Import through Charleston SC - wise or foolish?

[nate6472]

I am looking at bringing in a 1987 90 through Charleston SC. I have used Brunwick GA in the past without issue. Any advice or recent experiences would be appreciated. Cheers

[Contractor]

I brought in an 84 SIII through Charleston not that long ago and it was easy.....no issues. The customs agent did note that they had siezed several other illegal trucks the same week.

I used a guy named Don Montgomery to broker customs for me and he made it easy.

Anyway, if your truck is original you should not have any issue........make sure it's spotless because the department of argriculture is just as hard as customs.

Don's info is:

Donald O. Montgomery Customs Broker
2050 Spaulding Drive,
Suite 3A
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: 843-853-9500
Direct Phone 843-206-0471
Toll Free 1-800-579-1993 ext 2
Fax: 843-853-9511

[nate6472]

Thanks for the info. Another forum is saying stay clear due to some sort of cleaning racket. 1 guy paid $2000 in cleaning. Others voiced the same concern about needless, expensive cleaning over $1000. I suggest they complain on CBP.gov anonymously.

I have Brunswick for years and had 2 cleanings at $500 each (and a shoty job at best)

Thanks for broker info. Charleston is a couple hours closer.





UOTE=Contractor;97445]I brought in an 84 SIII through Charleston not that long ago and it was easy.....no issues. The customs agent did note that they had siezed several other illegal trucks the same week.

I used a guy named Don Montgomery to broker customs for me and he made it easy.

Anyway, if your truck is original you should not have any issue........make sure it's spotless because the department of argriculture is just as hard as customs.

Don's info is:

Donald O. Montgomery Customs Broker
2050 Spaulding Drive,
Suite 3A
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: 843-853-9500
Direct Phone 843-206-0471
Toll Free 1-800-579-1993 ext 2
Fax: 843-853-9511[/QUOTE]

[Contractor]

I heard all of the same stuff, mostly from Don. He told me that the DOA has a hard on for dirty trucks and will clean them at their discretion and send you the bill............generally between $1000 and $2000!!

I had my truck steam cleaned in the port in the UK for $50 before it got put on the boat. Your shipping company can likey arrange that for you.

Also, if you do not have a shipping company/broker on that side of the pond I would suggest Mark Cowley @ Kingstown Shipping. He ships to Charleston frequently and has also completed multiple transactions with Don so the paperwork transactions between the two is seamless and you don't really end up having to do much.

Anyway, good luck.

[RoverDover]

A friend of mine brought a truck in through Montreal a few years ago, a 127 with a freshly painted chassis and underside, it had driven out of the garage on 40 feet of dry asphalt and into the shipping container right after the paint had dried! the thieves at the port of Montreal charged him 4000$ in cleaning fee when the did absolutely nothing to a spotlessly clean truck. dont complain about $1000.