MTFCA Forum

Just got an email from UPS customs wanting a nhtsa hs-7 form for my 1 tire and 4 tubes. What the F now? Says if I don’t get it back asap going to start charging me storage. Just giving yous guys a heads up. Dan

Tariffs.....used to be you could avoid them if total less than $800 - that loophole has been cancelled.

Yeah, a friend told me just yesterday that he had to pay UPS $190 in duties to import a set of tubes from Blockley. No mention of customs forms, but we have discussed the inconsistency of government enforcement on this topic before…

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 8:03 pm

Just got an email from UPS customs wanting a nhtsa hs-7 form for my 1 tire and 4 tubes. What the F now? Says if I don’t get it back asap going to start charging me storage. Just giving yous guys a heads up. Dan

Not sure what's going on but a HS-7 form isn't about tariffs it appears to be related to Federal Safety standards. Are Blocklely Tires DOT rated? Maybe that's what its about. It also could be that UPS made a mistake i their thinking. OR need to identify the proper tire description for a tariff. Motorcycle tires might be tariff free


§ 591.5 Declarations required for
importation.
* * * * *
(j)(1) The vehicle or equipment item does not conform with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety and bumper standards, but is being imported
solely for the purpose of:
(i) Research;
(ii) Investigations;
(iii) Show or display;
(iv) Demonstrations or training; or
(v) Competitive racing event

This is the Hs7 Declaration see check box 7
https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/f ... ecured.pdf

Seen it before more stupid gov regs that serve no purpose .

Dan, keep us posted on this, I was getting ready to order some tires. I just took a look at that form, I wound not know how fill that out!. I will hold off until its figured out. I wonder how this will effect other things.

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 17, 2025 8:03 pm

Just got an email from UPS customs wanting a nhtsa hs-7 form for my 1 tire and 4 tubes. What the F now? Says if I don’t get it back asap going to start charging me storage. Just giving yous guys a heads up. Dan

Did some more checking and see that Blockley tires are DOT certified. Don't know about the inner tubes, but they need DOT certification if for highway use. So, you'll need to ask UPS, "specifically", why the declaration is required because you can't fill out the hs-7 form out without that knowledge

I received my 5 tires and tubes today from UK.
$1800 all in.

big2bird wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 18, 2025 1:13 pm

I received my 5 tires and tubes today from UK.
$1800 all in.

That doesn’t seem too bad… think I was at $1400 for a set of 4 clinchers with tubes several years ago. About $80 duties at that time

Jeffrey

What did you do different that Dan is not able to do?

A friend in the UK bought them and arranged the shipping.
He imports Corvettes and parts, so he knows all the ins and outs.
The tubes came over in his carry on luggage last flight here.

I said this many years back concerning tires without DOT Approved listed on the tire, accessory brakes, etc. No one wanted to listen. Now here comes your fun, insurance companies have their lobbyists and have pushed law makers into the magic word of…,”not covered items” and “not recommended” . Just like new vehicles, if add on, modify beyond manufacturers recommendations then you accept the liability…, PERIOD!

Just like everyone else buying cheap IRC motorcycle tires, non DOT tires are the first thing law enforcement will be looking at during a crash investigation.

Like Paul Harvey said…,”now you know the rest of the story”, good day.

Hank is correct about the “man”.
That is why I run trailer tires on my trailer. Sure they cost more , but I take mine out if state. If I get into a wreck my fault or not, first thing join law does is look at equipment. Car tires on a trailer are a Nono in most states.
Now back to UPS, their website bites.

If your friend brought them in UK he had to pay their VAT. That is as much as our tariff or more. I think ours is 25%.

So Im assuming that any tire we buy for are cars are going to be Non DOT. This is going to put a big problem for us in are hobby. Dan, as soon as you figure out the red tape let us all know how you made out.

Dan Hatch wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 18, 2025 3:38 pm

If your friend brought them in UK he had to pay their VAT. That is as much as our tariff or more. I think ours is 25%.

This is my total.
Last year I restored a 68 E Type for a dear friend. My UK buddy brought the entire set of wiring harnesses back in his carry on luggage.

Our VAT in the UK is 20%
France calls theirs TVA and it is 19.6%
When you buy stuff to export, you can claim the VAT back.

Blockley tires are U.S. DOT approved. Another added benefit.

UPDATE. If you get the email wanting that information
DO NOT DO ANYTHING TILL YOU EMAIL BLOCKLEY.
That information should come from them. Dan

Mark, your Blockleys appear to be 21" straight sided tyres. I donT know if any BE clincher tyre is DOT approved. There was mentioned in a previous thread that BE tyres were not considered for car use and as such, are not required to have DOT certification. Someone will know.

Allan from down under

Thank you Jeffrey. That is reassuring. It would indicate that Blockley have specified their tyres should be rated if they are to be a quality product. Good on them. I have never noticed it on their BE tyres I have fitted. Now I will have to check them.

Allan from down under.

No problem Allan.
Makes me feel better about them.