Importing new cars from the US

[metallicat]

I realize this topic could probably fit into one of the current threads about vehicles, but I thought it may be different enough to warrant its own.

Does anyone, or has anyone, brought brand new cars in from the US, specifically to sell them in Canada? With the dollar where its at, now seems like the time to consider something along these lines.

What fees, besides GST does one have to consider? How much does it cost to ship a vehicle, and is that the best way to get it here (the other way being to drive it across the border). Are banks willing to hand out financing to people looking to get into this business?

Any info is appreciated.

[arsenal]

They have rules set up specifically for preventing this. I believe for a legal sale, you must own it for a year. The canadian DoT site has all the regulations regarding importing and selling vehicles.

[CRXguy]

check www.riv.ca to see what cars are admissable. i don't think they've updated the 2008's yet, but you can call to be sure.

cars produced in north america is duty free, otherwise it's 6.1%.

Cost breakdown of fees at the border
$209 RIV fee
$100 Excise tax on cars with A/C
6.1% Duty(if the car was built outside of North America) on the converted Canadian price
6% GST on the Canadian converted price
They will list the day's exchange rate near the cashier booth. You can pay this with a credit card, so make sure you have enough room on it before you cross, since this step will hit you with about $5,000 worth of fees.

Check this thread out from Alberta Subaru Club. A local member imported his '06 STi and made a write-up about it.
http://www.albertasubaruclub.com/for...ead.php?t=1996

the most important thing before you commit, is to check if the u.s. dealers are willing to sell a brand new car to canadians. i've read on other forums that people have been having issues with honda and toyota. the funny thing is, it's fair game on a used car, even from the dealership. the second thing is to check with both canadian and u.s. dealerships is if the warranty is still valid, after it has been registered in canada.

good luck.

[metallicat]

Originally Posted by arsenal

They have rules set up specifically for preventing this. I believe for a legal sale, you must own it for a year. The canadian DoT site has all the regulations regarding importing and selling vehicles.

I haven't been able to find this specific regulation, can you point me in the right direction?

[Burninator]

Try this thread as well (from a Calgary car forum).

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/107279/ja...tates-thread-/

[burn_baby_burn]

I know going the oppisite direction a few years ago. A new vehicle would have the warranty voided by the manufacturer if it went to the US from Canada. The vehicle had to have a certain amount of miles on it.

[arsenal]

hmm.. I could have sworn i saw somewhere that it was illegal, or made it very difficult. Doesn't look it is either.

Here are a few sites that I found:
Transport Canada Site: http://www.tc.gc.ca/RoadSafety/Reg/Reg_e.htm
Vehicle Importation Regulations: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
List of vehicles admissible to be imported to Canada: http://www.riv.ca/english/html/us_ve...ssibility.html
Step by Step guide on importing a vehicle from the US to Canada: http://www.importcartocanada.info/
And the North American Automobile Trade Association: http://www.naata.org/naata/faqs.html#safety

Hopefully that helps.

[mykalberta]

Everything you would want to know can be found here.

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...d.php?t=307601

Couple of notes, there are certain cars you cannot bring over to Canada no matter what.

Dealerships farther away from the border are more likely to deal with you.

Relatively inexpensive to bring over border >750 normally.

Must have cash.


On a side note, my parents recently purchaed a Lexus RXH Hybrid SUV from the US. Last years model, lease back return - paid total of 37K US including taxes, fees etc.

Starting price for base model in Canada is 62.5K - if they were to buy new in the US, would have been about 44 - still almost 20K less in the US.

If you have the cash to buy the car, its more than worth it at the exchange rate. The only problems my parents had were getting one way tickets, US customs gave them quite the hassle.

MYK

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by CRXguy

Cost breakdown of fees at the border....

if the car is used, do all these fees still apply? What is the threshold to be considered used? thx

[TimSJ]

you have to pay the fees whether new or used

[Fozzie_DeBear]

I would like to see a list of manufacturers who will honor a US Warranty in Canada, here is what I know...

Honda: No
Volvo: Yes
Audi: Yes
Infiniti/Nissan: Yes?
Subaru:Yes
Mitsu:?
Mazda: Yes

[photon]

Infiniti: Yes

[arsenal]

I am guessing since Infinti will, so will Nissan.

What about Subaru, Mitsubishi, Ford, Toyota, Mazda, BMW?

I think Subaru and Mitsu are yes (not 100% sure), no clue about the others.

[Burninator]

Subaru: Yes
Mazda: Yes

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by arsenal

I am guessing since Infinti will, so will Nissan.

Conversely if Honda won't....than Acura likely wouldn't either?

How about Volkswagen and Porsche since Audi does?

[TimSJ]

Porsche is back and forth.. some times they do sometimes they don't.. they will do everything they can not to. I have an 05 sitting in the showroom here and we were getting messed around with it by them a bit.

Nissan - yes
Toyota - yes
Mitsu - yes
MB - Yes (though we screw you around on the importing)
GM - yes
Ford - yes
Chrysler - yes

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Conversely if Honda won't....than Acura likely wouldn't either?

That is likely. If the parent company wont do it, then the NA offshoot wont do it either.

[greyshep]

I wonder why Honda/Acura are one of the only ones to not honor warranty across borders?

Are they trying to protect their local markets? Just being difficult??

I was looking at heading down south to pick up a couple years old Honda in the next few months as it appears there is some large savings to be had. Not sure if this information would stop me from buying one down there still, but it is curious.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by TimSJ

Porsche is back and forth.. some times they do sometimes they don't.. they will do everything they can not to. I have an 05 sitting in the showroom here and we were getting messed around with it by them a bit.

Nissan - yes
Toyota - yes
Mitsu - yes
MB - Yes (though we screw you around on the importing)
GM - yes
Ford - yes
Chrysler - yes

How so?

[HockeyPuck]

Originally Posted by greyshep

I wonder why Honda/Acura are one of the only ones to not honor warranty across borders?

Are they trying to protect their local markets? Just being difficult??

I was looking at heading down south to pick up a couple years old Honda in the next few months as it appears there is some large savings to be had. Not sure if this information would stop me from buying one down there still, but it is curious.

You should try calling Honda Canada and then call Honda USA. I called Honda Canada when I was looking for a Ridgeline down in the US and Honda Canada said they would not honor the warranty in Canada. However, my friend was looking at an Accord down in Vegas, and he talked with Honda USA, and they said the warranty would be honored.

When I talked to the people at Honda Canada, they said that they do this warranty thing, to "protect their markets".

I'm currently in the process of getting my Toyota registered up here. I just brought it up a couple of weeks ago. Pretty simple process. The border crossing guy said that they get 50 cars a day at the crossing (Sweetgrass, Montana). So that's 1500 cars/mo at that border crossing! I wonder how much is done at Vancouver and Toronto areas... So a lot of people are doing what you are planning to do. The savings are just too much to pass up (if you're in the market for a vehicle).