Written by Q: I want to import an R34 Nissan Skyline from Japan but I’ve heard that since the car was never federalized that it can’t be insured for the U.S.
AIS Answer: Here’s the deal on the earlier generation Nissan Skylines since they are unique to other gray market vehicles (this does not include the new Nissan Skyline soon to hit the U.S. market).
The Skyline was never made for the U.S. market, i.e. never reported and certainly not tested for safety by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. What this essentially comes down to is that since the Skyline was never rated by the traffic administration it’s not eligible for driving on U.S. roads which in turn means the vehicle cannot be insured in its current form without government approval. However, there are companies out there that are doing what they call U.S. conversions to Skylines and other gray market vehicles. One high profile U.S. owner of a 2001 Nissan Skyline GT-R is Paul Walker of The Fast and The Furious. After driving one in the movie he had one imported and converted at a cost of around $140,000 – Paul’s vehicle is for sale at Dupont Registry if you’re interested.
Does this mean you can insure it if it’s a gray market vehicle that has been converted? Not necessarily, even if you manage to get the vehicle registered with your state DMV it’s likely going to be difficult to find an insurance company to take on a vehicle with little to no track record in America. It doesn’t mean you can’t do it, because people obviously have, but the road is not an easy one.
I would advise anyone thinking of importing a vehicle from another country if the vehicle has never been approved for the United States…do your homework. Ask people that have imported a gray market vehicle, successfully registered and obtained insurance. If you find success stories with a specific vehicle then do as much work as you can to make sure it’s going to be the same result for you. Otherwise, stick to vehicles that meet the requirements.
Always speak with a licensed insurance agent regarding any changes to your auto insurance policy.
importing a nissan skyline is just a dumb idea
I don’t see the point importing an R34 when you’ve got the new skyline coming…unless you can’t afford it. Either way, you would probably never get the r34 insured.