Hey guys,

I am in the market for an R3 model, and found out recently that the R3 came in white in Canada. I want a white RX-8, and an R3, but that wasn't an option in the US. How hard would it be to import this model from Canada to the US? Is it simply paperwork? Does anyone know if the Canadian spec cars have the EPA sticker on them stating they meet US standards? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

If the 8's manufactured for sale in Canada meet US Air and safety specs, its not a big deal cost wise. However based on past experience Canadian cars do not meet all US standards, and in order to import it, it will have to be made to so. Remember you must satisfy both the NHTSA and the EPA. You have to satisfy both forms HS-7 and 3520-1. HS-7 is a form of the agency NHTSA and 3520-1 is of the EPA. If the vehicle is not compliant you must contact a Registered Importer and they will (for a fee of course) bring the vehicle into compliance and take care off all the necessary paperwork. This process is not cheap for your average vehicle and given the 8's expensive parts list, something tell me this could easily get into the thousands of dollars. Once your all squeaky clean through customs you have to pay duties on the value of that vehicle which is 2.5%.

Then your still not finished, because you have to get it to your home state and register the darn thing. Which there will no doubt be more fees and possibly another tax liability. Then finally after all this and possibly a month or longer you can finally drive your R3 on US roads legally. Oh yes almost forgot If your buying a new one, make sure your warranty is good in the US. (most likely it will not) Most of the time it is voided if a vehicles is manufactured for one country and imported to another. This is the condensed version, but I hope it helps. You can google most of this information, tons of helpful sites out there Personally IMO not worth the effort. It might be far cheaper and a lot less BS if you just buy an R3 and pay a good professional painter to paint it white.

Oh you can also wait 25 years to import it. Much less BS.

this post could have easily been several pages to include all the necessary information, google is your friend, use it. Good luck!

 

There are "easy" ways to import it, but that requires a letter from Mazda stating the car is exactly the same as the US version and you will never get that. So chances are like kevinande said you will have to go through a registered importer to get all changes to the car made. They wont let some random shop or you do the changes, it must be done by the right people. You might get lucky and it wont need anything changed or at least nothing major.

I agree that you should just buy an r3 and paint it though, it would be much cheaper.

 

Importing a Motor Vehicle into the U.S.

Boom. There ya go.