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| Subject: Importing car from US |
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Hello all =) Was wondering if anyone has imported a car from the US ? I have surfed a few boards and each answer seems to differ completely. I would like to bring my car with me but I will still have a loan on the title. When I made a post on another board, I was told that so long as I brought proof to the border that the lending agency had all my information as to where I will be in Canada, and had copy of the title with my name on it, I would be fine. Then reading some other boards, it seemed as it was being said that the original title must accompany the vehicle, and that no money must be owed on the car. Just curious if anyone has imported from US and what information they asked for. Thanks in advance for any advice=)
[08-07-2005,21:15]
[**.217.79.34]
Anonymous |
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(in reply to: Importing car from US)
I imported my car into Canada. I am a Canadian citizen, and was working in the US under a TN.
I was told I had to have full title of the car. If they allowed you to import a car to Canada, and you owed money on it, what would stop you from not paying?? American finance companies cannot repo cars in Canada. Nor can they do much to affect your Canadian credit.
I had full title because I bought my car with cash (used) so I did not look into it much. The CIC officer at the border, asked me specifically if the was a lien on the car, and then checked the title to be sure.
What else did they ask me for:
$184 for the Import Registrar.
$350 for GST (7% of 5,000 CAD sale price of the car)
$100 luxury tax becaue my poor little Sentra had A/C.
I think they also look to see if the car is acceptable to import to Canada. Most cars made in the US in the 1990s and beyond are fine. They may need modifications, but they will let you import them if you agree to do the changes.
If you have a 68 Ford, with a Chevy front end, and evey body panel is a differnt colour, you may just get turned around.
Dave
[08-07-2005,21:50]
[***.116.148.101]
dave |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
Thanks for responding =) When I bought my car 2 years ago, didnt plan on getting married ( and when I least expected it, found my soulmate), so I bought a newer car and rolled over the remaining balance to the new vehicle =/ Looking back , wish I did things differently, because there is more owed on the car than what it is "worth" , plus the milage from central US to canada....wow 150,000 miles come fast =(
[09-07-2005,00:57]
[**.217.79.34]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
We are moving next week and bringing 2 cars. We paid off the loan on one car because the lien holder (Honda Financial) would not give us permission to export it. On the other car, we have a letter of authorization from the lien holder (our local credit union) to export. We also have a DMV-certified title record/history for the car and a bank-certified copy of the original title. The ownership documents have to be at the US Customs office where you plan to export the car at least 72 hours (to the minute) before exporting. Apparently this is not a common situation. If you can get permission from the lien holder, then contact the Customs office to make sure you have the proper documents. I have spoken to Customs 3 times so far.
We are entering Canada with a temporary work permit, so we can import the cars temporarily. This means we don´t have to go through the RIV program-so no fees/taxes. We still have to register the cars to get the plates. We plan on applying for our PR once we´re in Canada. Once we receive it, we can them import the cars permanently.
[09-07-2005,03:49]
[**.196.247.108]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
You may have just tried driving the cars across, without importing them.
When I got my 1 year TN VISA to work in the US, I went without a car and bought one there. My friend, however, just went with his car with Ontario plates... no big deal. Of course, there are rules about how long you can be in a province/state before getting licenses and registrations, but its not that hard to get by that one.
Well, you survived the GST PST tax thing... and you may not have to pay tax later (since you are immigrating).
When you register the cars to get the plates, you may have to do upgrades to meet Canadian standards (day time lights if needed, and anchors for baby seats in the back) and the province may want its PST on the sale price... 0 to 8% depending on where you go.
Another note... just because your car is approved to export, and all things are fine and dandy with US customs, you should still make sure that CIC is OK with it. They are the ones who are going to decide if you can bring the car in or not.
Good luck.
[09-07-2005,04:24]
[***.116.148.101]
dave |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
I spoke to someone from Canadian customs already. She told me we could import the cars temporarily until we get our permanent residency. We still get a form-1 from Canadian customs so we can register the cars. Both cars are also eligible to be imported according to the RIV. One car already has the DRLs and both have the anchors.
How long before you imported your car did you buy it? We´ve had both cars at least one year. I read that Quebec does not charge QST when the vehicle originates from another Canadian province if the owner has had the vehicle for more than 30 days. It doesn´t say anything if the origin is outside of Canada.
Thanks.
[09-07-2005,05:20]
[**.196.247.108]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
Hmmm.. I bought my car at an auction in July 02, and imported it september 02.
Of course, provinces will not double charge you sales tax if you move from within Canada (given that you have had the car a certain amount of time... so not everyone goes to Alberta to buy a car with 0% sales tax), but this does not hold true for cars bought in the US.
It all falls under the auto pact, which did not change much even after NAFTA. The rules are in place to make it a losing deal whenever you purchase a car across the border. For instance, I had to pay 6% Kentucky sales tax when buying my car, and had to pay PST and GST in Ontario, and they would not give me credit for sales tax already paid.
They make it such, that people can not just cross the border to buy cars whenever the ecomomy dictates it would be a better deal. Like when the CAD was at $.61 USD, it still did not make sense for Americans to buy their cars in Canada. Double taxes, luxury taxes, and import fees usually makes it not worth the trouble.
Now, the auto pact does not seem fair to people who are importing their cars by necessity, not to save money, but that´s life.
Dave
[09-07-2005,17:58]
[***.116.148.101]
dave |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
I meant to say December 02 as the import date!
[09-07-2005,17:59]
[***.116.148.101]
dave |
(in reply to: Importing car from US)
I became a PR of Canada a week and a half ago. At customs, I told them I was bringing my car in. I presented my title and filled out the necessary paper work. As I was about to leave, the officer said as a side-note, "I noticed your title wasn?t stamped by the US side. They usually keep cars for 72 hours and check your title, stamping it if they let it be exported. Here, I?ll give you the phone # to US Customs and when you get home, you could give them a call to see what they want you to do."
I got home and called US Customs.
"What?!? You brought a car into Canada without exporting it?!? You?re going to get fined! You have to call Export. They?ll probably fine you." They then proceeded to give me the number to the Exporting Dept.
I called Export and told them my story.
"Well, usually when you take a car out of the US illegally-"
I interrupted. I had no idea it was illegal. I had no idea that anything had to be done. I thought all I had to do was declare it when I entered Canada. The border patrol officer had let me through only mentioning the fact that I had to officially export it as an, "oh, just by the way."
The export officer told me that the next time I come back to the States, I should stop by the Exporting Dept. with my original title and two copies as well as the Bill of Sale.
I told the officer that I didn?t have the Bill of Sale. He said that I should just come then with the title and two copies.
Today I came into the US. I stopped by customs to export my car. The officer told me I needed the Bill of Sale or nothing could be done.
The next time I go to the border, it will be to go into Canada. I?m going to need to take the car with me. I won?t be able to leave it in the US for 72 hours.
I don?t know what to do.
[31-03-2006,15:18]
[**.123.37.78]
SDR |
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