Car Shipping From Dubai to USA

• Whether you are a US citizen, military or civilian employee of the United States government, or a non-resident,
• Whether you plan to permanently keep the car in the USA or if it’s just a temporary move,
• Whether the car was manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS, and, if not, whether it is a nonconforming motor vehicle eligible for shipment,
• Whether your vehicle was manufactured after September 1, 1978, and
• Whether your vehicle is a model year 1987 or later.
• Whether your vehicle can be registered in Dubai or the rest of the UAE.

Based on your response to these questions, changes will occur in the overall costs, the licenses required and the eligibility of your vehicle to be shipped to the USA.

Car Preparation

For the car to be given approval to be imported to the US, there are several quality checks that are conducted on the vehicle inorder to meet the required standards. Therefore, Its best to prepare the vehicle for this process. Special attention should be paid to,

• Undercarriage should be specially cleaned and should be free of foreign soil.
• No personal belongings and other cargo should be present in the shipment.
• Cleaning your vehicle inside and out.
• Making sure all lights are working.
• Checking tire pressure and treads.
• Ensuring all fluids are topped off.
• Repairing any damage or dents.

Conforming vs Non-conforming vehicles

Generally, if a vehicle already meets the requirements for shipping to the USA, it is because that model was originally designed for export and sale in the USA, or was manufactured in the United States for domestic sale. As such, nonconforming vehicles are required to be modified to meet all applicable FMVSS and EPA emissions standards prior to the car shipping to the USA.

Things to Consider

• Vehicles more than 21 years old with their original engines may qualify for an EPA exemption.
• Vehicles more than 25 years old may qualify for DOT.
• All other vehicles must be made for the USA market and EPA/DOT compliant.
• The undercarriage of your car will need to be clean and free of foreign soil. Therefore, you will need to have the exterior of your vehicle steam-sprayed or otherwise thoroughly cleaned before shipment to the United States.

If your vehicle conforms to these standards, it should bear a manufacturer’s label on the engine compartment attesting to its compliance to emissions standards in English, as well as a certification label near the driver’s side door confirming that it complies to safety, bumper and theft prevention standards. You will need to complete EPA form 3520-1 and DOT form HS-7 attesting to your vehicle’s compliance. Additionally, you will need the shipper or carrier’s original bill of lading, bill of sale, foreign registration, and other documents covering the vehicle, to be provided to your Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) inspector.

If your vehicle is nonconforming, it may still be eligible for import with modifications by a DOT-registered importer, who modifies the vehicle and certifies that it conforms to all applicable FMVSS and emissions standards. Additionally, the importer must post a bond equivalent to one and a half times the dutiable value of the vehicle (in addition to the normal CBP entry bond). A copy of the bond must be provided with the HS-7 form. The same is applicable for EPA, the list is here: EPA Independent Commercial Importers.

A nonconforming car may be shipped from Dubai or the other UAE nations to the USA under certain conditions, such as re-importing a previously exported vehicle, shipping a vehicle for personal use not exceeding one year, shipping a vehicle as a member of foreign armed forces, diplomatic personnel, or other exceptions authorized by the United States Department, bringing a vehicle into the country for testing, demonstration, or competition, or other special circumstances.