RHD Legality?

[bnr32jason]

I've read over all of the kit car regulations for my state (Washington) but is there some NHTSA rule that says newly registered vehicles in the US (including kit cars) have to be LHD? Or any other legal matters?

The reason I ask is because I have lived in Japan for almost the last 10 years and I have become VERY comfortable shifting with my left hand (I'm left handed anyways) plus I've got some cool RHD parts (including the sought after STI Spec-C quick-ratio steering rack) that I could utilize. I get in my Civic now and shift with my right hand and it just feels awkward.

With the mention of RHD being an option at the open house this morning, it's got me considering building my 818 in RHD, even though I'm in the US.

Anyone else considering this or looked into it at all?

[PhyrraM]

Unless the laws have changed recently, a RHD car is legal to register and drive. Subaru themselves sold RHD Legacies to the public intended for privately contracted rural postal routes.

[bnr32jason]

I thought about the postal cars, but I figured it was possible that they were given more leeway with that kind of stuff due to being used for federal mail delivery. But if Subaru sold them directly to the public, I think that's a good sign.

Thanks for the info, I'll keep searching to see if I can find anything else though.

[skullandbones]

Out here in the "outback" of AZ, I have seen a couple of vehicles RHD other than the trucks. They were on postal routes in our neighborhood about the same time as the truck would normally come by. I thought it was a little odd but they must have some permit to do that. Haven't seen any such vehicles like vintage European cars except in car shows and auctions other than that. I go by the MVD everyday while doing errands so I will check it out with them when I'm applying for the "copper" vintage plates. WEK.

Note: RHD Jeeps seem to be a big seller in AZ on the web.

[wleehendrick]

Unless the laws have changed recently, a RHD car is legal to register and drive.

+1, I've known people that have RHD British classics. They may have been imported 'gray-market' but were legally registered in CA. YMMV in other states, however.

[Derald Rice]

I have a RHD Jag, and before I even started to work on it, I had the same concerns. Turns out that I was unable to find any regulation or special permit for RHD cars in the USA. There are several around here, and all of the owners that I have talked to say that the only rule RHD is breaking is the rule of common sense. It's just unusual, and building a RHD car will severely limit the marketing if you should decide to resell.

[NonProfit]

I had long been excited about building a RHD 818 with a sill shifter (like a GT40) but from today's vid it's clear the shifter won't fit. Looks like I'm going to have to learn to shift lefty.
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[alpine227]

Check your state inspection Manual. just remember the trouble you will have at a drive through, toll booth etc as everything is built for left hand drive...... except mailboxes maybe my mail carrier could deliver my mail before 1600 if it were an 818....

[bnr32jason]

I'm not worried about drive thru's or toll booths or anything like that, it's really not as bad as you think. I bought a Volvo XC60 SUV for my wife through Volvo military sales for about $11k off of normal retail and had it delivered to Japan (so I don't have to pay state sales tax now that it's back in the US). I drove it, a LHD vehicle in a RHD country and had no problems at all at toll booths or drive-thru's. You just have to unbuckle your belt and lean over. The most challenging part was some unique blind spots, but even then that could be normally easily overcome with good mirrors.

But yeah, I'll contact the Washington State Patrol inspection office. I've got a few other kit car related questions for them anyways.

Thanks for the info everyone.