in a "nice Tdi in England, having it shipped to Canada, and just driving it across?"

Perhaps you can provide an instance when someone took his own legally registered vehicle across the border into Mexico or Canada and then had it seized for having the wrong engine? I suppose it could happen..........

I'm curious how it is that all these people who do write-ups of "overlanding adventures" in foreign countries actually do it? More people than we can count have replaced gas engines with diesels. They take their diesel powered Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, 'Yotas, Nissans, etc outside the country all the time. How come they are not posting up about getting their vehicles seized?

Aliastel, are you planning on taking your converted vehicle outside the country? Do you have first-hand knowledge of someone having his vehicle seized?

What about replacing your front or rear bumper with a non-DOT approved bumper? One that disables your airbags? If you get in a crash and your passenger is injured, did you know the insurance companies can refuse to cover you if you have installed non-approved parts?

We can play "chicken-little" all day long.

 

[David Harris]

I'm sure you know the difference between owning a vehicle which is legally converted and bringing in a "nice Tdi in England, having it shipped to Canada, and just driving it across?"

Perhaps you can provide an instance when someone took his own legally registered vehicle across the border into Mexico or Canada and then had it seized for having the wrong engine? I suppose it could happen..........

I'm curious how it is that all these people who do write-ups of "overlanding adventures" in foreign countries actually do it? More people than we can count have replaced gas engines with diesels. They take their diesel powered Land Rovers, Land Cruisers, 'Yotas, Nissans, etc outside the country all the time. How come they are not posting up about getting their vehicles seized?

Aliastel, are you planning on taking your converted vehicle outside the country? Do you have first-hand knowledge of someone having his vehicle seized?

What about replacing your front or rear bumper with a non-DOT approved bumper? One that disables your airbags? If you get in a crash and your passenger is injured, did you know the insurance companies can refuse to cover you if you have installed non-approved parts?

We can play "chicken-little" all day long.

Read the original post before replying. My very question was whether there was anyone who had had trouble with this, because I am thinking about converting my vehicle to diesel and do plan to take it out of the country. And by the way, according to the EPA, there is no such thing as a legally converted diesel vehicle unless it is over 21 years old, or is a vehicle of the same weight rating and originally had the diesel as a factory option. A lot of those who have taken them out have met the above requirements, i.e. 25 year old Defender imports, etc. Some haven't, I'm sure. I am looking for first hand experience on this, that's all.

 

[Douglas S.]

Ey yey yey... my head hurts every time I think about this.

So many legal problems converting to diesel. Yet so many people do it.

It depends on where you live. I could toss a diesel in with zero legal issues (I just might), assuming I didn't take that vehicle out of the country.

I'm very happy my Province hasn't decided to adopt any type of inspection program.