How do I Import Bulldozers?
A bulldozer is classified under heavy duty engines and equipment by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA stipulates several different requirements for importing an on-road or off-road vehicle, that fits into one of the heavy duty engine categories by type. Depending on the year the bulldozer was manufactured, it will determine if U.S. emission standards apply or not. You may need to apply for EPA engine certification. You can find all of this information in the EPA website under "Importing Vehicles and Engines." For the National Highway Safety Transportation Agency, off-road type bulldozers do not need to meet certain requirements. The on-road and off-road requirements appear on the NHTSA website. If you want to import bulldozers for resale, you need to be a registered importer or become a registered importer.
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Things You'll Need
- Bill of sale
- Bill of landing
- Registered importers license (if importing for resale)
Instructions
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Choose a Customs port of entry convenient for you to pick up your bulldozers. The U.S Customs and Border Protection website contains a list of ports.
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Send the bulldozers in bond to Customs at the U.S. port you chose. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website contains a Customs form 301.
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Present to Customs the sales receipt, vehicle registration papers and any other documents you received pertaining to the bulldozer.
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Give Customs the original bill of landing from the shipper or carrier you used. The shipper or carrier you use should already know Customs requirements.
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Complete Environmental Protection Agency form 3520-21. Customs will provide this form for you. Read it carefully, because you need to check the appropriate boxes that apply to your bulldozer. Heavy duty vehicle information and the form appear on the EPA website.
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Complete Department of Transportation form HS-7, required by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Customs will provide you with this form. You can also review the form in advance on the NHSTA website.
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Pay duty and taxes to the Customs cashier. For a truck classification, duty is 25 percent of the purchase price you paid for the bulldozers.
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Pick up your bulldozers from the designated inspection area. You will receive a clearance document from Customs for the release of your bulldozers.
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Tips & Warnings
Read the detailed import vehicle instructions and regulations from the EPA, CBP and NHSTA websites before attempting to import bulldozers.
It would be helpful to hire the services of a commercial customs broker in your state.
If your bulldozers must meet USA emission standards, and the engine is a non-conforming engine, you need to import it through an independent commercial importer. The ICI ensures the conversion of your bulldozers to U.S. specifications, if possible. A list of ICI's appears on the Environmental Protection Agency website.
You risk the chance of vehicle destruction if the bulldozers do not meet EPA and DOT requirements, as determined by the bulldozer's year of manufacture.
In order to pass inspection, the bulldozer must be very clean on top, bottom and underneath.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit two bulldozers image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
