Importing used cars from the US is quite a common practice in the Gulf region, and the reason for that is that American specs cars are usually cheaper than cars with GCC specs. But there is a reason for their lower price and the difference between GCC specs and American specs.
If you are a car enthusiast or have been looking for a new car to buy, you probably have heard others talking about the difference between GCC specs and American specs. If you don’t already know their difference, stay with us because, in this article from Lookinsure mag, we will try to provide you with an in-depth comparison between the two.
Frequently Answered Question
1. What is the difference between American and GCC cars in UAE?
American specs cars are manufactured according to the safety regulations and the environmental conditions of this country while GCC specs cars are designed to meet the needs of the market in the gulf region.
This means that American spec cars have more safety options due to the country’s rigorous regulations while cars with GCC specs are built to last in the harsh climate of the region.
2. What are the disadvantages of American spec cars in the UAE?
These are some of the disadvantages of American spec cars: Inadequate Cooling Systems, Unsuitable for Lower-Octane Fuel, Difficulty with Repairs and Parts, Lower Resale Value, Higher Risk of Hidden Damage, Non-Compliance with Local Regulations, Limited Warranty Coverage
3. How to know if a car is GCC spec?
In order to tell if your car is GCC spec you can either a) Check the cars official documentation where such information might be indicated, b) Check your car’s VIN or chassis number, c) Check warranty certificate
4. How to tell if a car is US spec?
In addition to checking your car’s warranty certificate or VIN, signs that it is built for the American market include P-metric tire sizing, speedometers in mph, and emissions labels or safety compliance stickers typically located under the hood or on the driver’s side door jamb.
5. How to tell if a vehicle is made in the USA?
To determine if a vehicle is made in the USA, look for a VIN that starts with 1, 4, or 5, check for “Made in USA” labels, and consult manufacturer documentation or local dealerships.
6. How do I find the exact specs of my car?
The best way to find the exact specs of your car is by running a VIN check. Your car’s VIN or chassis number has everything you need to know about the vehicle.
What is GCC Specs Vehicle?
Due to varying road safety regulations and standards across countries, along with geographical differences, global car manufacturers usually produce their models based on the specific environmental conditions and legal requirements of their targeted market. If you find the concept of GCC car specs confusing, check out the quick and complete guide on it.
GCC specs vehicles are cars that have been produced for the market of the Gulf countries and hence are manufactured according to these countries’ regulations and climate. Here are some of the key considerations that are taken into account when manufacturing cars with GCC specs:
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GCC Car Specifications
In the table below you’ll find difference between GCC specs and American specs for GCC specification:
| Cooling Systems | since countries in the Gulf region often experience extreme heat, cars with GCC specs are often equipped with a more enhanced air conditioning system, and larger radiators |
| Dust and Sand Protection | another common natural phenomenon in the region is sandstorms or a generally excessive amount of dust particles in the air, and to offset the potentially harmful effects of this on the vehicles, manufacturers typically put more powerful air filtration units on GCC specs cars |
| Fuel Tuning | Unlike some Western countries, countries in the Gulf region are not very strict when it comes to fuel efficiency and carbon emission, which allows car manufacturers to produce cars that are more adapted to lower-quality fuel types |
What is American Specs Vehicle?
As mentioned before, since every country has its regulations about car manufacturing and road safety, car companies need to make slight changes in their models to meet the requirements of each targeted market.
American specs vehicles are cars that are designed specifically for the US market with its particular vehicular safety regulations and environmental requirements. As a highly car-dependent country the US has some of the most rigorous laws concerning road and vehicle safety. Here are some of the standards that must be met in order for a car to pass inspection:
American Car Specifications
In the table below you’ll find difference between GCC specs and American specs for American specification:
| Crash Tests | all vehicles must successfully pass crash tests conducted by institutions such as the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) |
| Multiple Airbags | multiple airbags are of the utmost importance and they must be installed on every new vehicle that enters the market |
| Catalytic Convertors | a catalytic converter is a device added to the exhaust system that is used to reduce toxic emissions. Each car in the US must be equipped with a catalytic converter |
| High-quality Gasoline | America has quite high standards when it comes to fuel quality and only gasoline which ranges from 87 to 93 octane rating is allowed to be distributed |
What Is the Difference Between GCC And American Specs?
