RHD woes and troubles

SON240sx Automotive
1

Hello gentlemen,

Decided to make a thread where rhd owners (current and/or past) can talk about some of the troubles they have gone through. Perhaps this will become a sticky since smaller threads exist here and there.

Feel free to talk about anything from HTA compliancy issues, troubles at the MOT, registration or insurance problems, police pull over’s, parts availability, etc.

It would be good to post solutions as well that you found to be useful.

I’ll start. Obviously insurance is a big one. I found that there were two possible solutions to this. 1) Having the car re-vinned through the Ministry of Transportation so that it utilizes a custom Canadian VIN, 2) Appraisal based insurance policy’s (19A).

Fortunately, I have never really been hit with compliancy or police problems since my vehicles have always met HTA specs.

Matty

2

wooow i had the most stressful day today trying to find insurance for the 180…sucked all life out of me bottom line state farm came through for 196.29 let’s just hope there’s no surprises when i go to have a picture taken for the insurance…
o and people younge and steels mto knew fuck all ho to register the RHD cars but literally walked her through everything, made her open her eyes by calling a bunch of places so now anyone wanting to do there registration at younge and steels can talk to Lindsay or the short haired black woman

3

I’ve had three RHD cars now… and never had a trouble with any of them. No police issues, no registration issues, and no insurance issues. Granted, my insurance is run through my business, so its a little easier when you do it through a very VERY dedicated broker.

4

i had no issues with insurance, like white240 called a broker he explained to hte insurance it was basically a RHD 240… so now on my insurance slip it says 1991 240sx instead of silvia… the vin number and everything is the same and apparently it doesn’t matter waht the sheet says it is… aslong as the vin is “a” ok

ive had a couple cops eye me down and a few pull some HUGE U-turns but im lucky to say there have been no problems in that area.

how long does it take or what does it cost to switch the cars vin number to 13 or 17 or whatever it is… i dont plan to just curious

5

Currently I’ve got stopped - cop come to my left side and barked his first official sentences before he realized that it was RHD car. Thanks God my girlfriend was with me and seating where he expected to see a driver. I was driving accordingly but didn’t had front plates on, my girlfriend opened the window completely and nicely explained before the cop asked for, that we’ve just lost the plates somehow and will report that the next day. I didn’t get a ticket but he told us that I should have a sticker that said Right Hand Drive Vehicle.
Is that right?:confused:

Anyway, get a beautiful girlfriend and keep her with you all the time when you drive:D

6

Copy/pasted from an older thread I posted this in…not “RHD specifically”, although I could tell it had a lot to do with their attitude.

When I had my RHD sileighty last summer (which I was only driving for 3 weeks before my insurance policy got cancelled for having a JDM vin # and exhaust), I got pulled over by a YRP Van.

I was on Woodbine (south of Major Mack) on my way to work (HWY 7 and Woodbine). It’s POURING rain, and I’m driving the speed-limit, maybe under, in the right lane, shifting at 2.5k. All the sudden the police van pulls behind me, and puts on the cherries. I pull over immediately, and pull out my license and registration.

Two cops get out of the van, and approach both sides of the car. Of course I get a dirty look for sitting in the RHD drivers seat, holding my momo steering wheel. I ask the police officer why he pulled me over, and he told me it was because my exhaust was too loud. Granted, the exhaust was veeeeery loud (no cat, full blitz system), but the way I was driving it from the moment I left my house, until I got pulled over, it really wasn’t screaming (again, shifting at 2.5k, in the pouring rain).

So I tell him that the car is for sale (I point to my HUMUNGOUS “FOR SALE” sign covering the back window), and mention that my insurance policy expires at midnight TOMORROW (which was true), and that I sort of realized I bought the wrong car for driving to work everyday, and that I realized I should just sell it - told him I hadn’t even gone for emissions yet. Cop says he’ll be back in a minute.

Now, an undercover pulls up, gets out of the car, talks to the cops in the van for 10 minutes, then he leaves. At this point, a buddy from work pulls up beside us and asks if every thing’s alright, I give him the “I’m getting bullshitted look”, and he chuckles and heads to work.

