Some Ports Not Recognizing E-Filing Pilot for Used Vehicle Exports, Industry Official Says

NEW ORLEANS -- Although CBP launched a pilot program in January to accept certain electronic filings for used self-propelled vehicles exports (see 2212160021), some ports aren’t recognizing the pilot, said Donna Kavanaugh, compliance manager for A.N. Deringer. Speaking during the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America’s annual conference this week, Kavanaugh said exporters are encountering ports that either aren’t familiar with the pilot or “don't have a desire to participate.” She urged exporters to ask their ports to participate in the pilot and “share with them the links” to the pilot announcement.

Kavanaugh also said exporters are still experiencing issues with New York-titled vehicles. “There's only a few ports, only in the state of New York, that will allow you to cross with a New York-titled vehicle,” she said, and those ports require a specific form from the Department of Motor Vehicles that CBP doesn’t require and that can “cause delays, from several days to several months.”

Kavanaugh said it is her “understanding” that CBP had sent out guidance to ports when it first launched the vehicle export pilot program, and the guidance is supposed to include “some clarification on New York-titled vehicles.” But “we're still having problems,” she said. “So we'll continue to work with them, and we'll escalate it as necessary, if we need to.”