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| Subject: Questions about importing a car |
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Hi, guy!
I have a few questions about how to import a car into Canada.
1. Do I have to have a title of the car that is in my name? I plan purchase a car from a dealership and will not register it (so the title will not show my name) but will drive straight to Canada. I will have a bill of sale. Is this possible?
2. A friend of mine told me that (an an immigrant) it´s possible to import a car without incurring taxes/duties. I did research online but could not verify this claim. Is this true?
3. The modifications that need to be done on my car are, I believe, metric speedometer and odometer labels and daylight running lights. Does anybody know how much it would cost to do these?
4. Is US insurance good enough, or do I need to arrange for another type of insurance when driving into Canada. Once there, I plan to arrange for Canadian insurance, of course.
If anybody has gone through the process of importing a car, please share our opinion!
Thanks a lot.
[13-02-2007,19:18]
[**.28.96.82]
Anonymous |
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(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
I believe you have to have an ownership title showing you as the owner of the car. You must also show proof that the car is paid for.
As for all your other questions, look at what everybody else is using as a reference when it comes to exporting cars:
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html
[13-02-2007,21:40]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
You can only import the car without paying duty if you claim it on your Customs Goods or Goods to Follow list when you land. You will have to have the VIN# and itemize the value in CDN $. Once you import it you have some time to get the modifications completed - during that time you should have it insured in the States. As I understand it, once the mods are done you take it back and they give you the paperwork you need to register it in Canada. I think at that point you have to have already arranged for Canadian insurance, but I´m not positive.
[13-02-2007,23:45]
[**.142.9.210]
oromum |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
Uniden,
thanks for the reply. I´ve examined the above site and have seen no mention that the title needs to be an ownership one. The site doesn´t address the specific questions I had.
Anyway, thanks for your opinion.
[13-02-2007,23:45]
[**.28.96.82]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
PS I´m also wondering about the feasibility of not registering the vehicle in the States before you bring it into Canada. You´d better check into that as you are required, also, to export it from the States. Not having "title" may prevent you from exporting it - or from insuring it until you can get it registered in Canada.
[13-02-2007,23:47]
[**.142.9.210]
oromum |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
Anonymous,
On this US Customs page (http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml) you will find following line:
The certificate of title is the core requirement in the Customs export process, regardless of the vehicle´s economic value, physical condition, or operating order.
Inside this US Customs MS Word document (http://www.customs.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbox/publications/travel/importexportcar.ctt/importingacar.doc) you will find this:
EXPORTING A CAR
BASIC REQUIREMENTS AND PREOCEDURES
To export a motor vehicle from the United States, the exporter must provide documents that demonstrate proof of ownership. In almost all cases, this will be the certificate of title. The original ownership documents, or a certified copy, and two copies must be presented to U.S. Customs.
If you are exporting through a land border port, you must submit the ownership documents to that port at least three days before exportation. On the date of exportation, you must present the vehicle to U.S. Customs to verify that the car being exported is the one described in the ownership documents.
The car will be subject to Customs inspection at the time of exportation. If the exportation is by ship or plane, both the vehicle and ownership documents must be presented to Customs at least 72 hours before lading, at which time Customs will conduct its inspection.
The vehicle will be authorized for export only after Customs has inspected it and certified that the ownership documents are in proper order. Your original title will then be stamped or perforated to show that your vehicle was exported from the United States.
OWNERSHIP DOCUMENTS
Only the original certificate of title, or a certified copy of the original, is considered valid proof of ownership. Other registration documents, by themselves, are not considered proof of ownership. If the car has a lien, encumbrance, or is leased, the exporter will have to attach to the certificate of title a letter from the lien holder or lease holder authorizing it to leave the country.
If the vehicle is a new car that has never been titled, it can be exported by submitting a document known as a manufacturer?s statement of origin in lieu of the title. The manufacturer?s statement of origin may be obtained from the auto dealer. The original and two copies must be presented to Customs.
Some very old used vehicles and some foreign vehicles purchased abroad may not have a certificate of title, or junk scrap certificate in force and for which a manufacture?s statement of origin was not issued. In these cases, a bill of sale, sales invoice, right of possession, or other documents sufficient to prove lawful ownership may be used. In addition, the owner must certify in writing to Customs that the procurement of the vehicle was a bona fide transaction and that the vehicles presented for export is not stolen. Again, the original and two copies must be presented.
Check with your local Customs office about acceptable ownership documentation for cases in which a title cannot be produced. Most used vehicles, however ?and this includes used cars legally bought and sold in the United States?must be accompanied by the original title, or a certified copy, as proof of ownership.
..feel free to interpret the above as you wish.
I am just trying to help you. I will have to export two US vehicles myself when I get my PR approved, so I am just starting to do my homework.
Good Luck! :)
[14-02-2007,01:48]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
Thanks for the reply, oromum.
Uniden, I´ll call US Customs and will ask them about the title. You see, my name will be on the back of the title (as a buyer), so this is a title of ownership, though the title isn´t in my name. At any rate, I guess it´s pointless to speculate. I´ll update you as soon as I find out something.
[14-02-2007,02:30]
[**.28.96.82]
Anonymous |
Questions about importing a car (in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
Anonymous,
I am importing my car into Canada at the end of the month. I just paid off my car in the US for this purpose. You cannot import the car if the title lien is in the name of the Finance company. You need to pay it off and have the Finance company sign off the lien to you.
If the vehicle is a new car that has never been titled, it can be exported by submitting a document known as a manufacturer?s statement of origin in lieu of the title. The manufacturer?s statement of origin may be obtained from the auto dealer. The original and two copies must be presented to Customs. (this may be possible, but I doubt the dealer will give you this document unless the car is paid off).
Hope this helps.
Roger
[14-02-2007,12:58]
[***.21.28.14]
Roger |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
OK, here are some of the answers I was looking for. I called US Customs in Detroit (from where I plan to go to Canada).
1. You don´t have to have the title in your name as long as your name is on the back of the title as a buyer. As I mentioned, I plan to purchase a vehicle (the title will be signed over to me as the buyer but I don´t want to get a title that will show my name on the first page). According to the 2 people at US Customs that I spoke to, this is acceptable. Roger, no lien is involved in my question.
2. As far as importing without incurring certain duties/taxes, the Customs Canada person I talked to said I will be subject to these. She didn´t think that new immigrants would be exempt.
I also called RIV (riv.ca). A person I talked to said the recall clearance letter is only good for one month. I was surprised because the website doesn´t mention it.
That´s about it. I hope this helps some.
[15-02-2007,15:19]
[**.28.96.82]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
Why don´t people try to understand the question´s insight?
This is what he means: he is going to buy a car & will import it to Canada. How to avoid paying sales tax (+registration fee) in the US since it will be useless.
[15-02-2007,19:22]
[**.216.17.84]
Heo |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
Why don´t YOU (Heo) read the question????
Who said anything about avoiding to pay taxes in the US?
Read -> Think -> Write
[15-02-2007,19:31]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden |
(in reply to: Questions about importing a car)
..actually now that I think about it, the taxes COULD be a possible reason why he doesn´t want his name on the title. But who cares about the reasons behind someone´s decision to export a titleless car to Canada? I think it is more important that we adressed the question: "Is it possible?"
I wish you to succeed, Anonymous, regardless of your reasons!
I really hope that you´ll visit this forum after you land, and share both your landing experience and especially the car-related part of it.
Good Luck! :)
[15-02-2007,21:09]
[**.8.64.44]
Uniden |
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