So now, the two cops come up to me again, and tell me they’re going to do a roadside vehicle inspection (after me telling them I’ve already passed safety, and showing them the papers). I forgot to mention, the first time he told me to shut the car off, I did, and my turbo timer plays this little jingle for 30 secs. while it counts down to shutting off. He gives me a dirty look and says “didn’t I ask you to shut the car off?” I respond saying “Yes sir, I did - the car has a turbo timer to allow the engine/turbos to cool down properly, see? It’s at 21, 20, 19…”. So he just gives me a dirty look.

So now he’s actually doing the inspection, which consisted of inspecting every piece of glass for 5 minutes to make sure there were no cracks, searching for the vin #, asking me to turn my wheel to full lock on both sides, inspecting my tires, my rims, my brakes, and probably made sure the TEIN sticker on my car was straight. So now he makes me turn the car on, pull up my e-brake (which I did and then he gets in the car and re-pulls it up himself), and then says, “OK, hold your car at 3,000 rpm while I count to 10” …the F$CKER makes me try to drive for 10 seconds while holding the e-brake up, im like WTF!!

So now, once again, he tells me to shut the car off. I shut it off. 10 seconds later, he gives me a dirty look again, as if I’m ignoring him, and I said “Officer, it’s the turbo timer” - his response? “What is this turbo timer bullshit, I don’t believe you”…I show him the timer counting down, I’m like “look, 3,2,1, it’s off!”… I wasn’t being sarcastic or rude either, I was trying to show him how it worked.

So now, he goes to his car, sits there for AT LEAST 25 minutes, before returning. Keep in mind I was on the way to work (luckily I work my own hours, but I was still pissed about wasting time). Oh ya, and he wouldn’t let me shut my windows, and it was pouring rain.

So one of the cops comes back, and tells me “you weren’t lying, your insurance DOES expire tomorrow at midnight”, and I’m thinking to myself DUHH. Then he says “BUT, your temporary insurance slip says August 3rd” (because I had picked up the insurance on July 3rd), however since my policy was cancelled, it expired on August 31st at midnight - which I was completely honest about. So he’s like “I know people like you just drive around with expired shit, so you’re probably going to try to keep driving for 3 extra days, and you’ll show cops your temp. slip” - and I’m like “No, I wouldn’t do that, it’s not worth it”. So he takes my temporary insurance slip, and TEARS IT UP IN FRONT OF MY FACE!!! WTTFFFFFF

I respond saying “now what do I do if I get pulled over on the way to work from here to my office, or on the way home, or any time tomorrow”. Office responds saying “Well, I guess you’ll have to drive to Stouffville then to pick up a new slip for the next 24 hours, won’t you?”…I’m like WTF that’s 45 minutes out of my way, I’m supposed to be at work, BLAHHH (I just kept that too myself)…but I told him I could get pulled over on the way to work from here to the office, he just said “Don’t get pulled over then.”

So there goes my insurance, now he hands me two tickets, one for “illegal muffler” or something like that, and one for “making too much noise in public”, or something to that effect. I told him I hadn’t passed emissions, the car was going to be parked in 24 hours for good, and that I had realized it wasn’t a good daily driver. His response was pretty much enjoy your tickets.

Went to the Tannery in Newmarket to deal with them, the lady ripped them up within 45 seconds. Again, another waste of my fucking time.

7

^Honestly, just reading that made my blood boil. Part of the reason why I’ve never heavily modified my cars, is because I have a very short temper, and if I was in your situation, I would have gotten myself arrested, guaranteed. I just can’t tolerate douchebaggery like that, no matter who it’s coming from. I don’t think I’d ever take a swing at a cop, but I’m pretty sure I would’ve told him to go fuck himself in that situation.

8

My buddy just insured his RHD GT4-A through Desjardins, no issues, no pictures for a decent price, with the 11 digit vin. I don’t know if it was just a fluke or if they really just don’t care - just a tip for those looking for insurance.

