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What Happens to Show or Display Cars When They Turn 25?

Sean Morris Posted on July 15, 2020

Midnight Purple R33 GT-R, Midnight Purple R34 GT-R , Show or Display , MotoRex

When a Show or Display vehicle, like a Midnight Purple II R34 Skyline GT-R, turn 25 years old, what happens to it?  

Nothing. 

Well not nothing. However they are no longer bound to the Show or Display requirements. That includes the 2500 mile per year limit, specific insurance, and the approval of the NHTSA to sell the vehicle.  That means that it becomes just a normal grey market car.  

The Code of Federal Regulations  49 CFR 591.6 (2) says :

(2) A declaration made pursuant to §591.5(j)(1)(iii) and (j)(2)(i) shall be accompanied by a letter from the Administrator authorizing importation pursuant to §591.5(j)(1)(iii) and (j)(2)(i). Any person seeking to import a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment pursuant to those sections shall submit, in advance of such importation, a written request to the Administrator containing a full and complete statement identifying the equipment item or the vehicle and its make, model, model year or date of manufacture, VIN, and mileage at the time the request is made. The importer's written request to the Administrator shall explain why the vehicle or equipment item is of historical or technological interest. The importer shall also provide a statement that, until the vehicle is not less than 25 years old, (s)he shall not sell, or transfer possession of, or title to, the vehicle, and shall not license it for use, or operate it on the public roads, except under such terms and conditions as the Administrator may authorize. If the importer wishes to operate the vehicle on the public roads, the request to the Administrator shall include a description of the purposes for which (s)he wishes to use it on the public roads, a copy of an insurance policy or a contract to acquire an insurance policy, which contains as a condition thereof that the vehicle will not accumulate mileage of more than 2,500 miles in any 12-month period and a statement that the importer shall maintain such policy in effect until the vehicle is not less than 25 years old, a statement that the importer will allow the Administrator to inspect the vehicle at any time after its importation to verify that the accumulated mileage of the vehicle is not more than 2,500 miles in any 12-month period, and a statement that the vehicle will not be used on the public roads unless it is in compliance with the regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency.

As you can see above, Show or Display is in effect until the vehicle is over 25 years old, then it is no longer held to the Show or Display requirements, it is held to the 25 Year Old Vehicle requirements. Which then mean the mileage is unlimited.

In the case of a 1999 JDM Nissan Skyline GT-R Midnight Purple II Vspec, that is in mostly January 2024.  If you are looking to buy and store an R34 GT-R, or other vehicle in Japan, until it is twenty five years old, contact us at 844-523-2233 or sales@importavehicle.com

Show or Display exemption letter, Midnight Purple II R34 GT-R

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