Let’s take a closer look at difference between GCC specs and American specs:
Design
Every car enthusiast knows that certain cars are produced in different versions, each tailored for a specific region. For instance, Nissan Patrol, the brand’s famous SUV which is a beloved car in the Gulf region is called Armada in the US and even has a slightly different design, with a sleek and more conservative design as it is marketed as a spacious family SUV in the US instead of an off-road giant.
Cooling
The difference between GCC and American specs does not just end there and is more about just design. Cars made according to the climate of GCC countries usually have a better cooling system which might not exist in a car made under the more temperate climate of the US.
Fuel Type
Considering the high standards practiced by the US government when it comes to fuel, cars with American specs might not be compatible with the lower-quality fuel that is common in the GCC regions, which might cause problems for the owner of such vehicles in the long run.
American Specs Vs Gcc Specs: Which To Buy
If you are debating whether to buy a car with GCC specs or American specs we have a table of pros and cons for you that might help guide you in your decision:
| Pros | Cons | |
| American Specs | Safety features including multiple airbags and lane departure warning system as they are required by law in the US Strict emission standards make them more environment-friendly. High fuel efficiency which makes them better options financially | Not optimized for harsh climates such as that of the Gulf region Made for high standard fuel which might make them more high-maintenance in the countries of the Gulf region Possible higher cost of maintenance due to their specialized requirements |
| GCC Specs | Built for extreme conditions such as the heat of countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE Compatibility with the available fuel in the GCC countries Total compatibility with the road safety regulations of their targeted market | Less advanced safety features such as those required by US regulations Lower fuel efficiency due to lack of regulating laws in the countries of the region Less focus on emissions which might make the GCC specs vehicles less environmentally friendly |
Owning a non-GCC car might mean some differences in non-GCC car insurance; check out the guide to make sure if anything applies to you. If you’re curious, check out to see why is car insurance mandatory in Dubai and you’ll see why it makes sense.
What is the Problem with American Specs Car in UAE?
Another point of difference between GCC specs and American specs could be in how the American specs are not compatible with UAE conditions. Let’s have a closer look:
High Price of the Brand New Models
Although the price of cars might be lower in the US due to its competitive market, the additional cost of importing a vehicle can make it a more expensive option than buying one with GCC specs.
Incompatibility
Although American-spec cars are built to meet U.S. regulations, they aren’t always manufactured in the U.S. Similarly, just as GCC-spec cars can be found abroad, American-spec cars may also be available in nearby regions, potentially costing less than importing from the U.S.
However, even if the price can be lowered, an American specs car can still cost more to maintain due to differences in its specifications and potential problems caused by fuel quality incompatibility.
High Risk of Buying a Used American Specs Car
Comparing American specs vs GCC specs is usually a more common discussion when it comes to buying used cars as used cars with American specs are surprisingly cheaper than their GCC counterparts.
However, there is a reason for this. Experience shows that many American-spec cars imported to the UAE were severely damaged and no longer usable. Since repairing them isn’t cost-effective, owners sell them to third parties who ship them to GCC countries for repair and resale at lower prices.
Although a lot of these cars turn out to be fine usable vehicles with no major issues, there might be further problems with insuring such cars that have no official record.
Find GCC Specs and American Specs Insurance on Lookinsure
Thanks to our extensive list of insurance providers in the UAE, we can offer quotes for both American specs and GCC specs insurance plans. While the number of available American specs policies is limited in the UAE due to the reasons mentioned above, there are still several options to buy car insurance.
Conclusion
The difference between GCC specs and American specs in cars is something a lot of people are curious about, especially since used American cars are often cheaper than their counterparts in GCC countries. However, there are a few things you need to know about the difference between these two before making up your mind.
Although their price is usually lower, buying a used car with American specs might not always be a sensible choice since there is no way you can find out about their accident history which might also cause further problems when it comes to insuring such vehicles.
So it is better to opt for a car with GCC specs as they are not only more compatible with the regulations and the climate of the region, their resale value is higher as well.