9

hooly shit man, that cop was just out for your balls that sucks.

10

No you don’t need a RHD sticker… Only vehicles such as garbage truck and mail trucks do. It’s a little triangle sticker o something to that effect.

*Edit… found it

Vehicles with right hand drive

  1. Every vehicle that is equipped with a right hand drive shall, unless it is equipped with a mechanical or electrical signal device as described in subsection 142 (6), have prominently displayed on the rear thereof, in bold face letters of not less than 50 millimetres in height and of a colour which is in contrast to that of the vehicle, the words,

“RIGHT HAND DRIVE VEHICLE”.

11

99 percent sure it hasn’t changed, i’ve asked 3 cops so far that are family friends and they all say it’s a load of horseshit.

12

So basically… if you have working turn signals, you don’t need a RHD sticker? If I were to get anything RHD, i’d most likely just get the dumb sticker to keep the fuzz out of my ass. But then again, having it on will just attract/notify them sooner.

13

^That’s what the HTA states… Can’t really argue with that, lol.

14

Correct
For a brief time I thought you needed them as well but I misunderstood.

If you have working turn signals you do not need it. It is good insuracne though against being pulled over.

15

Yo, I have never had any issues with anything. The only issue I have had was right hand turns and reversing was odd.

I have overcome these tho. Within a few days of owning a rhd vehicle. Happy motoring people

16

^^^^thanx for being useless same goes for martina and peter…honestly thanx a lot for helping your friend considering my situation

17

It’s cause people with other RHD cars don’t want people to get the same shit as them. Maybe?

18

no it’s called your “friend’s” don’t give a rat’s ass

19

Im just going to say in my 5+ years(my first rhd car was in september 04) of driving RHD cars have been painful to say the least. All these people keep on saying I have never had problems with a cop, getting insurance, the RHD sticker, Left turns or the constant attention it gets them. I call these people liars.

You have never been pulled over and hassled by a police officer? Thats fine if you live in hickville ontario were there are 4 cops and they just dont care. Has anyone ever tried driving in richmond hill, markham, or woodbridge? They are going to notice your car and pull you over just for the fun of it. An officer actually told me they are on a look out for RHD cars because a lot of amateur kids by them and end up crashing them.

Has anyone ever tried calling and asking if they insure skylines and any RHD cars. I worked for state farm and from my experience i can say it all depends on the agent you get. And you all could stick that 14A policy down your throats because some have hidden rules such as if you crash your car in the rain its not covered or we don’t pay for your car if your at fault or sometimes they don’t even cover it if you were doing something stupid.

Have any of you actually gotten a RHD sticker ticket in you lives or are you just talking out of your asses? Take that to court and see what they will do to you. Explain to someone that “oh, the law says that i don’t need it”. The law is just a guideline for a police officer to lay down as he pleases. The law also says under no circumstances should a police officer use force if a person non violent. Resist arrest and see how non-violently a police officer will tackle you to the ground.

Oh the left turns. 5 years strong and im still not used to it. You guys that did it in 2 days must have long necks like that dude in fantastic four. When im driving a lhd car I have to still double check when another car is also at the light making a left turn cause he blocks the view. But hey like I said maybe you guys could stretch your necks.

And finally the attention it gets me. I got years of stories but I’m just going to talk about yesterday. On my way to MR.SUB i get raced by a golf, at mr.sub I get kids talking pictures, as Im leaving to guys ask if they can drive it, heading up to york university I get street raced again by an acura EL, Then at york someone jumps in front of me and takes 8 camera picks, and finally at my GF’s apartment i get 10 fanbois surrounding my car and asking my stupid questions like can you do a burnout or can it beat my boosted civic.

So thats my rant. If you really want to know if RHD is simple no its not. Just because your girls great great cousin in law twice removed visited japan doesn’t make you eligible to drive and master a RHD car.

20

RR32, you live in Richmond Hill.

That’s all you had to say.

It’s like being black in Texas.