Importing a car from the US

[Sylvanfan]

I'm considering it as an option, but want to try and cover all the bases before I make a final descision. I've been doing whatever research I can and it appears that the following would be required.

Phone the border crossing 72 hours in advance to let them know you'll be coming through. Ensure that you'll be passing through during regular bussiness hours.

You'll have to pay 7% GST on the vehichle, and it looks like an additional 6.1% duty if the vehichle was not manufactured in the USA plus any provincial sales tax (thanks oil for a 0% provincial tax )

Also have to pay a federal inspection fee of around $180 to see if it conforms to transport Canada's regulations (ie day time running lamps, and metric instrumetation for vehichles 15 years or newer). Than pay your out of province inspection fee as well.

Anyone else done this? What did I miss, and how was the process overall?

[trew]

I believe there is also a list of vehicles that you can and cannot import into Canada. (I think CCRA has a web link to it somewhere). If you haven't already found this, I would advise trying to locate it. Some cars don't have the 5 mph bumpers that are required in Canada and are basically unimportable because of this.

The only other thing I can think of, is to arrange temporary insurance and registration if you are planning on driving the car back to Canada.

[CRXguy]

Are you buying new or used? Check this thread out on a local forum with complete info on how to import. http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.p...hreadid=107279

The website you want to check for cars that are OK to import are at www.riv.ca

I helped my uncle move back from California to Calgary in November. He brought back a '97 Toyota Camry and '97 Ford Escort. I believed he paid $250 each for paperwork and A/C tax. The only problem we had was that we didn't inform the border officers 72hrs in advance so we had to cross the U.S/Canada border a couple of times. My only other advice is try to stay calm with the Canadian border officers. I've never had an encounter with one who wasn't an a$$hole.

Good luck.

[Displaced Flames fan]

You won't have to pay sales tax if you buy one in Montana Sylvanfan. That is not the case in Idaho or Washington.

[I_am_Beast]

Yes, phone ahead.... or you'll be parking your car there for 3 days...

Also....

i know this has been done as well....

Get the vin number, and if you know a auto mech personally have him write up an inspection sheet, take it to motor vechiles and get it registered as an alberta car. Fly down with your plates and insurance/registration, and there will be no questions asked, alberta plates.

but i'd only use that as a last resort.

http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_t...rt.html#before

ps keep us informed, i'll be doing this come summer as well.

[Sylvanfan]

Thanks for all the additional info!

I chickened out today. Could have had the vehichle for what seemed like a good price, but ultimately decided the timing just wasn't right. 2005 Touareg V6 with 280 miles on it everything checked out as far as the carfax report went and would have come with full factory warranty could have had it for $36000. I've looked around and even with 6.1% duty it was still the best deal out there righ now in my mind. Realistically come September I'm in a much better spot to be seeking out the vehichle I'm after, and I have to believe that with the access to vehichles all over North America that a similar vehichle for a similar price will come up again at that point in time. Experience buying other things seems to say that being patient and waiting for the right time to make a move will usually result in making the best deal. Whereas if you go for a deal when the timing isn't right because you think it's a good deal, you generally end up kicking yourself in hindsight.

There are some decent deals to be had on Ebay motors though, but I don't imagine that it's for everyone. But if you're looking for an upper end used vehichle with lower kilometers it's worth the look if you have the time to invest.

[transplant99]

Something to be wary of as well...

Some 400,000 vehicles were affected by hurricanes last year, and lately several water damaged/reconditioned have found their way back onto the market....at seemingly discounted prices.

problem is that these likely have a LOT of hidden damage that wont be showing for a while....just something i have been hearing from guys in the business recently.

[Sylvanfan]

Thanks for that Tranny, good to know.