The general rule of thumb is that if you can title it in California(home of some of the most strict and erroneous road tax/title laws in the USA) you can title it anywhere. That's in stark contrast to FL where I can title practically anything with wheels that will move under its own power. I even managed to title an old 8hp lawn mower once on a whim...it's now road legal and perfectly capable of cruising on the local motorways at an astonishingly fast 13mph.
Californian laws are not unique: Australian laws are pretty much on par with them, I'm afraid to say!
Since emigrating here [to Oz] from dear old Blighty some 15 years ago, I was shocked to discover that one cannot import a car if it was first registered after Dec 31, 1989. The vehicle in question also needs to be on the Australian SEVS (
Specialist and
Enthusiasts'
Vehicle
S) List.
I had trouble trying to bring in a 1996 Suzuki Cappuccino from Japan, a right-hooker country like the UK; and I had to embark on extensive research (with the help of the Cappuccino Owners' Club) in putting all the relevant data, facts and figures together when I was filling in the SEVS application form. That took some doing; but eventually, I was granted the approval which took an agonizing 6 weeks!
More up to date, the 3 wheeler had to be fitted with all sorts of unsightly attachments so that it could comply with the ghastly directive aka "Australian Design Rules" (ADR); and which IMHO, bastardizes the vehicle! ADR deemed the 3 wheeler to be a car rather than a trike (What???) which is why they won't allow it to be sold until these modifications are carried out by the importer (Morgan Cars Australia) which adds to the cost of the vehicle by at least another 30%! Australia is the only country which does this
; while everywhere else, it is sold as a bike!
The above applies to the whole of Australia rather than for individual states.
So if anyone visits Australia and happen to go along a car show here, don't be too surprised to find the types of display vehicles lacking: The UK still has arguably the best variety and diversity of classic and collectable cars anywhere because of her sensible Laws!
