In some countries like New Zealand, vehicles have to be driven on the right hand side, as such, upon importation of a car from the U. S or other LHD countries; it has to be converted to RHD. However, with a good reason, you can still have your vehicle converted even when you are in a country that uses the right side of the road for driving like the U. S. In some cases, you need the approval of relevant authorities to avoid getting into trouble with traffic offices. The right hand drive conversions are now done by big professionals as long as you pay for the service.
Most companies will ask for the vehicle documents and sometimes the documents that allow you to undertake the conversion process. When it comes to conversion itself, you can opt to buy a kit depending on the make and type of the car. The other option is to reassemble and rewire everything to avoid having to dismantle the whole structure.
However, there are some other changes in the cockpit that can bring a big difference. The turn signal switch, for instance, goes to the right while the wipers are taken to the left. The ebrake is also placed to the side of the driver and the radio controls also become closer.
The time taken to complete the process varies from one company to the other. The average time is 4-6 weeks, after which you get the certificate of completion. This is followed by a wheel alignment after which a qualified engineer will conduct the inspection and test driving before the final road worthiness and other relevant certificates are issued. In some companies, the vehicle is taken to an independent inspection to confirm that the vehicle is compliant to all road safety requirements.
When it comes to conversion itself, you need to deal with companies that are well known and have a reputation of delivering quality products. There are companies that have made a name by working hand in hand with manufacturers to convert vehicles and take pride in their work. The re-engineering procedure is not very easy and it requires experts who know what they are doing.
The conversion process is beyond just changing the position of the steering wheel. It requires that most of the parts are taken down, and reassembled in a new way. If you give this job to a serious company, they will dismantle the car and store different parts in a dedicated facility with proper labeling to prevent mismatch and also use other mechanisms to prevent dust and rust.
The most significant factor with RHD is the difference in driving experience. Cutting corners and overtaking is not the same particularly in a country like the U. S where vehicles are LHD. In order to overtake the car ahead of you, you have to slightly slow down and allow for a distance through which you can have a clear view of the road ahead. The RH drivers have a limitation in terms of view.
After your car is delivered, you will need some times to get used to the adjustments. The important controls are however the same. The gear shifts are the same only that you have to use the left hand to for the shifting. The arrangement of the gas, the brake and the clutch remains right to left.
Most companies will ask for the vehicle documents and sometimes the documents that allow you to undertake the conversion process. When it comes to conversion itself, you can opt to buy a kit depending on the make and type of the car. The other option is to reassemble and rewire everything to avoid having to dismantle the whole structure.
However, there are some other changes in the cockpit that can bring a big difference. The turn signal switch, for instance, goes to the right while the wipers are taken to the left. The ebrake is also placed to the side of the driver and the radio controls also become closer.
The time taken to complete the process varies from one company to the other. The average time is 4-6 weeks, after which you get the certificate of completion. This is followed by a wheel alignment after which a qualified engineer will conduct the inspection and test driving before the final road worthiness and other relevant certificates are issued. In some companies, the vehicle is taken to an independent inspection to confirm that the vehicle is compliant to all road safety requirements.
When it comes to conversion itself, you need to deal with companies that are well known and have a reputation of delivering quality products. There are companies that have made a name by working hand in hand with manufacturers to convert vehicles and take pride in their work. The re-engineering procedure is not very easy and it requires experts who know what they are doing.
The conversion process is beyond just changing the position of the steering wheel. It requires that most of the parts are taken down, and reassembled in a new way. If you give this job to a serious company, they will dismantle the car and store different parts in a dedicated facility with proper labeling to prevent mismatch and also use other mechanisms to prevent dust and rust.
The most significant factor with RHD is the difference in driving experience. Cutting corners and overtaking is not the same particularly in a country like the U. S where vehicles are LHD. In order to overtake the car ahead of you, you have to slightly slow down and allow for a distance through which you can have a clear view of the road ahead. The RH drivers have a limitation in terms of view.
After your car is delivered, you will need some times to get used to the adjustments. The important controls are however the same. The gear shifts are the same only that you have to use the left hand to for the shifting. The arrangement of the gas, the brake and the clutch remains right to left.
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