How to Import Australian Car Parts to the USA

If the car part is not regulated, the importer is still responsible for the parts safety, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Some imported car parts must meet "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" and be certified by the manufacture. For example, rear impact guards, rims and brake hoses must all be manufactured to FMVSS specifications before they can be imported. A complete list of car parts that must meet FMVSS specifications is available on the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration website under "Importing Motor Vehicle Equipment." Meeting the FMVSS satisfies safety requirements for "crash avoidance" due to car parts being imported and/or installed in United States vehicles. A complete list of FMVSS and what each regulated car part requires, is available on the Government Printing Office website under "49 CFR 571," Code of Federal Regulations.

Things You'll Need

• Bill of sale
• Bill of lading

Instructions

1. Choose a Customs port of entry that will be convenient for you to pick up your car parts. A list of ports by state, is available on the U.S Customs and Border Protection website. For small packages, you can send them through a postal carrier. Ask the postal carrier for the allowable package size minimum and maximum.

2. Make arrangements with the shipper or carrier to send the car parts to the USA port you chose. You will have to pick up the car parts in person, if it is a large shipment that can not be delivered by a postal carrier.

3. Present to Customs the sales receipt. Engines must meet Environmental Protection Agency requirements. You may have to apply for engine certification. Go to the EPA website under "Importing Vehicles and Engines" to download the engine certification application, if you are importing a engine.

4. Give Customs the original bill of landing from the shipper or carrier you used. The shipper or carrier you use should already be aware of Customs requirements. Even though the car parts are coming from Australia, if the car part is on the FMVSS list, the parts will have to meet the requirements. For "Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standards", Some replacement parts must bear the manufactures trademark and the letter "R" and some manufactures are excluded from this. For example, a BMW Mini parts is exempt from the marking, but a BMW Z8's parts must have the marking. A complete list of replacement parts that must bear the mark and vehicle manufacturer's parts that are exempt from the mark, is available on the GPO website under "49 CFR 541."

5. Complete Environmental Protection Agency form 3520-1, if you are importing a engine. This form will be given to you by Customs. Attached to this form, the EPA engine certification approval letter. The approval is given to you, after you successful complete the engine certification application.

6. Complete Department of Transportation form HS-7. This form is required by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. Customs will provide you with this form, if you are importing a engine.

7. Pay duty and taxes to the Customs cashier. To determine what your duty amount will be, use the U.S. Customs formula. The formula is available on the CBP website under "Determining Duty." You can pay duty by cash (U.S. currency only), personal check drawn on a U.S. bank, travelers check, government check, or money order. Some locations will accept credit cards. But those locations are not listed. So you will have to ask Customs in advance, at the location of your cars arrival, if they accept credit cards.

8. Pickup your Australian car parts from the Customs inspection area. You will be given a clearance document from Customs for the release of your parts.

Tips & Warnings

• It would be helpful to hire the services of a commercial customs broker in your state.

• Read the detailed import vehicle parts instructions and regulations from the EPA, CBP and NHTSA websites, before attempting to import a car parts from Australia.

• You risk the chance of your Australian car parts being destroyed or exported, if it does not meet FMVSS, NHTSA, CPSC, EPA and DOT requirements.

References

• "National Highway Transportation Safety Administration": Importing Motor Vehicle Equipment
• "U.S. Government Printing Office": Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
• "U.S. Government Printing Office": Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard
• "Customs and Border Protection": Tips for New Importers and Exporters