buying something big while on deployment

[navsup]

What are the rules for buying someting overseas and bringing it back on the ship? I am curious for big items like a motorcycle or even a car?

The reason I ask is I want this new chevy caprice that you can only buy overseas.

http://www.alghanim.com/contentdisp.asp?pageId=556

ANybody ever heard of people bringing back large items if there is room.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

Are you seriously asking if you can lug a Chevy Caprice back on the boat with you...?

 

[NFOwife]

When my husband went on his last deployment, lots of people bought cars. I think that reps from all the car companies (and I think it was actually all American car companies) and also Harley Davidson came to the ship and gave really good deals and possibly no taxes (I'm not 100% on the details as we didn't buy anything). The cars were waiting for them when they got back home, at a local dealership. I've heard of guys bringing things like persian rugs or guns home on the ship, but most guys ship even that kind of stuff.

 

[fc2spyguy]

I purchased a car in Japan through the overseas buyers program. You can have it delivered at many car dealerships stateside but pay the discounted price.

 

[helmet91]

i don't believe you can bring non-US spec automobiles/motorcycles into the US without converting many things to DOT/NHTSA/EPA standards. They are as follows:
bumpers
safety glass
seatbelts
airbags
lights
emissions
catalytic converter

that's just a short list...

The overseas buyer program is a great deal- many european companies (BMW, Porsche, and Volvo) offer a custom order (to US specs) that you are able to pick up at the factory. You then cruise around Europe for up to a month, simply dropping it off at a predetermined place to ship it home.

BTW... grey market cars are extremely tough to get registered for everyday use. Also, a non-US spec car can stay in the US IF you are a foreign diplomat or military personnel.

As for shipping back the car... um... if you are stationed abroad you are able to send a car there and send it home- through government arranged private transport. I do remember my uncle talking about guys bringing home motorcycles from Japan when he was on the Midway in the early 70's. I imagine this all has changed in the 'kinder, gentler Navy.'

 

[VarmintShooter]

They wouldn't let you bring a car back from overseas (on my boat that is). Takes up too much room in the hangar deck. We allowed cars on board one time (from WA to San Diego), but the air wing wasn't on board for that trip.

Ordering a foreign car and using it in the states? Man, you'd have to really want the car to make that deal worth it.