I’m looking for advice from anyone in California who has successfully registered a gray-market Toyota Land Cruiser, especially an FJ40, FJ45, or FJ60 from the 1975–1985 range.
I recently purchased a 1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45 that was originally built for the Venezuelan market. It was legally imported into the United States through Port Everglades in August 2022 and was later titled in Florida and Georgia.
I’m currently trying to register it in California. The DMV accepted my application and fees and issued a temporary operating permit, but referred me to CHP because the truck does not have a U.S. federal certification label.
I have documentation showing the vehicle’s legal federal importation, including:
EPA Form 3520-1 using the 21-year exemption
DOT HS-7 using the 25-year exemption
Import date and port of entry
Customs entry number
Bill of lading information
Importer information
Florida and Georgia title history
Matching chassis and engine numbers
The main issue now appears to be CARB. Because it is a 1981 non-U.S.-market vehicle, CARB’s website says it may need to go through the Direct Import program, laboratory emissions testing, possible modifications, and receive a Certificate of Conformance.
I understand that federal EPA and DOT import exemptions do not automatically make the vehicle California emissions compliant.
I’m trying to find someone who has actually gone through this process with an imported Land Cruiser or similar older gray-market vehicle.
My main questions are:
Has anyone successfully completed CARB’s Direct Import process with a 1975-or-newer classic vehicle?
Which California laboratory or compliance company did you use?
What modifications were required?
Approximately how much did the process cost?
How long did it take?
Did the previous Florida or out-of-state title help at all?
Are there any legitimate exemptions or alternative registration paths that I should investigate?
Has anyone dealt with CHP VIN verification when the vehicle had no federal certification label?
I’m not looking for illegal workarounds, VIN swapping, or registering it at an address where I do not live. I’m trying to find the correct legal path to register and drive the truck in California.
Any recommendations for CARB-approved labs, compliance specialists, registration services, attorneys, or owners who have handled a similar vehicle would be greatly appreciated.
Vehicle information:
1981 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ45
Chassis: FJ45-911116
Original market: Venezuela
Imported into the U.S.: August 2022
Currently titled in Georgia
Thanks in advance for any help.

Did the OTG Eastern Sierra route last week, had a great time! Finished the trip doing Deer Valley south to north. Enjoy.

This is my friend 2006 Lc100
It just hit 200,000 miles he wants 13,000 it needs heads. I’m a mechanic so that won’t be a problem for me to fix it comes the way it is. It has zero rust to Arizona truck
Am I over paying carfax values it at 19,500 idk how accurate that is.

Does the rust (or lack of rust) look ok to you?

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Hey all,

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Thanks

I have recently bought a land cruiser 70 series in Germany and the head gasket has blown I am looking for any reliable mechanics in Germany which could refurbish the engine or any further a field? as it has a 2L-T engine which from who I have contacted many garages seem reluctant to work on :(

Hey guys!

Like all of you all my dream is owning a 70 series in the United States but we are trapped by the 30 year important ban. How ever I was watching DeBoss garage and he mentioned you can buy a new 70 series with out an engine. However with scouring the Internet I could not find anything or anyone that sells these engine-less land cruisers. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I have attached a link to the video where he mentions this (around 2min mark)

Hi All
I got a humming noise on my front wheel on my prado 2001.
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I replaced the wheel bearing
I swapped the tyres around too but the humming still there.

I can feel it through footwell floor.
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