What does it take to get a Mexican Hilux to be US street legal?

It sure feels like it. Also, Hi there @JaCado

 

I agree. I just hate RHD and it’s harder to find a LHD cruiser pickup lol.

 

In countries where crash test ratings aren’t required, mfg’s sell much cheaper and less safe vehicles. I rode in a fairly new Mitsubishi SUV in the Philippines that came from the factory with no seatbelts.

 

That’s amazing. Lol

 

You should see what they get away with in other countries. Lol.

We stopped by a Toyota dealer outside Manila and it’s probably one of the nicest car dealers I’ve ever been to. Marble floors, vaulted ceilings, and they bring you drinks haha.

Here’s a Toyota Hilux on the showroom floor. 1.6 Million PHP, or $33,000 USD. Four cylinder Turbodiesel. They don’t have that here.

 

So is the Tacoma as reliable as the Hilux? Seems there are a lot of differences between them.

 

Depends what iteration of Tacoma you have. Lol

Any 2.7 truck is pretty much indestructible

 

I drool over Hi Luxs on the European Toyota sites on occasion. Seems more in line with how Toyota sold their trucks here originally; value oriented, fun, fuel efficient trucks.

 

Impossible. Family members of mine had tried to import a Ford Lobo (F150) but since it was designed specifically for the Mexican market, the American agents in charge of all that decided to deny the request

 

Do what I’ve seen done in SoCal. Keep it registered in Mexico.

 

So its near impossible to import foreign cars but they have no problem giving people a free ride in life. Seems legit.

 

Hate to crash the party but everything above is now void… it’s here! This is a Toyota Hilux, in the state of Maryland. It’s registered, tagged and insured in Maryland as well…

 

I think it has more to do with federal crash testing than emissions; That's why the Porsche 959 was never officially legalized here...

 

Like I said in the other thread, I ran the plate through Carfax and got nothing; Maybe I typed in the number wrong...?

 

I am in the process of investigating the use of a Mexican plated Hilux in the US also. So far THE problem is my insurance company. I will have to investigate other insurers. They don’t really answer “why” they just say no. When asking why and US plated vehicle can be insured in mexico but the reciprocal cant, they doing have an answer. I might not be going high enough up on the food chain.

I just left the Toyota dealer in Cabo San Lucas on my way home… out the door all taxes 710,000 pesos with out even haggling… apx $35k USD. 3 month wait for a white 6 speed 4X4. There are differences between the automatic and manual trans that just don’t make sense. Only automatics have DRL and LED headlights and it appears that the info display screen is not available for a MT Hilux. They had a silver 4X4 automatic and it is nice. I went out back to look at the base level MT Hilux… steel wheels, no chrome, etc. The base model is not that good looking.

The other stumbling block is how you pay for this… they can only take cash for up to 1/2 the cost of the truck, the other half has to be via Mexican Bank/Bank card etc. I am not 100% sure how I am going to do that without my residency yet.

 

I've been thinking of bringing my '97 Hilux from Belize to Canada. We have a 15 year law here so would now be legal.

Driving it here would be a hell of a chore though as that 2.8l diesel doesn't do anything quick.

 

I see newer Hilux's when I go to Costa Rica every year. Crazy expensive though, due to the 'tax' situation there, aka Socialismo, haha. Beautiful & durable rigs.

 

A different flavor but in TN...

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1996/toyota/hilux/101553932

 

There are a lot of differences between Tacomas and Hiluxes. The main difference is that the 4x4 Hilux is rated at 1 ton carrying capacity, while the Tacoma 4x4 is rated 1/2 ton. Hilux suspension is stiff and will bang you around on rough roads. Tacoma has a softer suspension to cater to American drivers. Tacomas have better crash protection. New Hiluxes have front airbags, but not much else. The build quality on the new Tacomas sold here (Colombia) built in Mexico is a far cry from the quality of the Hiluxes built in Argentina. Hiluxes have a reputation for being tough trucks, and Toyota designs them that way. On the other hand, Tacomas' designs are focused on being tough-looking and passing DOT and CARB rules and regs. I've owned both, and I would take the Hilux hands down.

- JAMES